1985.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 163 



37. A MANUAL FOR THE STUDY OF INSECTS by John Henry Comstuck, 

 Professor of Entomology in Cornell University and in Leland Stanford 

 Junior University, and Anna Botsford Comstock, Member of the Society 

 of American Wood-engravers. Ithaca, N. Y. Comstock Publishing 

 Company, 1895, pp. xi, 701 ; 797 figures in the text, six plates (plate i, 

 the frontispiece, colored). 8 vo. 



The appearance of a work of this size and kind by an author of repu- 

 tation is always an important event. Those who knew not of the intended 

 publication of the present volume were probably surprised, as we were, 

 to find that Prof. Comstock has here given us an entirely new book, and 

 not a continuation of his favorably known " Introduction to Entomology'' 

 of 1888. The new Manual is designed for more elementary students than 

 the Introduction. The latter, as far as published, embraced 252 pages, 

 of which 52 are occupied with the general characteristics of insects, 9 

 with the Thysanura, 25 with Pseudoneuroptera, 36 with Orthoptera, 5 

 with Physopoda, 90 with Hemiptera, 17 with Neuroptera. In the Manual 

 the number of pages devoted to the same subjects are respectively 34, 4, 

 1 6, 17, 2, 54, 1 6. In the Manual we have also a chapter on zoological 

 classification and nomenclature of 8 pages, and one of 39 pages on the 

 relatives of Insects, that is, the other Arthropods. Another feature of 

 the book in which it differs from the Introduction is the recognition of 

 nineteen orders of insects, due mainly to the division of the Pseudoneu- 

 roptera and Neuroptera. The groups not treated of in the Introduction 

 are the higher orders; here the Lepidoptera occupy 222 pages, the Diptera 

 77, the Siphonaptera 4, the Coleoptera 105, the Hymenoptera 80. 



The aim of the Manual is stated in the preface to be that of meeting a 

 pressing demand of teachers and learners in entomology "for a hand- 

 book by means of which the names and relative affinities of insects may 

 be determined in some such way as plants are classified by the aid of the 

 well-known manuals of botany." Analytical keys, therefore, occupy a 

 prominent place, although for obvious reasons it is not pretended to ex- 

 tend them farther than families. As may be seen from the figures given 

 above, those orders of insects of economic importance receive, and re- 

 ceive intentionally, a larger share of attention, the best known species in 

 these groups being frequently described and figured. The book is very 

 fully illustrated, and most of the figures, especially in the latter part (see 

 the preface), are satisfactory. Such abundant illustration is a prime requi- 

 site in a handbook of this kind. A rather unfamiliar feature in entomo- 

 logical text-books is the indications for pronunciation which follow the 

 technical names. Most of the species and groups mentioned are also 

 provided with English names. 



Altogether, without discussing any of the more technical questions con- 

 cerned, we are pleased with the Manual, and recommend it to those for 

 whom it is intended, and to those who desire a brief illustrated hand- 

 book of our common insects. 



