168 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Proceedings of the South London Entomological and Natural History 

 Society, 1906-7. Pp. i-xvi, 1-106. Plates i.-iv. The Societies' 

 Rooms, Hibernia Chambers, London Bridge. 



The entomological papers in this excellent little publication, the 

 issue of which is always awaited with considerable interest, are " A 

 Few Notes on the Butterflies of Saskatchewan (Assiniboia)," by A. G. 

 Croker and H. J. Turner, F.E.S., and " On the Occurrence of 

 Tortrix pronubana, Hb., in Britain," by R. Adkin, F.E.S. Two of the 

 plates are reproductions of photographs, by Messrs. G. T. Lyle and E. 

 Step, of moths at rest on tree-trunks. The protective assimilation is 

 admirable in both, but in Plate i., showing an example of Xylina 

 omithopus, the insect is, at first, more difficult to detect than is Aplecta 

 nebulosa on Plate ii. Plate iii. shows a specimen of Eupithecia 

 consignata at rest, and eggs — highly magnified — of the same species. 

 These, together with greatly enlarged eggs of Aporia cratagi and 

 Pachetra leucophaa, on Plate iv., are from photographs by Mr. A. E. 

 Tonge. 



In his address, the President, Mr. Robert Adkin, after dealing with 

 the affairs of the Society, some books on Natural History published 

 during the year, and recent additions to the British Fauna lists, 

 concludes with some highly interesting remarks on the abundance of 

 certain species of Lepidoptera in Britain during 1906, and the question 

 of immigration in relation to such species and others. 



OBITUARY. 



We have heard with regret that Mr. Charles J. Watkins, of 

 Watledge, Nailsworth, died May 27th, 1907, aged sixty years. 



When quite young Mr. Watkins commenced to collect and study 

 the British Lepidoptera, and this he continued to do throughout his 

 life, although the other orders also received his attention. Side by 

 side with entomology went the study of plant life, indispensable when 

 a knowledge of the larval stage of insects became essential. Mr. 

 Watkins thus was as keenly interested in the flora of the country as 

 many botanists who confine themselves to this branch of natural 

 science alone. Patient, methodical, and completely absorbed by the 

 main business of his hours of leisure and relaxation, he accumulated 

 a large collection of insects. He took great interest in directing 

 youthful energy into what he considered profitable channels. In this 

 way he formed a wide circle of friends, by no means confined to the 

 immediate neighbourhood in which he lived. For many years he 

 knew and worked with the late Mr. Merrin, of Gloucester. He gave 

 valuable assistance in the preparation of ' The Fauna of Gloucester- 

 shire ' by the late Mr. C. Witchell. Among articles from his pen may 

 be mentioned " Denizens of an Old Cherry-tree." He was elected a 

 Fellow of the Entomological Society of London in 1900. 



