1S98.] 139 



Philonthus fuscus, Grav., in Chatham Dockyard. — X small black poplar tree in 

 Chatham Dockyard, much infested by the larvae of Cossus, which for the last two 

 years I have passed twice nearly every day, and have often examined for Coleoptera, 

 unexpectedly yielded five specimens of this very rare Philonthus on April 27th and 

 28th. They were found among last year's damp Cossus frass under small pieces of 

 loose bark wliere a good sized limb had been broken off the tree, and were exceed- 

 ingly active, reminding me not a little, in their general aspect and manner of 

 running, of one of the bark-frequenting species of Quedius — scitus for example. In 

 the same tree I have recently taken Silusa rubiginosa, Er., rather freely. — James J. 

 Walkee, 23, Ranelagh Road, Sheerness : May 9fli, 1898. 



feuicuj. 



British Orthoptera (Earwigs, Grasshoppers and Crickets) : by Malcolm: 

 Burr, F.Z.S., P.E.S., with 6 plates by S. L. Moslbt, F.E.S. Pp. 69. Huddersfield : 

 The Economic and Educational Museum. 1897. 



This work first appeared in the " Naturalist's Journal." The still youthful 

 author is well known as an enthusiast in Orthoptera, and we cannot help wishing 

 he had matured his ideas by a year or two before committing himself to print, 

 still the work will prove useful on account of its genuine nature. We are sorry 

 not to be able to praise the plates ; the drawing is not very bad, but the colouring 

 leaves very much to be desired. A mistake has been made in admitting species that 

 at present can be only considered as unestablished casuals. An odd, but evidently 

 innocent, inversion of tact occurs in the opening lines of the " Introduction." The 

 price of the work is almost nominal, and to those of our readers who possess Mr. Eland 

 Shaw's "Synopsis," published in this Magazine, vol. xxv, and second series, vol. i 

 (1889-90), it will form a useful supplement. 



William lliles Maskell, Registrar of the University of New Zealand. Informa- 

 tion has been received by telegram of the death on May 1st (unexpected we think) 

 of our esteemed correspondent and contributor, Mr. W. M. Maskell, so well known 

 for his researches in CoccidcB, and who also published on Aleurodidce and Psyllidae 

 amongst insects, and on Desmids in Microscopic Botany ; in fact, it is possible he 

 began originally as a microscopist in a general sense, afterwards limiting his re- 

 searches with the beneficial results to science and economic entomology so widely 

 familiar. The majority of his papers have appeared in the '' Transactions of the 

 New Zealand Institute," the first having been published in 1879. At first he 

 restricted himself to the species found in New Zealand, but later on those of 

 Australia (especially the curious gall-making Brachyscelidce), Asia, &c., came under 

 his notice, he having become a recognised authority on the subject of Coccidce. He 

 usually published at least one paper a year in New Zealand, the later ones being 

 lengthy, and all copiously illustrated by his own drawings. We think there is no 

 one to take up his work in New Zealand, though perhaps he may find a successor in 

 Australia. Of his age and early life we at present know nothing : possibly we may 

 be ably to supply tliese details later on. 



