24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



species not discovered till it is in the net ; Merodon equestris, which not 

 only resembles Anthophora furcata, but flies in exactly the same 

 manner, and has a similar characteristic, a high-pitched note. He 

 also showed the species of Psithyrus, with their hosts Bombus 

 lapidarius and B. terrestris (female), which they resemble very closely, 

 undoubtedly for protective purposes, and probably to enable them to 

 enter the nests of their hosts unobserved, as their entrance is 

 frequently disputed when detected. Mr. G. T. Bethune-Baker showed 

 a species of Arhopala mimicking Danis appolonius, a widely different 

 Lycaenid. — Colbran J. Wainwright, Hon. Sec. 



BECENT LITEBATUBE. 



The Lepidoptera of the British Islands. By Charles G. Barrett, F.E.S. 

 Vol. iv., pp. 401. London : L. Beeve & Co. 1897. 



In the present volume we have a further instalment of the 

 Noctuina, in which ninety-eight species, comprised in thirty genera, 

 are considered. 



It is satisfactory to note that Mr. Barrett has not found it desirable 

 to make any very striking changes in the arrangement or generic 

 nomenclature of this family. He has, however, adopted Eurois for 

 occulta, prasina (herbida), adusta, and porphyrea (satura). The first- 

 named is the type of Eurois, Hiibn., and prasina appears to be 

 congeneric with it, but it is probably not quite correct to include 

 adusta, and porphyrea, in this genus. Popularis is usually assigned to 

 Neuronia, Hiibn., but our author places this species, together with 

 cespitis, in Heliophobus, and removes hispidus to Ulochlcena. Abjecta, 

 sordida (anceps), and furva are referred to Hama, and there seems to 

 be no objection to this ; but it is curious to note that Mr. Meyrick 

 includes all three of these species in Hadena. Sir George Hampson 

 (Fauna Brit. Ind. Moths, ii. p. 198) merges Mamestra, Ochs., and 

 Xeuria, Guen., in Hadena, Schrank, established in 1802 (Fauna, 

 Boica, ii. 2, p. 158), and gives cucubali, Schiff. [Fues.] as the type. 

 Mr. Barrett retains cucubali in Dianthmcia, and Mr. Meyrick includes 

 it in Haruwdia, Hiibn. (— Dianthacia, Auct.). Aprilina is placed in 

 Chariptera, Guen., and this would seem to indicate that it is considered 

 congeneric with culta, Fabr., the type of the genus. Dryobota adopted 

 for protea appears to be a more suitable genus for the species than 

 either Polia, to which it is referred by Mr. Meyrick, or Hadena, in 

 which it is included by several authors ; probably, however, its really 

 correct position would be in Eurois. 



At the present time both classification and nomenclature are in a 

 state of transition, and it will probably be many years hence ere 

 anything approaching finality in these matters is attained. In the 

 meantime the student must be prepared to find in future works on 

 British Lepidoptera many more indications of the changes in progress 

 than those we have referred to as occurring in the volume under 

 notice. We do not say this in disparagement of Mr. Barrett's work ; 

 on the contrary, we consider that he has done wisely in keeping closely 

 to the old track. 



