188 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



L' Amateur de Pajnilons. By H. Coupin. Paris: J. B. Bailliere et Fils. 



Dec, 1894. 



This profusely illustrated guide for the beginner in entomology 

 comes opportunely at the opening of the season. Curiously enough, 

 nearly all the species figured are found in Britain as well as on the 

 Continent, and although the cuts leave much to be desired in the 

 direction of clearness, they should be of considerable use to the isolated 

 collector in naming his captures. We find chapters on Physiology, 

 Protective Resemblance, Polymorphism, &c. ; but it is in the sections 

 devoted to the various methods of collecting that the author is strongest. 

 Its chief merit lies in bringing under one cover a large amount of 

 detailed information which is of great value to the young student, and we 

 wish that some such complete handbook to collecting existed in English, 



There are some very interesting records upon the migration of 

 Vanessa cardui, which, appearing from the south in immense numbers, 

 is supposed to come from Africa, assisted by the warm winds in spring; 

 and, as has been noted in England, the painted lady is usually accom- 

 panied by Phisia r/anima. Sphhix convolvidi is in the same way cited 

 as migrating to Europe from Algeria. W. M. 



Wayside and Woodland Blossoms : a Pocket Guide to British Wild 

 Flowers, for the Country Eambler. By Edward Step. 173 pp., 

 with 128 coloured and 22 plain plates. London and New York : 

 Frederick Warne & Co. 1895. 



The author, putting aside technicalities to a large extent, has pre- 

 pared a convenient guide for the plant-collector ; and the descriptions, 

 which are written in a clear and intelligible manner, together with the 

 figures, should enable any one to determine almost every species of wild 

 plant that he may meet with in his wanderings, or that he may wish 

 to become acquainted with. 



To the entomologist, and especially to the lepidopterist, a knowledge 

 of field botany is of considerable importance. To those, therefore, 

 interested in insects and desiring to learn how to know and where to 

 find the plants upon which they feed, we can commend this handy 

 little volume. 



A Plum-Scale in Western New York. By M. V. Slingkrland. Bulletin 

 83, Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, Ento- 

 mological Division. Dec, 1894. 

 A "plum- SCALE " has recently been noticed to seriously menace the 

 welfare of plum-trees in New York orchards. It seems, however, that 

 so far the life-history details of the pest have not been fully ascer- 

 tained, and that even its name has not been determined beyond the 

 fact that it is a species of Lecanium, possibly L. juylandis, Bouche. 

 Although it chiefly attacks plum-trees, the " scale " has been observed 

 on other fruit-trees in a lesser degree. Mr. Slingerland recommends 

 " spraying the infested trees with kerosine emulsion diluted with four 

 parts of water," and impresses upon the operator the paramount 

 importance of hitting each little scale with the liquid. 



