298 



Reviews and Book Notices. 



change. The ' bottom softs ' are only 6 inches thick, the hard 

 20 inches, and the clay seam 5 inches, while the 6 inch ' spavin ' 

 becomes 18 feet. At Monckton, only three miles from the out- 

 crop, the parting is 14 feet thick. In each case the 'top softs' 

 retain their usual thickness. This all points to some interesting 

 chanofes in level duringf the formation of the seam. From an 

 economic point of view the change is of vast importance, for 

 a little further north the whole seam splits up and becomes 

 almost worthless. It was very interesting to note that all the 

 faults that have been proved in the district have been of the 

 normal type.' T. S. 



Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Northumberland, Durham, and 

 Newcastle on-Tyne. By J. E. Robson, F.E.S. (' Transactions North- 

 umberland, Durham, and Newcastle Naturalists' Society.') 



The third part of this catalogfue (the first part of V^ol. II.) treats of the 

 Deltoides, Pyrales, Crambites, and to the end of the Tortrices. The same 

 care and accuracy as characterised the previous parts is evidenced here, 

 and the three first g-roups show up fairly well in number of species. The 

 Tortrices also are well represented, but what cannot fail to strike every 

 student of the group is that so very few localities are g-iven for the various 

 species. Mr. Robson tells us, indeed, in the preface that 'the west and 

 north-west of Northumberland is almost untrodden ground to the entom- 

 olog-ist,' and so far as work among- the Tortrices is concerned the same 

 mig-ht evidently be said of a considerably larg;er portion of the area included 

 by the catalog-ue. Among- the Pyrales and Crambites several very interest- 

 ing- species are chronicled, notably Botys liipidhialis and Dioryctria 

 splendidella at Hartlepool, though both were apparently only casual 

 specimens. The captures of Pempelia davisellns are surprising, and were 

 it not that they were made by the late Mr. John Sang-, who had an intimate 

 knowledge of our native micro-lepidoptera, we should certainly have 

 ag-reed with Mr. Robson that it is desirable that further confirmation should 

 be forthcoming-. The record of Crambus cernsseUus is rightly given with 

 considerable reserve, as it is at least as likely that the very different Elachista 

 ceriissella was the insect referred to. We notice that Mr. Robson rejects 

 a record of Sciaphila siniiana as unlikely, because of its supposed southern 

 range in Britain, but Dr. H. H. Corbett takes it in plenty at Doncaster, and 

 it is also recorded from Bingley in Yorkshire. The Tinese and Pterophori 

 now only remain to be catalogued, and we look forward with interest to 

 the completion of this valuable list. — G. T. P. 



Elementary Microscopy. F. Shillington Scales. Balliere, Tindall 

 and Cox. London. 3s. net. 



In this useful little book the author has g'athered together a series of 

 articles which appeared in a contemporary. In their present form they are 

 unquestionably of value, and anyone about to purchase a microscope, or to 

 conduct any microscopical work, should certainh" consult it. Tvpical 

 microscopes of various well-known firms are figured, described, and com- 

 pared. There is an appendix giving a list of works on microscopv, useful 

 memoranda, etc., and the volume is suitably bound. 



The Seventy-first Annual Report of Bootham School (York) Natural 

 Histor}', etc.. Society is to hand. We are g-lad to notice that ' 1904 will be 

 remembered as a year of renewed life and vigour in the club.' The 

 pamphlet contains various reports under the heads of archaeology, botan}-, 

 entomology, etc., under each of which is a summary of the work accom- 



plished in the season. 



Naturalist, 



