112 THE entomologist's rkcord. 



was served at 7 p.m., after which was much informal entomological^ 

 discussion. The party did not disperse till after 10 p.m. 



The sale of the collection of the late Mr. W. F. Urwick at Messrs. 

 J. C. Stevens' salerooms, on Tuesday, March 27th, was notable for one 

 or two high prices. A banded male Dryas paphia, £8 ; a dark female^ 

 £l010s.; and an extraordinary hermaphrodite, £13; anab.of Vanessaio, 

 £4 10s.; tyvoaherr&tions oi An/ y)inis aglaia, £9; Euvanessa antiopa,£3\ 

 a black Limenitis sihylla, £4 5s. ; Ayrotis subrosea, 37s. 6d. and £2 5s. 

 each; two Cryi)W(lesexulis,£5 10s.; other aberrations brought good prices. 

 With some curious exceptions there seemed a tendency for low prices 

 to be given for specimens of species that are almost certainly immigrants, 

 especially if the condition was poor, as Phryxus livornica, 8s., Hippo- 

 Hon celerio, 15s., Issoria lathania, 6s., Dciopeia palchella, 16s., Catocala 

 fra.vini, 18s., Hadena satura, Micm ostrina, M. parva, M.paula, Charided 

 delphinii, Cloantha penpicillaru, went at about continental prices^ 

 possibly with reason. We may note two Cleora viduaria, 22s., 24s. ; 

 Chrytscphanus dispar, £2 2s., £4, £4 10s., £5, £5 10s.; an ab. of 

 Melitaea aurinia, £3; five BryophUa iinpar, i8s. ; four Tapinnstola 

 concolor, IBs. 



Mr. Barrett'e collection of African lepidoptera was also sold, 

 undivided, for 34 guineas. His British Pyralides and Alucitides 

 in 33 lots, for £22 17s. Amongst these, one Botys lupidinalis, 30s. ; two 

 B. repand all's, 40s. ; one BLyelois cirri yerella (and others), 24s. ; Epischnia 

 hankesiella (five), Catereinna terebrella, twenty (and others), 35s. ; Nephop- 

 teryx abietella (twelve), and A", splendidella, twelve (and others), 45s. 



The charm of Gilbert White's Natural History of Selborne-'' lies 

 in the old-world flavour of the letters and the fidelity of the observa- 

 tions on the scenery and the natural objects that came within his 

 purview. The actual facts recorded as such are of much less 

 importance than the style of the writer, and their scientific accuracy 

 than the particular point of view from which they were noted. The 

 alteration, therefore, in the sequence of this new edition in which one 

 can readily turn up all that the old master wrote on birds, molluscs, 

 insects, plants, etc., takes off a deal of the pleasure found in reading 

 the original, and, although useful in its way, we doubt whether the 

 scientific value, if any, is really enhanced. To those, however, who require 

 such a book, we can recommend this as a careful and accurate work. 



'"••■ Gilbert White's Nattiral History of Selborne, Naturalists' edition, classified 

 by Charles Mosley. London : Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G. 



Hyeres — Les lies d'Or. 



Islands of gold — high battlements of light, 



Dreaming on sapphire seas, amid a haze 



Diaphanous. Beneath my feet a maze 

 Of gemmed mosaic, where the cistus white 

 Showers the earth with limpid chrysolite ; 



Hedges of rosemaiy, and upland ways 



Thick set with lavender ; warm rocks ablaze 

 With red valerian ; and, flashing bright 

 Among the black-branched ilex, butterflies 

 Sulphur and scarlet-robed, by poets named 

 " The Glory of Provence." With such fair dreama 

 I charm my solitude that darkest seems 

 Here in our England, when, 'neath sullen skies, 

 Spring on the threshold lingers all ashamed. — H. R.-B. 



(From " Preludes and Symphoni&g.") 



