298 
BRITISH DIPTERA. 
An Account of ee Paria aba By the Hon. M. Corbe iA E. 
LeicH, F.E.S., F. V. THEOBALD, B.A., F.E.S.—Part I. London: 
Elliot Stock, : ae 
A manual of the British Dipterous Insects has long been wanted, 
and we are pleased to see that an attempt is being made to supply 
the deficiency. The instalment before us is part 1, and is priced ts. 
How often the parts are to appear is not apparent, inasmuch as 
there is no introductory or explanatory matter prefixed or upon the 
cover ; and our authors plunge at once into their subject by giving 
us, as their first chapter, a succinct summary of what is known of the 
fossil forms of the order. The second chapter deals with the 
classification of Diptera, preceded by an introductory account of 
mo 
as adopted by Verrall in his 1888 List of British Diptera. These 
two chapters occupy 20 pages, and at page 21 the systematic part 
of the work begins with Chapter III., devoted to the Fleas, or 
Aphaniptera, their metamorphoses, classification, larval anatomy, 
etc., and a brief account of each of the species recognised by 
Mr. Verrall. We would suggest to the authors that in their account 
of the species parviirste bes = should give all the detail obtainable 
species is common on the dog and fox, ‘and most other members 
of the Canidz,’ and that another infests swallows, pigeons, sparrows, 
‘and other small birds,’ when the point of interest is to know exactly 
what other members of the Canidze and what other species of small 
birds are infested. We look forward with pleasurable anticipation 
to being able to notice the succeeding numbers of this work, whose 
authors have our best wishes for the success of their labours. 
NOTE—MAMMALTA. 
; across the Irthing.—While out fishing in the Irthing 
at the beginning of this month, co anied by my brother, my attention was 
suddenly called by him to a Rabbit (Zepus pase er about 40 yards up stream, 
which lea into the water ae: swam bravely across, though the river was 
running rather high at the time. As this was a new sight to both of us, We 
looked on with surprise. In a very short time, haweusi the cause of the rabbit s 
ease 
——— 
Naturalist, 
