118 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



causes of the state of things complained of, with the ulterior view 

 of eliciting any suggestion that can be made towards removing 

 one at least of the contributing causes which appears remediable. 

 Now let us look at the state of things which obtains with the 

 Neuroptera. To go no further afield than Mr. King's paper, we 

 find that the literature bearing on the order is all hidden away in 

 various magazines ; that in one group the specimens must be 

 dissected — with the aid of a microscope of course — before the 

 species can be determined ; that one or two families cannot be 

 preserved, except in spirits ; and so great is the difficulty of 

 naming these, that even an advanced student of the order like 

 Mr. King will not undertake to do so. Some may here be 

 inclined to remark that the difficulties attendant on the pursuit 

 ought to make it all the more attractive ; but it must be remem- 

 bered that we are discussing not things as they should be, but as 

 they are ; and I fear that in the vast majority of cases difficulties 

 are not attractive. Minor reasons may possibly be found in the 

 comparatively limited number of species, and in the circumstance 

 that the process of breeding — which affords much interest to many 

 lepidopterists — is not practicable with the Neuroptera. As to 

 collecting this order simultaneously with (say) the Lepidoptera, 

 it has to be borne in mind that the time which most collectors 

 can give to the pursuit is limited, and that not many can go in 

 for several orders with the expectation of making anj^thing like a 

 complete acquaintance with all. I shall not put forward any 

 suggestion of my own as to where any help is to be looked for, 

 beyond saying that it appears to me that a Manual — popular but 

 not unscientific — of British Neueoptera is the first thing needed 

 to increase the number of British Neuropterists. — T. J. 

 Anderson; 24, Florence Place, Glasgow, February, 1882. 



EEVIEW. 

 Rhopalocera Malayana : a Description of the Butterflies of the 

 Malay Peninsula. By W. L. Distant. Part I., Eoyal 4to, 

 28 pp ,*4 coloured plates. London: W. L. Distant, care of 

 West, Newman & Co. Penang: D. Logan, Esq. 



When a man, fitted for his work, devotes his best energy in a 

 conscientious manner to any labour, the result should be a master- 

 piece. Such is the new work of Mr. Distant. Thoughtfully 



