1873.] 141 



grass swarmed with it. I think I never before saw any species in such abundance, 

 and a large supply was naturally taken. A search for the larva and its case was not 

 very successful, probably because the Wliarfe was much swollen by the recent rains, 

 and an examination of the stones in the ordinary bed of the river impossible. I, 

 however, found one case which sufficiently agreed with Pictet's description ; it being 

 a tube composed of sand and vegetable fragments intermixed. Pictct and Brauer 

 both give October as the month of the insect's appearance, hence it is no doubt a 

 late autiuunal species. — E. McLachlan, Lewisham : 29th Septemher, 1873. 



Alexis Fedtschenho. — On the 14th — 15th of September, Mont Blanc claimed 

 another victim. Alexis Fedtschenko, when only a comparatively short distance from 

 its summit, was overtaken by a snow-squall, and subsequently died from exhaustion, 

 under circumstances which caused imputations of the most serious nature to be 

 made against liis guides, although the latter were acquitted upon local investigation. 

 (Judging from letters in our daily newspapers, they have not been universally ab- 

 solved by alpine travellers). In Western Europe it is possible that few had even 

 heard the name of this intrepid naturalist, and it would iU-become the writer of 

 this notice, who had the pleasure of his personal acquaintance, to pass over his 

 memory without some brief record. During the years 1869 — 71, he made (in com- 

 pany with his wife) three perilous scientific journies into Central Asia, eventually 

 reaching Khokand, to which place few ' disbelievers ' had ever penetrated ; and he 

 made enormous collections in all branches of Natural History, and especially in 

 entomology. After his retvirn, he set about working out these collections, towards 

 •which end he was aided by a very liberal grant (15,000 roubles, = £2250) from the 

 Russian Grovernment of Turkestan. He sought the assistance of specialists in all 

 departments, and, with his wife, visited London, and various continental cities in 

 pursuit of this object. Daring the greater part of the present year he was in 

 Germany, from whence he proceeded to Switzerland, and met his death in the 

 manner above stated. The writer is not sure as to his exact age ; but he was born 

 at Irkutzk in Siberia, and was quite a young man, far above the ordinary stature, 

 and of powerful physique. The great work upon which he was engaged will be 

 continued under the superintendence of his widow, Madame Olga Fedtschenko. A 

 good preliminary sketch of his three journies is to be found in the' Berlin Zeitschrift 

 fiir Erdkunde, band vii, pp. 170 — 201.. He was one of the founders of the ' Socic'te 

 Imperiale des Amis des Sciences NatureUes, etc.,' attached to the University of 

 Moscow, and distinct from the well-known ' Societe Impdriale des Naturahstes ' of 

 the same city. Of the many victims among its devotees, Mont Blame has probably 

 never before claimed one who coiUd be so iU-spared to Natural Science. — R. McL. 



llcuiciufj. 



Endomycici Recitati. a Catalogue of the Coleopterous group Endomycici, 

 with descriptions of new species, and notes. By Henry Stephen Gokham, Vicar 

 of Shipley. London, Williams and Norgate, (September) 1873 : Svo, pp. 64, 1 pi. ; 

 price Four Sliillings. 



The title sufEciently explains the scope of this useful publication, which jiracti- 

 cally ' posts up ' Gerstacker to the present time. Mr. Gorham, who adopts the 



