NOTICES OF BOOKS. in 



Many beautiful coniferous specimens are recorded, from which it would appear (though 

 the author here, as indeed everywhere, expresses himself with the most admirable caution) 

 that rnost tribes of Coniferae were already represented in the Wealden epoch. A new species 

 of Pinites (P. Sol??isi) shows both foliage and female cones very clearly, and decidedly 

 suggests the recent genus, while in Sphenolepidium Kurrianum we have equally perfect 

 specimens of another type, indicating an affinity to Athrotaxis. 



The author considers that the evidence of Palasobotany certainly favours the inclusion of 

 the Wealden rocks in the Jurassic series. 



Such work as Mr. Seward's is of the greatest possible value. His book, with the help of 

 the abundant and excellent illustrations (chiefly the work of Miss Woodward), gives us a vivid 

 idea of the flora of a most interesting epoch. The author's remarkably sound judgment, and 

 caution in estimating affinities, inspire great confidence in his results. It is only by such 

 sober-minded work as this that real and permanent advance in fossil Botany can be assured. 



Die Artbildung und Verwandschaft bei den Schmetterlingen. II. Theil. Eine systematische 

 Darstellung der Abanderungen, Abarten und Arten der Schwalbenschwanz-ahnlichen 

 Formen der Gattung Papilio. Von Dr. G. H. Theodor Eimer, Professor der Zoologie 

 und vergleichenden Anatomie zu Tubingen. Unter Mitwirkung von Dr. K. Fichert, I. 

 Assistent an der Zoologischen Anstalt daselbst. Mit 4 Tafeln in Farbendruck und 7 

 Abbildungen im Texte. Jena, 1895. 



Times have changed since it was possible to regard a fondness for butterfly collecting as 

 evidence which could be seriously brought forward in a court of justice in an attempt to set 

 aside the will of a deceased lady on the ground of insanity. Gone, too, are the days when it 

 was necessary for pious and learned gentlemen to explain to our fathers in long and elaborate 

 essays that Entomology was not in itself either a frivolous or a cruel amusement. Yet the 

 really cruel amusements of the beginning of the century have disappeared and are forgotten, 

 while Entomology still holds its own, and to judge from the large number of books addressed 

 chiefly to amateurs, is an increasingly popular amusement, while wise men are turning their 

 attention to the despised butterflies in quest of information respecting some of the profoundest 

 problems which are open to our scientific men along the present tracks of ordinary research. 



It was Bates' famous paper on Mimicry which first began to raise the philosophical study of 

 butterflies to the importance which it has now attained, and questions of mimicry, variation, 

 adaptation, climate, and even of the past history of the world, and of the formation of species 

 are eagerly discussed in the new light which the study of butterflies has thrown upon them. 



Not only long and extended but much detailed examination is necessary before satis- 

 factory results can be attained ; and therefore works of a limited character like Dr. Eimer's 1 will 

 always be important, quite apart from any theories which may be based upon them. Dr. 

 Eimer contends that Natural Selection will not account for the origin of species, though it 

 doubtless contributes largely to the preservation of species that are already formed. He also 

 adduces instances in which the representative forms of a species or group of species appear to 

 vary in a similar direction at the opposite extremities of its range ; but perhaps his most 

 important point is that variation always appears to occur along definite lines. We are glad to 

 notice this, because, although it has frequently been noticed, it has generally been passed by 

 without special comment. It would be impossible to discuss Dr. Eimer's theories at length ; 

 but we are sure that all who are interested in the philosophical study of butterflies will read his 

 book with much interest. 



1 The present volume of his work is restricted to Papilio Turnus, Machaon, and Asterias, and their 

 allies. 



