128 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



entomologist as a remarkably interesting record of observations 

 made with an acuteness that has seldom been surpassed, and the 

 translator, editor, and publishers are alike to be congratulated on 

 the production of this first series in our own language and in a form 

 both attractive and easily understood even by the general reader. 

 Few persons will be able to take up this volume without reading it 

 from beginning to end, and a feeling of regret will be experienced at 

 its close, that the remaining series are not yet translated. We trust 

 that the success which we predict for the volume before us will 

 induce the publishers to arrange for the early completion of these 

 fascinating peeps into " Insect Life." P. H. G. 



A TREATISE ON ZOOLOGY. Edited by E. Ray Lankester : Part 

 IV. The Platyhelmia, Mesozoa, and Nemertini, by W. Blaxland 

 Eenham, D.Sc. (Lond.), M.A. (Oxon.), Professor of Biology in the 

 University of Otago. 



This work does not profess to be for the benefit of such as are 

 " of weaker capacity." It aims at giving a systematic exposition of 

 the characters of the classes and orders that are treated of, along 

 with references to the families and chief genera included in them. 

 The various classes are dealt with separately. They are divided 

 into orders, and very short notes are given on sub-orders and 

 families. Then come " further remarks " on the order ; and under 

 this head we have brief statements as to bionomics and the structure 

 of the various systems. As the treatise extends to less than 200 

 pages in all, there is no possibility of full detail with such a plan. 

 The information as to bionomics is particularly scrappy. "The 

 work," Prof. Lankester tells us, " is addressed to the serious student." 

 As matter of fact the present volume, while very admirable in its 

 way, seems to appeal to rather a limited class. It is certainly not 

 a text-book for the average university student, whether of science 

 or medicine ; it is too full for the beginner ; on the other hand, 

 there is too much comparative anatomy for the ordinary systematist, 

 and perhaps too much systematic zoology for the ordinary com- 

 parative anatomist. Nevertheless, the book will reward those for 

 whom it is meant. It is, as might be expected of a treatise edited 

 by Prof. Ray Lankester, full of historical information as to names 

 and discoveries ; and there are useful notes on authorities, and lists 

 of literature on the various classes. The exposition of facts is fair 

 and clear ; and the figures, a number of which are new, are decidedly 

 useful. The book should prove valuable, especially to teachers and 

 investigators. G. W. 



