216 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, 



ing to be desired ; the text cuts are excellent and the figures of the 

 moths themselves appear up to the standard. This is undoubtedly one 

 of the best monographs ever writen in regard to American insects, and 

 the only thing we can conscientiously criticise is the general character of 

 plates xxxiv to xxxvi they are exceedingly poor. H. S. 



Mosquitoes : how they live ; how they carry disease ; how they are 

 classified ; how they may be destroyed. By L. O. Howard, Ph.D., De- 

 partment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. New York, McClure, 

 Phillips & Co. 12 mo. $1.50 net, postage 14 cents. This work of 240 

 pages and fifty illustrations covers the subject in an excellent manner. It 

 is written in a popular way, yet scientific accuracy is never sacrificed. 

 We particularly like the sub-headings of the chapters where the very 

 natural questions concerning mosquitoes are answered. It is quite a re- 

 lief to see a work like this after reading the entomological part of some 

 of the papers on malaria in our prominent medical journals. This book 

 should have a large sale as it is on a subject that is of interest to almost 

 everyone. Physicians whose knowledge of entomology is usually very 

 meagre would greatly profit by its perusal. It is the style of book one 

 would expect from an accomplished entomologist, and Dr. Howard is to 

 be congratulated on placing an interesting subject before the public in 

 such a pleasing and scientifically accurate manner. H. S. 



NATURE BIOGRAPHIES: "The Lives of Some Everyday Butterflies 

 Moths, Grasshoppers and Flies." By Clarence Moores Weed. With 

 150 photographic illustrations by the author. Doubleday, Page & Co., 

 New York. This work of 162 pages is gotten out in nice style, and 

 many of the illustrations are excellent. The work is a popular one and 

 can't fail to be useful. We particularly like the first chapter and its illus- 

 trations called "The Making of a Butterfly." We do not like the figures 

 of drangonflies on the cover and see no use for such monstrosities. They 

 would have been just as artistic and would just as well have reached a 

 popular vein if they had looked more like dragonflies, and if the forked 

 legs and forked tails had been drawn true to nature. There is plenty of 

 room for improvement in the photographic part of the work. Some of 

 the figures of the larva of the "viceroy butterfly" are poor. Fig. 43 and 

 44 show nothing and we take the author's word for it that there is some- 

 thing there. Fig. 58 is poor. We doubt that the people for whom the 

 work is intended could see anything in Fig. 59. It is much easier to pin 

 butterflies to plants and photograph them than to do the work under 

 more difficult conditions, and we find that insect photographers often 

 do this, but neglect to say so or infer that they were taken otherwise. 

 Fig. 177 illustrates a dragonfly and shows an utter lack of detail. There 

 is much chance for improvement in this respect. Fig. 136 is very poor, 

 and also shows where improvement could be made. The book is written 

 in a very happy vein and by one who knows his subject well. Photogra- 



