24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Proceedings of the South London Entomoloqical and Natural History 

 Society for 1898. Part I. Pp. 32. Published at the Society's 

 Booms, Hibernia Chambers, S.E. November, 1898. 



Contains the following papers read before the Society during the 

 first half of the session: — 1. "The Lasiocampids," by J. W. Tutt, 

 F.E.S.; 2. "British Species of Lepidoptera occurring in Japan," by 

 E. South ; 3. " Notes on Collecting British Hemiptera," by Edward 

 Saunders, F.L.S., F.E.S. ; 4. " Notes on some South European Lepi- 

 doptera, with Bemarks on Thais and Euchloe," by A. H. Jones, F.E.S. 



In his contribution, Mr. Tutt has collected together a good deal of 

 information concerning the natural history of the group of moths he 

 refers to as Lasiocampids. He divides these into six tribes and nine 

 genera. Neustria and castrensis are referred to Malacosoma, which, 

 together with Macrothylacia (Bombyx) rubi, are placed in the fifth 

 tribe. Cosmotriche is adopted for potatoria, Gastropacha for quercifolia, 

 and Phyllodesma for ilicifolia, all three being comprised in tribe six, 

 but the two last generic names are afterwards changed to Eutricha and 

 Epicnaptera respectively. 



The device usually employed to indicate the probable relationship 

 of families and genera of Lepidoptera has here assumed the form of a 

 veritable genealogical tree. 



We note that the author says that he has "long come to the 

 conclusion that synonymy is of the devil." Probably, however, it is 

 easier to settle questions connected with the priority and significance 

 of written names than it is to fix the order in which groups of living 

 organisms were evolved. 



Mr. Saunders's paper is a useful introduction to the collection and 

 study of Hemiptera ; and that by Mr. Jones is interesting, and em- 

 braces some instructive remarks on Thais and Euchloe. 



Manchester Microscopical Society. Transactions and Annual Report, 

 1897. Pp. 114, with 8 photo plates. Manchester : published 

 by the Society. July, 1898. 



Among the contents are two entomological papers, one of which, 

 by A. T. Gillanders, deals with " The Hemiptera-Homoptera," and 

 the other, entitled "Natural Selection in the Lepidoptera," is by 

 Mark L. Sykes. The latter discusses the question of " Mimicry," and 

 is illustrated by eight excellent plates. 



Marvels of Ant Life. By W. F. Kirby, F.L.S., F.E.S., &c. Pp.174, 

 illustrated. London : S. W. Partridge & Co. 1898. 



A charming little book, teeming with interesting facts connected 

 with the habits and natural economy of ants of all countries. Our 

 author professes to have furnished us with a popular rather than a 

 scientific work, but we find, nevertheless, that the information supplied 

 is scientifically accurate and of a distinctly educational character. 



