72 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Ptilinus pectinicornis, L., at Musselburgh. Referring 

 to Mr Evans's remarks on this beetle in the Forth District {Scot. 

 Nat., January 191 7, p. 20), I may state that I found both sexes 

 in some numbers burrowing in an old paling on the banks of 

 the Esk, just above Musselburgh, on 29th and 31st July 1902. 

 The males were moving about on the surface, but the females 

 remained in the burrows and were difficult to get - out. The 

 paling was soon afterwards replaced by a fine new one nicely 

 tarred, much to my regret, as it had supplied me with many 

 interesting insects. A. E. J. Carter, Monifieth. 



BOOK NOTICE. 



A Naturalist in Borneo. By the late Robert W. C. Shelford. 

 Edited by Edward B. Poulton. Price 15s. T. Fisher Unwin. 



The author of this delightful series of chapters on Natural History 

 in Borneo was Curator of the Museum at Kuching, Sarawak, for seven 

 years. While there he made many expeditions for the purpose of 

 obtaining specimens for his museum, and his keenness of observation and 

 delight in his work are evident to any reader of this book. The chief 

 value of the work lies in the many original observations incorporated 

 therein, and the pleasure of the reader is enhanced by the delightful 

 style and the powers of description possessed by the author. There are 

 chapters on the Bornean Mammals, Birds and Snakes, on the Crocodiles, 

 Turtles, and Tortoises, several on different families of Insects and on 

 Collecting Expeditions, and one on Mr Shelford's special subject of 

 Mimicry. In this last he brings together a most interesting collection 

 of instances in support of the mimetic theory ; many of these are drawn 

 from his own personal observation, and the whole chapter is one of 

 absorbing interest. 



This book was written during the author's last illness and was 

 unfinished at the time of his death ; it has been excellently edited by 

 Professor Poulton, who contributes also a biography of the author as an 

 introduction. It is well illustrated by drawings and photographs, and 

 we think that no one who takes it up will be able to refrain from 

 reading it, as speedily as may be, right through to the end. We feel sure 

 that many will share our feeling of regret that one so keen and so 

 evidently full of delight in his work as Mr Shelford, should not have 

 been spared to throw more light on the difficult problems which 

 enthralled him. 



