36 



Lycsenids. The additions to the Hymenoptera during the 

 last year include a bee, two saw-flies, and sixty-two species 

 of the genus Antceon. 



Lepidoptera. — Anthrocera achillece, Esper, was added to 

 the British Fauna by Mr. E. A. Cockayne, who received 

 some Burnets, taken by Mr. W. Renton near Oban, which 

 were afterwards identified as this species (" Ent. Rec," xx, 



P- 73)- . , 



Nonagria edelsteni, Iutt. This much discussed species has, 



apparently, in order to show its true identity, appeared in 



Sussex, where a fine series has been taken by Messrs. 



Wightman and Sharp. 



Hydrcecia crinanensis, Burrows, was taken by Messrs. Bacot 

 and Simes on the banks of the Crinan Canal. 



Hyponomeuta rorellus, Hb. One taken by Mr. Eustace 

 Bankes on July 25th, 1895, in the Isle of Purbeck, and 

 several seen but only two taken by Mr. A. C. Vine near 

 Brighton. The larva appears to feed on Sallow (" E. M. M.," 

 xliv, p. 250). 



Thysanoptera. — Mr. Richard S. Bagnall has described 

 ten species of this much neglected order, new to the British 

 Isles, of which one species, Uzcliella lubbocki, Bagnall, is 

 new to science. This is recorded on the strength of a single 

 female, taken among seaweed at Whitley Bay, Northumber- 

 land, in October, 1906 (" E. M. M.," xliv, p. 3). 



Having been desirous of learning something of the writings 

 of the earliest authors on natural history, I gathered a few 

 notes together on that subject. The ground they cover is 

 really very extensive, and I have not at all explored the 

 region, but simply, as it were, have just taken a motor ride 

 through the territory, and now propose to lay before you a 

 few of the snap-shots taken on the journey. 



The study of natural history is probably the oldest of all 

 studies, and the most important of all to the highest animal 

 — man. The most pressing problem in man's earliest days 

 was how, where, and when to obtain food, which consisted 

 of plants and animals. In order to assuage his hunger, man 

 searched for plants and hunted animals, and thus, incident- 

 ally, in the course of his labours, though without any intention 

 on his part, became a student of the habits of the animals 

 and plants of this planet, or, in other words, a field naturalist. 

 Again, supposing that man in his very earliest days ate only 

 herbs, and had no need to go hunting or fishing, he must 

 have occupied his time in some way. Would not the animals, 

 the things that had life, the same as he had, the things that 



