220 [February, 



Latterly, I have even tried " carding " Saw-flies, Iclineumons, Aculeate Kymen- 

 optera, and Diptera, with results which I think are encouraging, as it leaves free for 

 examination the sculptm-e of the thorax, which is often of the greatest importance in 

 determining the species. It is by no means absolutely necessary that all the speci- 

 mens shoizld have their wings fully expanded ; they answer every scientific purpose, 

 and look very neat, if mounted on narrow slips of card with the feet and antennoB 

 placed in their natural position. Such species as have important characters on the 

 under-side, can be mounted sideways ; that is, the insect laid on its side on the card, 

 the lower antennae, legs and wings brought out and gummed down : so treated, all 

 parts can be examined, and with greater safety to the specimen than when it is on a 

 pin. Great care, however, must be taken not to use too much gum, or the specimens 

 will be utterly ruined. My way of mounting (say a saw-fly) is as follows : — taking a 

 slip of card, somewhat larger than necessary, I lay a thin line of gum down its centre, 

 on which I lay the fly, having first brushed out the antennae, palpi, and legs ; then, 

 bringing out the tarsi, I secure such with a small pellet of gum, doing the same with 

 the auteimse and palpi, and taking care to bring the mouth well forward : should I wish 

 to expand the wings, I now leave the insect until the guni has set, which will be in 

 about twenty minutes, when I bring them forward, securing each by a small drop of 

 gum. With large species, however, it is better not to gum down the wings, but to keep 

 them in place with braces until dry, as they can then be more easily cleaned and 

 re-momated. — Thos. Jno. Bold, Long Benton, Newcastle-on-Tyne : Nov. 5th, 1872. 



The " neio " sugaring lamp. — Any tin-smith can make this lamp out of a com- 

 mon " sponge-lamp," as I mentioned when recommending it for the first time, in 

 AprU, 1871 (" Sc. Nat." i. 33), so that any one wishing to try it, need not send to 

 Birmingham for it. I have been using one for two seasons, and find that it works 

 weU. — F. Buchanan White, Eastferry, by Dunkeld : January, 1873. 



South London Entomological Society. — The members of this Society gave 

 their first Exhibition on Thursday, December 12th, 1872, and the result was highly 

 creditable to their energy and perseverance. Above thirty members contributed 

 cases of insects. 



The chief features of the Exhibition were : 1 — the cases of Lepidoptera, which 

 contained many rarities (far too numerous to specify), a large number of remarkable 

 varieties, and long series of bred specimens, amongst which, Mr. Wellman's collection 

 of Acidalice was especially remarkable ; 2 — some very interesting cases of Coleoptera, 

 Diptera, Symenoptera, and Hemiptera, and we hope, on a future occasion, to see 

 these orders even more largely illustrated ; and 3 — a collection of PhryganidcB, 

 Hemerohiidce, &c., kindly lent by E. McLachlan, Esq. 



The half-yearly meeting of the Society took place on December 18th, when it was 

 announced that for the future the meetings would be held on each Thursday, from 

 8 to 10 p.m., at the Assembly Eooms, 104, Westminster Bridge Eoad, S.W. During 

 the past half-year, the number of members has increased from 35 to 70 ; and valuable 

 donations have been received from Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., and W. A. Lewis, 

 Esq. Mr. Wellman was re-elected President of the Society, and Mr. Earn was 

 elected Vice-President. 



