210 THE entomologist's record. 



judges it from the standpoint of the well-informed entomologist, one 

 wonders what one can say in its favour. The author, in his preface, 

 says that he "submits the knowledge contained in the book with a 

 feeling that he has just about the necessary amount of knowledge to 

 make a beginning rather than a finish," and this is so obvious, that 

 it seems a pity that, recognising the fact, he did not wait until he had 

 obtained the knowledge necessary to bring the work to a successful 

 issue. He further states that " the Germans are our great teachers in 

 this branch of knowledge," a remark that may be true, although we do 

 not feel at all anxious to be taught in the particular way that our 

 author has learned, nor have we yet discovered that the advanced 

 German entomologist is in any way ahead of his well-informed British 

 confrere, nor do we think that he himself would suggest he was. 



We have carefully looked through the chapters of this book that 

 should have afforded us some interesting reading. One is entitled 

 " Hymenoptera — Oakgalls," and is introduced by quotations from 

 Adler, Darwin, Romanes, Cockerell, Cameron, etc. The rest of the 

 material is most meagre, and nothing appears to have been referred to 

 later than Cameron's " Monograph of the British Phytophagous 

 Hymenoptera " (1889). Taking one species at random, the author 

 notes (p. 147) of Neitroterus [SpatJietjaster) apriliriKs : 



" The galls of the species are formed in buds, but the formation is so obscure 

 as to be frequently overlooked. In fact, we should consider them abortive buds, 

 and the best way to find them is to look for abortive buds just after the leaves 

 develop. It should be noted that undeveloped buds, frequently found in oaks after 

 the early flushing of the leaves, are due to the attacks of this species. In order to 

 hatch these galls it is best to collect them about the end of April or beginning 

 of May. 



Now one is constrained to ask what is the use of this information 

 — (1) from a biologic, (2) from an economic, point of view. The life- 

 history of this insect has been excellently recorded by Dr. T. A. 

 Chapman [Ent. Rec, vi., pp. 245-8), whilst the evidence suggesting 

 Neuroterus schlechtendali as the summer gall of the same insect is also 

 lucidly set forth. Taking a line through this insect one cannot think 

 too highly of the information presented, nor of the up-to-datedness of 

 that information. 



Another chapter is entitled " Lepidoptera (Moths)." The species 

 dealt with are — Siuerhtt/nis pojiuli, S. ocellatns, Trochiliuvi befiibeciforniis, 

 (Jossus litjnipcrda, Zeuzera aencitli, Orgyia ant'ujua, Dicranura ri)iula, 

 Pyyaera bticep/iala, Fidonia piniaria, Clu'i)natobia bruiiiata, Ihjbcrnia 

 defoliaria, Trachea piniperda, Diorj/ctria abietella, Tortrix viridana, 

 T. riheana, Fenthina prumana, Hedija ocellana, Batodes amjtistidrana, 

 Faedisca occultana, F. oplithaliidcana, Stiijmonota reyiana, Uetinla 

 turionana, R. buoliana, R. resinana, Hyponoiiieiita eronyniellus, Frays 

 curtisellus, Depressaria conterminella, D. assiinilella, Aryyresthia laeviya- 

 tella, (iracillaria ayrinyella, Coleophora laricella, C fnacedinella, LAtlio- 

 colletis niessaniella, Coiriostonia laburnella. 



There are some remarkable statements het'e for a book that is 

 supposed to have its raison d'etre in giving exact information as to the 

 damage done to forest-trees and the prevention of such damage, e.y., 

 " the larva of S. populi lives on Lombardy and black Italian poplars. 



.... As development proceeds the horn is less conspicuous 



The life-history and habits of IS. ucellatua much resemble the preceding 



