Entomological Society. 4479 



been attending closely to the subject during the whole time, and on whom each fresh 

 discovery made sufficient impression to prevent its easily slipping from his memory: 

 but take the case of a young entomologist now first beginning the study, and who 

 procured for his guidance the last systematic work on the subject; conceive either a 

 young Coleopterist taking Stephens' ' Manual,' or a young Lepidopterist Humphreys 

 and Westwood for an infallible guide ; — not being acquainted with other entomologists 

 he has no resource but to obtain his information from books. After doing his utmost 

 thoroughly lo understand the work he is studying, and to obtain a clear perception of 

 many points which the writers never thoroughly understood, he falls in with some older 

 entomologist, who recommends him to get the ' Zoologist' as a sine qua non. Only 

 too happy to hear that there is an inexhaustible mine of information, he obtains this 

 invaluable treasure and reads it patiently through, from "The Siberian Mammoth" to 

 the "Things hoped for" of Mr. Scott. He takes notes of the various new disco- 

 veries, but soon finds that this is not a very simple matter, nearly one-half of them 

 being, at a later page in the ' Zoologist,' either corrected with the simple assertion 

 that the writer was entirely mistaken, or else the fact that a new species occurred is 

 left undisturbed, but the name by which it was first announced was erroneous. Why 

 should not an annual resume of the new species found, and new observations made in 

 Entomology, be a feasible scheme? The captures of novelties are still recorded 

 month by month, as of old, in the ' Zoologist;' but, at the close of the year, could 

 not a small independent duodecimo be compiled, in which all these new facts should 

 be arranged systematically? With reference to the Tineina it is fully my intention 

 to supply this vacuum, and I am bold enough to think of adding thereto all the new 

 discoveries in the other groups of Lepidoptera. Those who are disposed to welcome 

 this small addition to our literary lumber will perhaps communicate to me, before the 

 end of October, notices of any new species they may have met with ; and if collectors of 

 other orders — Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, &c. — would add their contributions also, the 

 little book might appropriately be termed ' The Entomologist's Annual.' — H. T. Stain- 

 ton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham, September 20, 1854. 



Capture of Catoeala Fraxini at Brighton. — On September 16th I was fortunate 

 enough to have brought to me a specimen of Catoeala Fraxini. It was taken on the 

 previous day by a poor boy, on a scaffold-pole near Brunswick Square, in this town. 

 He was playing with what he termed an " owlet," owing to which it is a little rubbed, 

 but is nevertheless in very fair condition. It was in my possession before it was quite 

 dead, through the kindness of Mr. Swaysland. — John N. Winter; Sussex County 

 Hospital, Brighton, September 19, 1854. 



Proceedings of Societies. 



Entomological Society. 



September 4, 1854.— Edward Newman, Esq., President, in the chair. 

 In the absence of the Secretaries, the Chairman appointed Mr. S. J. Wilkinson to 

 act as Secretary for the evening. 



