240 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



find on every patch of sugar a score or two revelling upon the 

 sweets ; nor do they stop there, but even ascend the street-lamps ; 

 and so, when adopting this mode of collecting, one is certain to 

 net more earwigs than moths. They also intrude in our dwellings, 

 where woe be to the entomologist who leaves his setting-house 

 within their reach, as they seem to possess a great liking for his 

 specimens. Unfortunately I can give testimony upon this point ; 

 after entering the house the modus operandi is to pass along each 

 setting-board, and to cut off all the antennae without otherwise 

 injuring the insects; on one occasion in two days a single earwig 

 removed thirty-six pairs belonging to Diloha ccsndeocephala, 

 while about a dozen other sorts that were upon the same boards 

 remained untouched. This season one again managed to elude 

 my vigilance, but happily was detected before doing much 

 mischief, the choice this time being some rows of bred N. dictcea. 

 — H. T. DoBSON, JUN. ; New Maiden, Surrey. 



United Field Naturalist's Society. — A numerously 

 attended meeting of this Society was held on Sunday, September 

 11th, at Middleton, near Manchester. After several interesting 

 discussions on botanical, ornithological, geological, and other 

 subjects, the meeting adjourned for luncheon. On reassembling 

 Mr. J. Thorpe, of Middleton, read a long and carefully prepared 

 discourse upon " Insects injurious to plantjlife." He divided his 

 subject into sections : such as foliage feeders, insects detrimental 

 to fruit, ornamental flowers, wood-borers, e^c. After enumerating 

 a large number of insects looked upon by man as his enemies, 

 Mr. Thorpe explained some of his experiments with Nature's 

 natural check upon these creatures, viz., the ichneumons. A 

 long discussion followed upon the points raised by the essayist, 

 and a cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Commissioner 

 Thorpe for his paper. We need not point out the advantage of these 

 periodical gatherings of naturalists in our great manufacturing 

 centres, nor to the elevating influence they have upon many who 

 would otherwise take little interest in matters scientific. — Ed. 



Erratum. — In the editorial note on Boletohia fidiginaria, 

 p. 212, for " species" read " specimen." P. 190, 1. 7, for "inches" 

 read " lines." 



