EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 479 



been asserted to be the case in certain species of Mosquitoes. The other 

 blood-sucking Diptera, with the possible exception of Ceratopogon, are 

 sufficiently distinct from Culicidce in outward form to obviate any risk of 

 confusion. In countries in which Mosquitoes abound they are recognized 

 without difficulty. In England, however, where some seventeen species of 

 the family occur, though not, as a rule, in any great abundance, or causing 

 much annoyance by their bites, a large amount of confusion apparently 

 exists as to the characteristics of a Mosquito, or, as it is more commonly 

 called, a Gnat. This confusion is mainly due to the fact that the Midges 

 (Chironomidce), which, with the exception of the genus Ceratopogon, are 

 perfectly harmless, often attract attention from the habit of the males of 

 dancing in the air in swarms on fine evenings in spring and early summer, 

 and, owing to their similarity in shape, size, and general appearance, are 

 commonly mistaken for Gnats (Culicida). A good plate well exhibits the 

 differences between the wing of a Mosquito or Gnat [Culex sp.) and of a 

 Midge (Chiro nomus plumosus). 



We have received from Messrs. Friedlander and Sohn, of Berlin, a 

 complete set of their ' Naturae Novitates ' for 1898, bound in one volume. 

 This well-known publication, which not only records current biological 

 literature, but is also a priced catalogue by which very many separata may 

 be obtained, is much enhanced in value and convenience by being issued in 

 a yearly volume. A good index is appended, and one " made in Germany " 

 is seldom to be despised. 



By the death of Samuel Stevens, F.L.S., F.E.S., who died on August 

 29th, after a few days' illness, in his eighty-third year, many readers of this 

 magazine will regret the loss of a friend, and of a very familiar figure at 

 meetings of naturalists, especially at those of the Entomological Society 

 and Entomological Club. At the first — with one exception — he was the 

 oldest member; of the second he was practically at one time a preserver. 

 As an entomologist, he was a collector and lover of the study rather than a 

 scientific worker, and probably acquired more happiness from the pursuit 

 than is obtained by many of the better known and more technical workers. 

 At one time he conducted a Natural History Agency, and was broker in the 

 sales of the enormous collections made by Bates and Wallace. As to the 

 way he conducted this business, the late H. W. Bates has often spoken to 

 the writer of the gratitude he felt for the exhaustive manner in which his 

 interests were safeguarded by Stevens. As these old familiar faces pass 

 away, we realize how the old order chaugeth, and how practically we are 

 meeting new men and an almost new science. Many present naturalists 

 will long cherish the remembrance of kindly Samuel Stevens. 



