NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 261 



British Dragonflies. — We note that the subscription price of the 

 work on ' British Dragonflies,' by Mr. W. J. Lucas, to be published by 

 Mr. L. Upcott Gill, of the Strand, London, has been raised to fifteen 

 shillings ; and it is intimated that the price will be further increased 

 to a guinea on publication. 



Larve of Tinea vastella infesting the Horns of the Antelope. — 

 We referred (ante, p. 168) to a letter on this subject, published in 

 ' Nature' for June 9th last. In the number dated September 15th of 

 the same journal the matter is further considered, and from this it would 

 appear that the larva in question does attack the living horns. 



The Present Prices of the Older Works on British Entomology. 

 — As enquiries are frequently being made respecting the above, it has 

 been thought that a few particulars on the subject might perhaps be 

 of more or less general interest. With a view, therefore, of obtaining 

 some idea of the current market value of such books, the catalogues of 

 various Natural History booksellers, both British and foreign, have 

 been consulted ; and the results, so far as concerns the works enume- 

 rated below, are submitted for the information of those who may be 

 curious in such matters. Other books will be referred to as opportunity 

 offers. 



Albin (E). 'Natural History of English Insects.' Illustrated with 

 100 copper-plates, curiously engraven from the life, and exactly 

 . coloured by the author ; 100 hand-coloured plates ; and 100 leaves 

 of text. Large 4to. Date 1720. — This work is not often found 

 mentioned in catalogues ; but occasionally a copy, bound in calf, 

 may be had for about £2 12s. 6d. 

 Albin (E.) and Derham (G.). ' Insectorum Angliae Naturalis His- 

 toria.' 100 plates. Date 1731. — This is quoted in a foreign cata- 

 logue at 15 marks. 

 • Aurelian,' The. Harris (Moses). Date 1778. With forty-four coloured 

 plates. — Not often quoted in catalogues. A " fine copy " was 

 offered iu the year 1891 at £4 10s. The third edition (1794), with 

 46 coloured plates, has been listed at £1 15s. ; whilst the Westwood 

 edition, brought out in 1840 at the price of £5 5s., has been marked 

 in catalogues during the past ten years at from £2 to £3 3s. — 

 The late Mr. Stainton, referring to this edition of the ' Aurelian ' in 

 1856, when the work was selling at £4 4s., says :— " The colouring 

 . is very gaudy, and little resembles the productions of nature. For 

 babies, both young and old, who like to look at picture-books, it 

 may not be uninteresting; but ns a nursery toy it is rather 

 expensive." 

 Aurelian's 'Pocket Companion,' The. One coloured plate. Date 



1775. By the same author as the above. — Present price about 2s. 

 Curtis (J.). ' Farm Insects : being the Natural History and Economy 

 of the Insects Injurious to the Field Crops of Great Britain and 

 Ireland ; and also those which Infest Barns and Granaries.' Six- 

 teen coloured plates (1860). — The above edition is on sale at £1 ; 

 and a later edition (1883) at 18s. 6d. 

 Curtis (J.). ' The Genera of British Lepidoptera.' Thirty-five coloured 

 plates (1858).— May be had from 15s. to £1 8s. 



