﻿328 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



REVIEW. 



A Synonymic Catalogue of Neuroptera Odonata, or Dragonflies ; with an 

 Appendix of Fossil Species. By W. F. Kirby, F.L.S., F.E.S., &c. 

 8vo, pp. ix. 202. London: Gurney & Jackson, 1, Paternoster Row. 

 Berlin : R. Friedlander & Son. 1890. 



In the present work, Mr. Kirby has endeavoured to facilitate the study 

 of an interesting but little known group of insects by the publication of a 

 complete catalogue of genera and species, uniform with his ' Synonymic 

 Catalogue of Diurnal Lepidoptera.' How much still remains to be 

 accomplished in the Odonata may be seen from the fact that in many 

 families almost all the work already done has been by one man, Baron De 

 Selys-Longchamps. Except in the Libellulinge, where Mr. Kirby has 

 arranged the genera in accordance with the revision of the subfamily which 

 he recently published in the ' Transactions of the Zoological Society,' he has 

 mainly followed the various synopses and monographs published, by the 

 Belgian author, except that he has occasionally revised the nomenclature, and 

 has not adopted the Baron's somewhat cumbrous system of genera and sub- 

 genera, deeming it too complicated for the purposes of a simple catalogue. 



Mr. Kirby 's Preface is devoted chiefly to an exposition of the principles 

 of nomenclature which he has adopted in the present Catalogue, and this 

 portion of the work will probably be read with interest by many entomo- 

 logists who are not neuropterists, whether they entirely agree with his 

 views or not. The book likewise appeals to the geologist as well as to the 

 entomologist, for the Appendix of Fossil Species occupies twelve closely 

 printed pages, and gives full references to the rather voluminous literature 

 relating to more than a hundred recorded species. 



From the point of view of Sys f irnatic Entomology, a catalogue is only 

 second in utility to a monograph ; and whatever imperfections may after- 

 wards be pointed out in Mr. Kirby's work, we have no doubt that it will 

 prove of great value to all entomologists who are interested in the 

 Odonata. 



OBITUARY. 



Peter Maassen, late of Elberfeld and Diisseldorf, died suddenly on 

 the morning of the 2nd of August last, at Falkensteig in the Black 

 Forest ; he was in his eightieth year. Though not a voluminous 

 writer, he was well known among lepido'pterists, both by the pleasant 

 reception he invariably gave to those who called to see his fine 

 collection of Exotic Lepidoptera, and by his occasional visits to 

 London and Paris. His specialty was the Saturniidse, in illustration 

 of which family he and his friend, Gustav Weymer, issued a series of 

 plates, under the title of ' Beitrage zur Schmetterlingskunde.' It is 

 understood that his collection has been left to the Museum at Berlin. 



Mr. C. G. Hall died on the 3rd of September, at his residence, 

 14, Granville Street, Buckland, Dover. As an entomologist he seems 

 to have been attracted by each Order in turn, but the Coleoptera and 

 Hymenoptera were his favourite groups. He was well acquainted with 

 the literature of his subject, and his conversation was not only 

 interesting, but showed that he was a shrewd observer of nature. 

 There are various notes and papers from his pen in the later volumes 

 of the ' Entomologist ' and ' Entomologist's Monthly Magazine.' 



