( xlix ) 
We cannot sufficiently thank the Department of Agri- 
culture at Washington for the support that they give to this 
branch of our science, and the liberality with which their 
publications are distributed both at home and abroad. 
The Hope Professorship at Oxford has been filled by one 
of our most active Fellows, Prof. Poulton, F.R.S., who has 
already shown that he intends to rescue the collections under 
his charge from the state of neglect into which they had of 
late years been drifting. I am sure we shall all wish him 
success in the task. 
A great deal of activity prevails among entomologists at 
the present time, several of the most important works on 
Lepidoptera having made rapid progress during the last 
year. 
Among them, Leech’s ‘ Butterflies of China and Japan, 
one of the most beautifully got up and important faunistic 
works that have ever appeared, is nearly approaching com- 
pletion, and reflects great credit both on Mr. Leech and 
Mr. South, who has lately taken a considerable share in it. 
Hampson’s ‘ Moths of India’ is another work which de- 
serves the very highest commendation, and will not only be 
of invaluable assistance to all entomologists in India, but 
creates a new and complete classification for Oriental Hetero- 
cera, which was very much needed. 
Edwards’s ‘ Butterflies of North America’ has appeared at 
more frequent intervals, and has been more generally inte- 
resting than in any recent year, and though it is hardly 
possible to hope that it can ever be completed by the author, 
yet it stands almost alone, as far as it goes, as a work of art, 
and for its descriptions of the early stages of many little- 
known species. 
Moore’s ‘ Lepidoptera Indica’ makes steady but slow pro- 
gress in the hands of its veteran author, whilst de Nicéville’s 
‘Butterflies of India’ is believed to be nearly completed, 
though no volume has been published in the last year. 
Our late President and Mr. Salvin continue the Herculean 
task which they have undertaken of figuring and describing 
the wonderfully rich fauna of Central America in a manner 
