48 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



cenea, P. meriones, P. antinorii, and their allies being discussed in detail. 

 He next dealt with the evidence on points such as the persecution by 

 insectivorous foes, and with respect to attacks by birds, admitted the 

 poverty of existing evidence, but concluded that this was largely due 

 to the neglect of well-directed and sustained observation, and that 

 what had been published went far in the direction of proving that birds 

 must still be reckoned among the principal enemies of butterflies. He 

 congratulated the Society on the fact that the chief part in inves- 

 tigating and generalizing on this subject had been borne by its Fellows, 

 and concluded with an earnest appeal for the establishment of bio- 

 logical stations, similar to marine stations, for the study of the terres- 

 trial fauna of the tropics under favourable conditions. On the motion 

 of Lord Walsingham, seconded by Mr. F. D. Godman, a vote of thanks 

 to tbe President, for his able summary of the subject and his services 

 during the year, was carried by acclamation ; and the proceedings 

 terminated with a vote of thanks to the other officers, moved by Pro- 

 fessor Poulton, seconded by Col. Yerbury, and acknowledged by Mr. 

 McLachlan and Mr. Blandford. — W. F. H. Blandford, Hon. Sec. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Proceedings of the South London Entomological and Natural History 

 Society. Part I., pp. 68. Published at the Society's Rooms, 

 Hibernia Chambers, S.E. 1897. 



In order to ensure earlier publication of papers read at the 

 meetings, the ' Proceedings ' of this Society are now issued in 

 two parts. The instalment before us comprises nine papers, all of 

 which, with the exception of two on Crustacea by Mr. Step, treat of 

 Lepidoptera, and of these the most important are — " Some Considera- 

 tions of Natural Genera, and Incidental References to the Nature of 

 Species," by Mr. J. W. Tutt ; and " The British Day Butterflies, and 

 the Changes in the Wings of Butterflies," by Prof. A. Radcliffe Grote. 

 All students of systematic entomological work should make a point of 

 reading both these papers, as they deal with some very interesting- 

 matters connected with a proper understanding of the subject, and a 

 due appreciation of the value attaching to structural characters in the 

 formation of genera and the higher divisions. 



Phylogeny no doubt is the basis upon which classification should 

 be founded ; but from the arguments brought forward in the two papers 

 referred to above, it would appear that those who are engaged in this 

 branch of the science are not altogether in accord. It seems that not 

 only the structural details of the perfect insect, but those also of the 

 earlier stages of species, will have to be further enquired into and studied 

 before a system with any claims to stability is likely to be established. 



For all practical purposes the arrangement of British butterflies 

 now in vogue is not inadequate, and will probably continue in use for 

 many years to come. The present sequence of species, genera, and 

 families is perhaps hardly less natural than the order in which they 

 are placed in the newer arrangements. 



