1895. 1 1 47 



occur in North America, and an atlonipt to homologize wing neuration, b>it this hitter 

 is only partially carried out, and is wanting in the old Neuroptera, &c., where it seems 

 to us to be most needed. As another feature may be mentioned the attempt to indicate 

 the correct pronunciation of all the scientific names quoted : we fear this will not be of 

 great service, inasmuch as it gives no clue to the laws that govern " quantities," and 

 helps the student little further than with the names in the book, which are naturally 

 only a tithe of those existing. The crowded illustrations are nearly all original 

 (which in itself is almost a new feature in American works on general Entomology), 

 and by the careful hand of the "junior editor" (Mrs. Comstock). The majority 

 of these are excellent; there is a blackness about them that in a few cases 

 (notably in the sculpture of the elytra of the Coleoptera) obscures the subject, 

 whereas in others it brings out the details in a wonderfully clear manner. It is 

 impossible in the space at our disposal to analyze the work in a general way. It is 

 unequal — most works of this nature are so — and especially in the treatment of the 

 old Order Neuroptera, which does not receive sufficient detail, such an important 

 Family or Order for instance as the Odonata being dismissed in three pages (in- 

 cluding illustrations) with not a word about the unique (in insects) condition of the 

 genital organs of the male. The Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Eymenoptera 

 are worked out at great length. The Lepidoptera are divided into two sub-Orders, 

 JugatcB and Frenat<v, according as to whether the two pairs of wings are united by 

 a "jugum" or a "frenulum," the former including only the UepiaJida and Microp- 

 terygidcB,* and the latter all the other Families, and if in some of these other Families 

 the frenulum does not exist, we are asked to believe that in the course of Natural 

 Selection it has been lost. The Coleoptera are also divided into two sub-Orders, 

 viz., " typical Coleoptera " and Rhynchophora. The specially weak point of the 

 book appears to us to consist in an almost general absence of reference to the works 

 or opinions of other authors, and, as a result, a too dogmatic belief by the senior 

 author in his own views, but this possibly results from a thoroughgoing acceptance 

 of Natural Selection as the one factor in Evolution. Prof. Comstock is to be con- 

 gratulated on having produced a work on general entomology that must take a 

 foremost place amongst the scientific literature of the subject, though we do not 

 expect advanced students will be able to accept all his conclusions. We ask, why 

 do American authors employ heavily " loaded " paper for their works, and what will 

 be the condition of those works a hundred years hence in consequence ?— R. McL. 



BiRMiNonAM Entomological Society : March 18th, 1895. — Mr. P. W. 

 Abbott, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. C. J. Wainwright showed two specimens of Zygana from the New Forest, 

 which he could not satisfactorily determine. Mr. Abbott believed them to be 

 trifolii. Mr. R. C. Bradley showed a spider from Sutton, which was much like 

 Formica rufa in general appearance. Mr. P. W. Abbott showed a nice series of 

 Hesperia Actceon from Lulworth. Mr. R. C. Bradley showed a box from his col- 

 lection, containing amongst others the Psychidce ; and he gave s short description 



« This reminds us that in the " Insecta Britannica, Tinein.n," the wings of Micrnpteryx arc 

 erroneotisly figxired as posse.ssing a distinct " fvenulutn." r/. PI. n, fig. 4. ^^ 



