RECENT LITERATURE. 139 



gave a resume of some 450 post-mortem examinations of birds which 

 he had obtained from various parts of Cheshire during a number of 

 years. Of the many records, the Coleoptera were by far the most 

 numerous, this being due to the fact that tlieir hard elytra are not 

 assimilated so rapidly as are the softer Diptera or Lepidoptera. 

 Many species of Geodephaga were found in the rook, jay, wagtail, and 

 other birds. Di/fiscus punctuhtus and Heloplioriis aquaticus were tlie 

 only species of the Hydrodephaga observed. Of the latter species 

 about 150 specimens were found in a golden-eye duck [Glawjula 

 r//aitci.on) ; the same insects also occurred in several other birds. The 

 Brachelytra were only represented by two or three species, found only 

 during hard weather. The Aphodii were frequently observed ; A.punc- 

 tato-snlcatus in many birds; also A. fimetarms in the starling. A night- 

 jar [Caprimiilgus europaus) had regaled itself with six specimens of 

 Geotrupes stercorarius, five of which were found almost perfect. Although 

 the hard coverings of the Curculionidne (Rhyncophora) are said to save 

 them from attack (' Darwinism,' p. 260), these insects far outnumbered 

 the other Coleoptera ; the names of several species were given, including 

 Situnes, PhyUohhis, Apioii, &c. The finding of Phijllotrcta undulata and 

 P. nemorum is of economic importance ; three records of these were 

 given, all from the tree-creeper (Certhia fannlians). During severe 

 weather two specimens of Forficula were found. From this fact it 

 was suggested that these insects are nauseous. Of the Hymenoptera, 

 the discovery of two specimens of the larvae of a species of Tenthredo 

 in the cuckoo was of the most importance. Several species of 

 IchneumonidfB, numerous specimens of a species of Cijnips, and two 

 species of Foniiica were also recorded. Larvfe and imagines of the 

 Lepidoptera occurred frequently, but could rarely be identified. Larvje 

 of Abraxas gvusHulariata in the cuckoo were the most important finds in 

 this order. Psyllidre, Aphidfe, and Coccidre were found in several 

 species of the Parid^e ; three species of Coccidfe were determined. 

 The Diptera wei-e largely represented, but, like the Lepidoptera, they 

 too were most difficult to determine. The President exhibited a fine 

 series of varieties of Sineiintkus tiluc; Mr. Watson, the rare Papilio 

 hairdii and its pupa ; Mr. H. B. Jones, Lepidoptera from the West 

 Coast of Africa ; and Mr. R. J. Thompson, exotic Coleoptera found in 

 imported timber. — F. N. Pierce & A. B, Jones, Hon. Sees. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Report of Observations of Injurious Insects and Co)nmon Farm Pests 



during the year 1894, ivith Methods of Prevention and Pwmedy. By 



Eleanor A. Ormerod. Pp. viii, 122, and Appendix. London : 



Simpkin, Marshall & Co. 1895. 



It would appear from this Report that the year 1894 was not 



marked by any widespread or very serious insect attack, although 



nearly all kinds of crop and orchard insect-pests were present during 



the season. To the lepidopterist it will seem curious to find the larvae 



of such species as Vanessa polychloros, Snierijith^cs ocellatus, and (Jastro- 



pacha {Lasiocampa) quercifulia, referred to as inimical to the fruit- 



