192 THE entomologist's record. 



it is), we should recommend it to the beginner for its simple and clear 

 text, and to the more advanced worker for the pictures of rare aberrations 

 culled from various sources and well reproduced. It takes a clever man 

 to produce a really good boy's book (and by boys, entomologically, we 

 include those of older growth, who never can, by the nature of things, 

 get beyond this stage) ; Mr. South and his illustrators can claim to 

 have done it. 



CURRENT NOTES. 



The collection of British lepidoptera made by the Rev. Joseph 

 Greene was sold at Stevens' salerooms on May 29th, 1906. Most of 

 the specimens were in good condition, though many were rather old. 

 The butterflies sold for £47 8s. 6d., amongst which were two pairs of 

 Issoria lathonia at £1 and £1 6s. ; Euvanessa antiopa, 16s.; an aberra- 

 tion of Vanessa io, £1 10s.; a black Limenitis sybilla, 16s.; a thoroughly 

 Corsic&n Aglais ichmisa, £1 8s.; a fine aberration of Epinephele ianira, &^\ 

 five Chrysophanus clispar, £13 14s.; two Cyaniris semiarf/us (acis), £5. 

 The Sphingids went for £10 7s., to which a P/nyxus livornica 

 contributed £1 Is., and a Hippotion celerio, £2 2s. The ^Egeriids sold 

 for £1 14s. The " Bombyces " for £45 4s. 6d., amongst which were 

 eight Laelia coenosa, £3 10s.; eleven Gastropacha ilicifolia, £6 15s.; 

 four Drepana harpagida {sicida), £2 15s.; seven Dicranara bicuspis, 

 £2 6s.; a specimen of A. crenata, noted as one of the three well-authenti- 

 cated British specimens, £8 10s. The Noctuas realised £51 8s., 

 amongst which may be noted six Cry modes exidis, £5 10s.; seven 

 Ayrotis subrosea, £7 12s.; nine Dianthoecia barrettn, in very poor con- 

 dition, 6s. each ; nine Xylina conformis, bred, at 7s. each. The 

 Pyrales produced 23s.; the Geometrids, £26 4s., of which we may 

 mention eight Chora viduaria, 34s.; a black Halia vauaria, £2 ; an aber- 

 ration oi Melanthia albicillata (with fifty other odd specimens), £3 10s. 

 Then came aberrations of Arctia caja and Abra.ras yrossidariata. Of 

 these, 480 " tigers " sold for £88 17s., of which 37 were Arctia villica 

 for £19 16s., individual specimens of A. villica producing £4 and £8, 

 and of A. caja £6 6s., £11 lis., £7 10s., £1 5s., and so on. One 

 thousand and twenty "gooseberry moths" were vahied at £80 2s., 

 single specimens fetching £2 10s., £2 15s., £7 10s., £3, £8 18s. 6d., 

 £1 5s. Lots, of two and three specimens, £5 5s., £2 6s., £6 6s., 

 £2 10s., etc. 



The Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne, has long since taken an advanced position with 

 regard to the scientific position of its Transactions. One of the latest 

 publications, A preliminary List of Durham Diptera, with analytical 

 tables/'' by the Rev. J. W. Wingate, is up to the best traditions. Of 

 the 2884 species of British diptera recorded by Verrall in 1901, the 

 author has dealt with 2210, plus some 318 species which have already 

 been found, or which he considers ought to be found, in Britain. 

 Some 626 species have been found in Durham, and, for these, locali- 

 ties, etc., are given. Mr. Wingate says that his list is meant rather 

 for those who are beginning the study than for those who are more 

 advanced, bvit it is a work for all dipterists, and that must be studied 

 by all, not only for its local, but for its general, value. 



* Published by Williams and Norgate, 14, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, 

 London, W.C. Price 9s. 



