CURRENT NOTES. 19 
Prof. Morel says that throughout the summer of 1919 he found 
Butterflies to be very scarce both at Hyéres in late April and in May 
and at Allos in the Dauphiné Alps from June to August. The same 
report is sent to us by Signor Querci whose wife and daughter spent 
the whole summer collecting in many places in Central Italy, butter- 
flies were scarce everywhere. Reports from our own islands are quite 
the reverse. Have any of our readers continental experience as to 
scarcity in other parts? Lieut. Ashby certainly found quite the 
reverse in the northern slopes of the Apennines. 
The Vasculum for the earlier half of 1918 contains further 
contributions towards the elucidation of the hitherto much neglected . 
Orders. In “ British Hydracarina” Chas. D. Soar says that ‘‘ the 
Acarina or Mites are divided into eight super-families, of which 
Hydrachmoidea is one. This is divided into two families, Halacaride 
usually found in the sea, and Hydracarina usually found in 
fresh water.” He says that in the British area about two 
hundred and fifty species of forty-two genera have been recorded 
so far. The writer deals with the general life-history in detail, 
describes the method of preparation for microscopieal examination, 
and adds a plate with numerous figures to illustrate his remarks. 
Messrs. R. 8. Bagnall, F.L.8., and J. W. H. Harrison, D.Sce., 
contribute the sixth portion of their ‘Talk about Plant Galls,” on this 
occasion dealing with the Wasp Galls of the British Oak. They 
briefly consider (1) the outward forms and position of the galls; (2) 
the internal form; (8) uninvited guests and others —inquilines; (4) 
alternating generations; (5) economic considerations, and (6) details 
of the species found in the Northumberland and Durham area. There 
are in addition Records of insects occurring locally, short accounts of 
some eight Field Meetings of the North. and Durh. N.H.S. in 
1918, with other matters dealing with Ornithology, Geology, History, 
and Literature. 
Many Annuals have been late in appearance and curtailed in size 
this year, no doubt caused by the excessive expense in all matters 
dealing with the production of books and papers. The Transactions of 
the London Natural History Society for 1918 is one more record added 
to the work which has been going on for more than sixty years. In 
Extracts from the Minutes only the most important items of the 
Proceedings of the meetings are given, including ‘‘ Mosquitoes” by 
Mr. Bacot, ‘‘ Notes from Gloucestershire’? by Mr. C. Nicholson, and 
“Notes from N.E. Ireland” by Mr. H. B. Williams dealing with the 
Insecta, and various papers and notes on Ornithology and Botany. A 
“« Pocket Box Exhibition” was as usual held in February and many 
aberrations and local species were shown, particularly of Ayriades 
coridon, Abraxas grossulariata, and Rumicia phlaeas. Much of the 
work of the Society is carried on by individual effort collected into 
subject sections, each with an active chairman and secretary. Some 
ten pages are devoted to reports from these branches. Two papers are 
printed in full and the Transactions end with biographies of three 
members who passed away during the year. No reports of the Council, 
Annual Address, and business statement for the year are printed. 
In the Hnt. News for November is an interesting article by 
Hi. C. Van Dyke, “ The Tendency of Insects to Collect on Ridges and 
Mountain Snowfields,” giving the writer’s experiences on the high 
