CI;KI!K.N'T M/IKS. 79 



(CURRENT NOTES AND SHORT NOTICES. 



On the evening of March 14th we went to the " Old \'ic " in the 

 Waterloo Road, to hear a lecture by Prof. E. B. Poulton, F.R.8., on 

 "Animal Camouflage." The lecturer explained the meaning and origin 

 of the term (which is now, somewhat incorrectly, used for protective 

 resemblance in animals), and gave numerous examples in mammals, 

 birds, reptiles, fish and insects, illustrated by a set of very fine lantern 

 slides. The Professor was in excellent form, and all that he had to 

 say carried conviction with it. We were both surprised and pleased 

 to notice the great interest and attention displayed by the large local 

 audience. — ^H. J. D. 



We regret to record the death of an old and valued correspondent, 

 M. L.-J. L. Lambillion, of Jambes-lez-Xamur, vice-president of the 

 Societe Entomologique Namuroise, and one of its founders. He died 

 unexpectedly on March 12th, being apparently in his usual health the 

 day before. He was the author of a very useful work on the Butter- 

 flies of Belgium, and also compiled a Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of 

 the country : he was a constant contributor and supporter of the Revue 

 Mensuelle of Namur. His age was 69 years. 



Some time ago we received the Report of the Imperial Entomolo- 

 gist (F. Bainln-igge Fletcher, F.L.S., F.E.S.) of the Indian Govern- 

 ment on Insect Pests in 1920-21. Like all the work done m India, it 

 is not useful unless it be thorough and detailed. The principal work 

 done was a continuation of the investigation of borers in sugar-cane 

 and other gramineous plants, carried out by observations and countings 

 on various experimental plots. A bad attack by Aphids on an experi- 

 mental crop was checked in a few days by the liberation of large num- 

 bers of Cocci nellid beetles collected elsewhere. An attack of Red- 

 spider was controlled by spraying with crude oil emulsion and sulphur. 

 The rearing of insects to record life-histories is an important part of 

 the work done. In the present report there are plates and groups of 

 figures pourtraying the life-histories of Uaematopota javana (Dip.) on 

 the roots of indigo, an Agromyzid fly on the leaves of rape, Gonocepha- 

 Lnni eiont/atinii (Col.) on the roots of l'oly<io)niiii, Exelastis piniiilio 

 (Pterophorid) on a wild vetch {Alysicarpus vaijinalis), an Anthomyiid 

 fly on Dabhi grass, (JlenecanijituH hilobiis (Col. Cei-amhyciilae) on the 

 bark of Ficna t/lonierata, Lit/iocolletis neodoxa (Lep.) mining leaves of 

 Uliijnclioda iii.uiima, and Acrocerco/in Kymjrauiina (Lep. Tin.) mining 

 leaves of mango. There has been included a new coloured plate of the 

 Noctuid (JoHiiiopldla sahidifera, the well-known pest of jute. In addition 

 work has been done on Hurra (the dreaded camel disease) and the con- 

 nection of Tabanid species with it. The breeding of mosquitoes in 

 connection with the fauna of tree-holes has also had considerable 

 attention during the period. We congratulate Mr. Fletcher and his 

 stall' on the steady progress made, of which the adequate reporting and 

 publishing is no mean branch. 



SOCIETIES. 



The Entomological Society of London. 

 Xovetuhfr 2n(l. — Donation to the Library. — The presentation b}' 

 the President of a rare copy of Scopoli's " Deliciae Florae et Faunicae '' 



