138 THE entomologist's record. 



Stephens, in his Manual, 1839, p. 15, says : — "Very rare, taken in a 

 chalk-pit at Northflect, April." Fowler writes in the Knt. M<>. Maii., 

 vol. xix., p. 122, under " Notes on New British Species since 1871 " : — 

 " This species has been alternately inserted in and omitted from 

 the list. Dr. Power tells me that there are certainly two or three 

 well authenticated specimens, and that he thinks one has been 

 taken within the last two or three years ; among some notes from Mr. 

 Mason, relating to Mr. Eye's collection, I find this insect mentioned as 

 one that ought to be reinstated," and in his book {('ol. Brit. Isles, 

 vol. i., p. 99) he writes : — "Although recorded as British it is a very 

 doubtful species, and requires further confirmation." Mr. H. J, 

 Cuthbert records having captured a specimen at Pouladar, West Cork 

 {Knt. Mo. Mail., xxxi., p. 266, 1895). It has been reinstated on the 

 strength of this capture. 



Carahus nitots ab. nincr, Semenow. — Donisthorpe, Jvnt. Ilcconl, 

 vol. xi., p. 71 : — One specimen taken by myself in Denny Bog, New 

 Forest, in 1895. 



Haqiahts frudivhi, Sturm. — Newbery writes [Ent. Mo. Ma;/., vol. 

 xxxiv., p. 84) : — " Taken in some numbers by Mr. C. Morley and Mr. 

 Ellis, under stones, at Foxhall, near Ipswich, 1898." 



Harpahis azitrcus ab, siiiiilis, Dj. — This aberration is omitted in the 

 1893 Catalogue. It is included in all the others with the exception of 

 Mr. Rye's 1866. Fowler says {('ol. Jlrit. Islrs, vol. i., p. 45) :— " The 

 var. siiiiilis, Dj., is pitchy, with slight metallic reflection on the elytra, 

 and has the interstices of the elytra more strongly punctured, it occvirs 

 sparingly with the type." I have taken it at Abl)otsbury, in Dorset- 

 shire, with the type. It certainly should not be left out. 



('To be continued.) 



<2TURRENT NOTES. 



We have recently received from Mr. G. C. Bignell, a pamphlet of 

 48 pages on " The Ichneumonidae of the South of Devon." It comprises 

 a short, but very interesting general account of the parasitic Hymen- 

 optera, and a catalogue of the parasitic Hymenoptera bred or captured 

 principally in sou.th Devon. The paper represents a vast amount of 

 labour, spread over very many years, and reflects the greatest credit on 

 the industry and observation of the veteran author. We have only 

 one regret, and that is, that the year has not been added to the date 

 on which the insects have been bred, so as to be readily available for 

 future reference. 



The fourth annual Congress of the South-Eastern Union of Scien- 

 tific Societies will be held at the Mathematical School, Rochester, on 

 May 25th, 26th, and 27th, 1899. Mr. J. J. Walker, F.L.S., F.E.S., 

 is among those who are reading papers, and various excursions are 

 being arranged for the afternoon of the 27th. Tickets for the Congress 

 are 2s. 6d. for members of affiliated societies, and 3s. 6d. for non- 

 members. The beautiful district around Rochester is worthy of a 

 visit, and if entomologists can obtain a guide to the Queendown 

 Warren, a few miles out of Chatham, a new and delightful bit of 

 country will be opened up to them. Almost equally good are many of 

 the nearer localities, the whole being classic ground to the entomolo- 

 gist, thanks to the researches of Messrs. Chaney, Lewcock, Walker, 



