NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 115 



and there are also four volumes of original MS. notes. The Rev. 

 J. Hellins, who has also about 1800 of his drawings and sketches 

 (some are only portions, such as a segment or a particular part 

 that was necessary to enlarge for better description), has, in 

 accordance with the understanding which existed between him and 

 Mr. Buckler, and with a view of making the work, which is pro- 

 posed to be published, thoroughly complete, placed the whole of 

 them at the disposal of the Society ; and from the whole amount 

 of these drawings, some of which are in duplicate, no doubt the 

 choicest will be selected for publication. The volumes that have 

 already been issued by the Society are of first class description ; 

 this, I think, is a sufficient guarantee that the forthcoming work 

 will be the best of the sort ever offered to the entomological 

 world; it is expected to be completed in four yearly volumes. I 

 must, however, remind your readers that they will not be able to 

 purchase the work through their booksellers ; in order to obtain 

 it, it will be necessary to join the Ray Society, which can be done 

 by communicating with the Secretary, the Rev. T. "Wiltshire, 

 25, Granville Park, Lewisham, S.E. The annual contribution is 

 a guinea ; P. O.O. or cheque for that amount should be sent with 

 full name and address ; and while the annual subscription is con- 

 tinued every subscriber will get the full benefit of the works 

 published by the Society for the year. Only a limited number 

 will be published, and those who do not subscribe for the year of 

 publication will stand a very great chance of being disappointed 

 should they join afterwards for the purpose of obtaining this 

 invaluable work. My advice to all who may read this and wish 

 "to avail themselves of this prize, and there is not the slightest 

 doubt it will be a prize for any entomologist in the next 

 generation, is to join the Ray Society without delay, and con- 

 tinue an annual subscriber to this very useful Society ; and I am 

 quite sure they will never have cause to regret it. In the works 

 already issued no pains or expense have been spared to make them 

 perfect ; only first class artists and printers are employed, and to 

 possess a volume issued by this Society is " to possess a thing of 

 beauty which is a joy for ever." — G. C. Bignell; Stonehouse, 

 Plymouth, April 14, 1884. 



Study of British Diptera. — I am about to begin the 

 study of the Diptera, and should be much obliged if any of the 



