910 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 
there time is found for entomolocical pursuits that no doubt cheer the 
waiting hours of our soldiers on that “ front.”’ We have also a letter 
from Colonel Tytler, who has been moved from Mauritius to German 
Hast Africa, and is now helping to drive the Huns of Attila out of their 
last colony. May it soon be done.—G.T.B.-B. 
The following extracts are from a letter from a very large and well- 
known firm (not 100 miles from Oxford Circus) to a customer, who 
wished to buy ants in observation nests. The prices quoted will come 
as a surprise to Hymenopterists! The italics are our own :-— 
“With further reference to your order for ‘ Ants’ we have pleasure 
in advising you that we can supply ‘ Formica viper,’ the garden ant, in 
nest 8 x 8’’ may be observed in same way as ‘Formica Flava’ costing 
30/- also Myrmica Scabrihodis, the Cannibor ants, with Queen 
workers eges. Larvac and domerlies 8 x 8!’ costing 30/-. 
“The Formica Sanguinea, and their black slaves, Formica fusca, 
These species are very rare, the few remaining habitants only being 
known to one or two of the Mntermoloyists who study the Formica 
human of Tera. 
“ To observe these a box with glass sides is provided about 200 
workers of the slave makers and about 1 in 20 slaves would be supplied 
price £14 14s. Od. 
‘The Ants of these species are valued as supplied to the Science 
Art Museum Dublin. 8 mounted specimens at 5/- each.’”—H.D. 
FREVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Procrepincs oF tHE SoutH Lonpon HnromoxLoaicaL anp NaturaL 
History Soctery, 1915-16, 156+xvi. pp., 12 plates.—Our first feeling 
on this volume being handed to us for review was one of literary 
jealousy—if one may be allowed the use of such a term—knowing full 
well the difficulty of producing these annual reports. Our second 
feeling—upon further perusal—was one of despair at being able to do 
it justice in a brief notice. 
The solid volume speaks well for the vitality of the society, aud for 
the ‘ Esprit de corps” of the 172 members, while reading between the 
lines it is evident that thanks are also due to the individual assistance 
of determined supporters. The scope of the articles, while with a 
solitary exception strictly confined to Natural History, is free from any 
“‘ padding” of extraneous matter. The pages are eminently readable 
and informative, and area valuable record, which ought to be treasured 
by those who were privileged to hear the subjects put before them. 
When so much is good it would seem invidious to make selections. 
Dr. Dixey’s paper on ‘‘ Seasonal Dimorphism’”’ is well designed to 
clear up some misconceptions upon this subject. His help to the 
learner centres in his 7th deduction, ‘‘ Seasonal Dimorphism is not a 
case of simple alternation of generations, but is determined by the 
influence of some external condition upon an organism go constituted 
as to react to that influence in a definite direction.””’ We may perhaps 
be allowed, in order to bring the matter home to the British collector, 
to select an item which illustrates the position as we understand it. 
Cyaniris argiolus, with us, exhibits generally considerable seasonable 
