1910.] 165 



account of the mosquito's relation to the special disease which it conveys, and 

 the methods of dealing with the pest ; and their publication cannot fail to be 

 of the utmost value to residents in, and intending visitors to, the regions where 

 these dangerous insects prevail. 



Illustrations of African Blood-sucking Flies other than Mosqui- 

 toes AND Tsetse Flies: by E. E. Austen. London: printed by order of 

 tlie Trustees of the British Miisevun, 1909. Price, .£1 7s. 6d. 



Tlio work consists of xv and 221 pages and thirteen coloured plates, con- 

 taining 103 figures. On the first 178 pages will be found short explanations of the 

 figures, lists of localities, and in many cases bionomic notes supplied by collec- 

 tors, with a resume of what has been recorded concerning the capabilities of the 

 species to transmit disease ; the last 43 pages are devoted to lists of the known 

 species arranged under .countries, and a very complete index. No attempt is 

 made to give scientific descriptions, and in only a few cases is a species differ- 

 entiated from its allies, consequently the chief value of the work (as may be 

 inferred from the title) lies in the illustrations ; the 102 species figured include 

 representatives of six families as follows : Chironomidae 3, Psychodidse 1, Simu- 

 liidm 4, Tabanidas 87, Muscidae 5, Hippoboscidae 3. These figiu'es, the work of 

 Grace Edwards, are excellent of their kind, and show signs of considerable care 

 having been taken in their preparation, so much so that possibly in the case of 

 some Tabanidm the hope expressed in the Introduction that the standard of 

 accuracy attained is such as to render detailed descriptions unnecessary, may 

 have been realised, but in the other families, especially the Muscidx and Simu- 

 liidse, such a standard of accuracy is almost impossible. 



The publication of showy vohimes of this nature, though possibly not 

 adding ranch to our knowledge of the families dealt with, may stimulate 

 interest in this branch of science, so that by the accumulation of more material 

 for our systematists to arrange and classify and a closer study of the habits and 

 life-histories of the species, we may be enabled to attain a more accurate 

 knowledge of these blood-sucking insects which in many cases seriously 

 menace the welfare and happiness of hiunanity in the localities wherein they 

 occur. 



The Birmingham Natural History and Philosophical Society : 

 Entomological Section — Meeting was held Monday, March 21st, 1910. — Mr. G. T. 

 Bethune-Baker, President of the Section in the Chair. 



Special business was the consideration of the families BryopMlidse and 

 Bombycidx. Mr. Lloyd Ghadwick, Bryophila perla (Warwick), Acronycta psi 

 (Warwick), A. leporina (Wye Valley and Denstone, W. Staffs.), A. aceris 

 (Brockenluirst), A. megacephala (Princethorpe and Snitterfield), A. rumicis 

 (Long Itchington), A. ligustri (Snitterfield), Diloba coeruleocephala (Warwick). 

 He also stated that a larva of A. alni had been sent to him from Leek 

 Wootton, Warwicks. Professor E. Wace Carlier, about 50 specimens and 

 varieties of Euplceinse from Malaya and India. Mr. G-. T. Bethime-Baker, 



O 



