264 [November, 



Further Coccid Notes : with Descriptions of New Species from Australia, 

 India, Sandwich Islands, Demerara, and South Pacific. By W. M. Maskell, 

 Corr. Member of Eoy. Society of South Australia, Eegistrar of the University of 

 New Zealand. 8vo, pp. 199—252, 8 plates. Wellington. 1893. (Extract from 

 the Transactions of N. Z. Institute, vol. xxiv.) 



This is the annual report by Mr. Maskell, in his usual masterly manner, and 

 contains notes on several Coccids previously described, and descriptions of more than 

 thirty new species, together with illustrative figures by himself. A large number of 

 the insects were obtained by Mr. Koebele during his two tours on behalf of the 

 Agricultural Department of the United States, "in search of beneficial insects ;" 

 that is, of species parasitic on others which are destructive to plants and crops- 

 One result was that Vedalia cardinah's, intrflduced thus into California in 1888, in 

 two or three years' time practically cleared that state of the enormously injurious 

 Icerya Purchasi ; and in 1892 a large number of the natural insect-enemies of 

 other pests, such as Aspidiotus aurantii, on orange and lemon trees, and Lecanium 

 olece, on various plants, were discovered and sent to America ; it is hoped and 

 expected that the result will be as useful as that of the previous expedition. It is 

 also stated that in his last journey Mr. Koebele took with him to New Zealand some 

 of the predaceous insects known to be very useful in America, such as lady-birds, 

 SyrphidcB, lace-wings, and larvae of RhapJiidia, but it cannot yet be determined with 

 what effect. 



" It is satisfactory," says the author, " to note that since 1870 the number of 

 Homopterologists has been steadily increasing. Some of them have turned their 

 attention chiefly to the economic relations of the Homoptera to agriculture, others 

 confine themselves to the purely scientific side of entomology." In any case, science 

 is to be congratulated on the increased number of students. 



Otir Household Insects : an account of the Insect Pests found in dwelling 

 houses. By Edward A. Butler, B.A., B.Sc. (Lond.). Pp. 344, 8vo. London: 

 Longman, Grreen, & Co. 1893. 



The scope of this work is sufficiently indicated by its title. We can thoroughly 

 recommend it as being far and above superior to the majority of popular books on 

 subjects pertaining to Entomology. It is a reprint of a series of articles that 

 originally appeared in a popular scientific journal, and much of the matter is the 

 result of original observation by a competent observer. Most of the numerous 

 illustrations are also original. Some of these, although perfectly characteristic, are 

 coarse in execution, and in this respect not equal to the clear type and excellent 

 paper of the reprint. 



Eauna and Elora of Norfolk : Coleopteea : by James Edwards, E.E.S. 

 Eeprinted from th« Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, 

 vol. V. 1893. 



This is one of the best and most important of the county lists of Coleoptera 

 yet issued, as may be judged from the fact that it contains more than half of the 

 species recorded as British. Mr. Edwards is well known as an accurate worker, and 

 he has been most careful to verify his localities. The introduction contains an in- 



