208 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Proceedings of the South London Entomological and Natural History 

 Society for 1899. Pp. 120, with one plate. Published at the 

 Society's Rooms, Hibernia Chambers, London Bridge. 1900. 



Although something like three-fourths of its income is needed to 

 defray rental charges and general working expenses, this Society 

 always seems able to publish its volume of Proceedings. The balance- 

 sheet shows us that a sum of £44 was paid during the financial year 

 for printing. We further glean from the same document that dona- 

 tions to the Publication Fund amounted to d626, and that £20 was 

 transferred thereto from the General Fund. 



In his address the retiring president (Mr. A. Harrison), after briefly 

 referring to the affairs of the Society, and reviewing the work of the 

 season, discourses at some length on the subjects of Telegony, and the 

 connection of the mosquito with malarial fever. There are five papers, 

 and one of these, by Dr. Chapman, entitled " Some Points on the 

 Evolution of the Lepidopterous Antenna," is of special importance. 

 Mr. J. W. Tutt's paper treats of the •' Nature of Metamorphosis." 

 Mr. Malcolm Burr contributes an instructive paper on Orthoptera, in 

 which he gives an outline of the litei-ature on the subject in chrono- 

 logical order, and makes some helpful remarks on species of the order, 

 specially referring to those occurring in Britain. Mr. Robert Adkin 

 furnishes another of those interesting accounts of his entomological 

 observations while on holiday at Eastbourne. Although not strictly 

 entomological, we must not omit to mention a brief but useful paper 

 by Mr. D. J. Scourfield on "Fresh- water Entomostraca." 



A good deal of valuable information will be found in the " Abstract 

 of Proceedings." 



We heartily congratulate the Society on the production of this 

 excellent volume. 



OBITUARY. 



Mr. William Watkins died at his residence, Villa Sphinx, East- 

 bourne, on June 9th last, aged fifty-one years. We have very little 

 knowledge of his early career, except that he had a passion for 

 collecting butterflies when quite a boy. When he arrived at the age 

 of manhood he went to India, where for six years he acted as Orderly- 

 room Clerk to the 76th Regiment, and devoted a good deal of his 

 leisure time to the capture of Lepidoptera. On his return to England 

 he sold his collection to Mr. Horniman, and subsequently decided to 

 adopt entomology as a business. He was originally connected with 

 the well-known entomological firm in the Strand ; subsequently he 

 carried on business in Piccadilly, and finally he removed to East- 

 bourne. In 1881 he established and conducted the arrangements of 

 the Insect-house at the Gardens of the Zoological Society, and a year 

 or two later he opened a similar concern at the Crystal Palace. From 

 time to time Mr. Watkins held exhibitions in various parts of the 

 country. On one occasion, when at Newmarket, he was honoured by 

 a visit from the Prince of Wales and the Duke of CambridQ:e. 



