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(^TURRENT NOTES AND SHORT NOTICES. 



As we go to press we deeply regret to hear of the death of Henry 

 Rowland Brown, M.A. An obituary will appe:ir, we hope, in our next 

 nuniber.-G.T.B.-B. 



Late in the year 1921 the London Natural History Society issued 

 its Tra)imcti(ins for 1920. Iilntomology does not come largely into this 

 report, which contains matter dealing with Ornithology and J^otany 

 chiefly. As is expressed in the Council's Report, " the size of the 

 annual volume has been much reduced owing to the change in money 

 values" and " one of the most important features " has had to suffer. 

 Still we note that no less than twenty -one field meetings have been 

 held by the various sections of the Society, and that much good work 

 has been done, and that on an income of only about £G0. We wish 

 them a brighter time. 



We have received a copy of I'/ie Macni-li'iiidniiterd uf ( 'ouiitj/ I'l/roiw 

 from its author, our correspondent, Thomas Greer, who for many years 

 has been a most enthusiastic observer of the butterflies and moths of 

 his OAvn neighbourhood, one rich in local forms. Entomologists will 

 find this list of much use, as it collects in one brochure the details of 

 all these local races, e.;/., of Pierin na/n', I'litcldoc cardainines, Mrlitacd 

 aiiiinia, I'arari/e ae(ie}ia, I'lpinepliele jiirtina, (Joenouijnipha tiphoii, Pobj- 

 Diininttiis icanis, etc., among the butterflies, Hi/droecia rrinaiu'iisis, 

 Zi/(/at;iii(lae, and many more of the Heterocera. It is ably done, and 

 will be most useful. 



The Report of the Fourth b^ntomological Meeting, held at Pusa, in 

 February, 1921, contains fifty out of the fifty-two papers which were 

 read, with many plates, some of which are coloured, and over 400 pages 

 of letterpress. The matter has been prepared from MSS. sent in and 

 notes taken by the Jouit Secretaries, Messrs. R. Senior-White and G. 

 R. Dutt, and edited by the Imperial Entomologist, T. Bainbrigge 

 Fletcher, R.N., F.L.S., F.E.S. The papers read were classified as 

 dealing with, I., Crop Pests, c.;/., cotton, sugar, mango, etc. ; II., 

 Forest Enemies ; III., Medical and Veterinary Entomology, e.(j., Surra 

 and flies, mosquito distribution, chemical reactions, etc. ; IV., House- 

 hold and Store Pests ; V., Lac Pests; VI., Life-histories and Bionomics, 

 ('.//., Protective movements, range of vision in Platypezid Flies, Oviposi- 

 tion on parasites of various pests, etc. ; VII., Insect Preservation ; 

 VIII., Systematic Entomology, cj/.. List of Cnccidac of India, List of 

 Parasitic Hymenoptera of economic importance; IX. and X., Other 

 practical and administrative matters. A most interesting paper to us 

 is one by Prof. I'J. B. Poulton, on a ccpiprehensive collection of speci- 

 mens of ra I'll ill iiohjtcn, sent to him from Baghownie and other places. 

 It is noted that all were taken, damaged or perfect. The author states, 

 " The injured specimens are of special interest, being in nearly all cases 

 symmetrically shorn, or torn at the anal angle of the hind wing, injuries 

 evidently the work of birds or lizards." Tabulation is given of the 

 3 -like $ ci/rtis, ihearit<t(diic/iiae-\ike 5 , including ab. stic/iins, and the 

 rojiiidits $ licctor-Wke form. The discussion of various difficult points 

 in the theory of mimicry, which this tabulation and the circumstances 

 surroundin"' the making of the collections, is most enlightening and in- 

 structive. We suggest that all interested in the theory read the facts 

 and arguments here brought forward to counter sonu? facts which, at 

 the firs't glance, are strongly negative in their bearing. 



