KKVIF.WS .VM> XOTrCES OF K()()K8. 2;')l 



the notes on habits most intei'estnif>-, hut those of the early stages are 

 as a rule, exceedingly unsatisfactory. The egg' is rarely mentioned (cer- 

 tainly no microscopical descriptions appear) ; the descriptions of larvH^ 

 ■when oiven, arc usually of the crudest, and .give no hint as to the struc- 

 tural points now known to he of importance, althous^h it is cleai- ('•.'/.. 

 p. IG, Mdmu'liva insii/iiis) that the author has had the larva and hrcd 

 the imao-o, and hence the possibility of a scientific description of larviu 

 and pupa has not been wanting. We would insist that the statements 

 that " the egg is at first white and soon becomes dull brown," that 

 " the larva has twelve legs ; it is much attenuated towards the head ; 

 its colour is pale green, darker on the back ; there is a number of wavy 

 white lines and dots on the larva, as'Avell as a few isolated black dots and 

 hairs," useful as they may be, do not comprise salient points of struc- 

 ture. One wants to know the essential characters of the t'gi^, and the 

 larva — the shape, position of the micropyle, and ornamentation of the 

 former, the exact position and nature of the seta\ warts, prolegs, &c., 

 of the latter. We do not wish it to be understood that these are the 

 leading features of the book, we only mention them so that in the 

 next volume more scientific details may be given and so that the 

 author may bring himself into line with the more modern requirements 

 as recognised in this country and North America. Having had our 

 growl as to what we should like to have seen in the book, we must 

 turn to the other side. The work is of great value in bringing together 

 from scattered sources, systematically arranged, the information that 

 has been published on the INIacro-Lepidoptera of New Zealand, the 

 original work shows, on the whole, not only industry and care, but is, 

 in some cases, really good — the account of Hcpialiis riroin-jis, (KrctiniH 

 (HiniinirKs, ])i>da)ia Jiocnisa, i^e., being especially interesting. We 

 observe that the author treats I'l/rajiiris /,er>ili(iwii as P. ranJiii since 

 " both forms occur together in South Africa, and the dift'erences do 

 not appear to b3 sufficiently important to merit a distinct specific 

 name." The author's first-class coloured drawings (pi'obably the most 

 prominent and best feature of the hook), are excellently reproduced by 

 the publisher, the latter's work, both in the general get-up, printing, 

 itc, leaving nothing to be desired. Altogether, in spite of what may 

 be considered as our adverse comments, it is an important and useful 

 volume that must be in the libraries of all our societies, as well as on 

 the bookshelves of all those who are interested in exotic Lepidoptcra. 



A Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Northumberland, Dcrham, 

 AND Newcastle-upon-Tyxe, pt. t. By John E. Robson, F.E.S. [Demy 

 8vo. 195 + iv pp. Williams and Norgate, 14, Henrietta Street, C'oyent 

 (xarden, London. Price 7s. Gd.' . — The first jiart of this long-promised 

 list contains the Papilionina, Sphingina, IJombvcina, and Noctuina. 

 One may say at the outset that the ( 'ataloiiitr was well worth waiting 

 for, and we desire to oft'er the author our hearty tlianks for the careful 

 labour bestowed on it. It contains not only a list of the species 

 occurring in the district, but the references to these in the works of 

 Stainton, Newman, liarrett, IMeyrick, and Buckler, together with full 

 notes and observations made by the author on each species. This latter 

 feature it is that gives the ('ataloiiui- its greatest value, for the author's 

 intimate acquaintance with the district dealt with, his exact knowledge 

 of the insects, and personal intimacy with many of the collectors 

 referred to, have placed him in an unrivalled position for giving us a 



