236 (March, — 
Note on Latrodectus malmignatus, Walck.—Last August, I took a ? of this fine 
spider, among the ruins of a Genoese fort on the Bay of Ajaccio. Two egg-bags 
occurred in the same situation, one belonging to the above 2. The young are now 
hatching, and may be perhaps 150 in number. Can any gentleman skilled in 
Arachnida suggest a method of rearing them? The adult spider has the abdomen 
as large as a grape, black, with vermillion spots (see Suites a Buffon, Apteéres, t. i. 
642, Atlas, pl. xiv, fig. 4 D).—T. A. Marsnatt, Barnstaple. 
Reviews. 
“ Synopsis COLEOPTERORUM HUROPH ET CONFINIUM ANNO 1868 DESCRIPTORUM,”’ 
by G. R. Crotch, M.A.—Williams and Norgate, London, 1871. In this useful pam- 
phlet of 68 pages, the author, following up De Marseul’s idea, has briefly noticed all 
such species of Huropean Coleoptera described during 1868 as have come under his 
observation; and from his intercourse with continental Entomologists, and know- 
ledge of the current literature of the science, no one could be more competent than 
he to perform such a task. From his preface, it would appear that the work is — 
likely to be continued; the fasciculus for 1869 being promised shortly, and that for 
1870 in April next. 
It is entirely in latin (with the exception of a few accidental English words at _ 
pp. 67 and 68), and consists of reproductions or abbreviations of the diagnoses of | 
the species described, with very brief differential characters. It also contains _ 
rectifications of nomenclature, &c., noticed during 1868, and tabulated lists of all 
species, with localities (but with no characters for new species), comprised in such 
monographs as those of Tournier, Seidlitz, Capiomont, &c., thus departing slightly 
from the main scheme. The work is so certain to be of great and universal use to 
Coleopterists (especially if published for the future as rapidly as the preface indi- 
cates), that we venture to suggest the addition of the absolute and precise date of 
publication to the reference of each species: such an addition would much increase 
its value, especially to those who have no access to the works quoted ; and although 
the dates may, in the majority of cases, be readily enough found by those who 
possess such works, still it often happens that extrinsic evidence is required before 
the exact date of publication can be certified,—and such evidence, if not obtainable 
by Mr. Crotch, is little likely to be in the power of any one else, in this country at 
least. 
The particular clearness and excellence of the type employed (and, presumably, 
the great saving of cost) must be set off against the somewhat numerous typo- 
graphical and other errors in this fasciculus; which, printed at Jena, necessarily 
cannot have been so much under the author’s eye as is usually the case in this © 
country. 
“A CATALOGUE OF THE INSECTS OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DurHAM (REVISION 
or Coreoprrra,’ by Thomas John Bold, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1871 (from the Nat. ° 
His. Trans. of Northumb, and Durham, vol. iv). Mr. Bold—upon whom alone the 
task has fallen, through the temporary attraction to other branches of scientific 
observation of his well-known former colleague, Mr. Hardy,—has done well in 
collecting from the Trans. of the Tyneside Nat. Field Club, and Nat. His. Trans, of 
