'il TUfc lA.NAlJlA.N l,M«i.M«»l.«Mi|KT. 



In the first chapter the author defines wiiat is nieant by an insect, 

 and for convenience divides all insects into eight orders. In following 

 chapters he takes these orders in turn and discusses their beneficial or 

 injurious relationship to plants, to man and to other animals. In addition, 

 chapters are devoted to an account of the natural forces that keep insects 

 under control, especially where the balance of nature is not disturbed by 

 man. Of special interest in this connection is his description of the part 

 played by parasites, by climate and by disease in checking increase. 



The author's remarks on birds are likely to cause a good deal of 

 criticism from bird admirers. He attributes lu the feathered tribe much 

 less imi)ortancc than most writers on the subject would give them. In 

 doing Mj, however, he stales explicitly that birds have an imporlani 

 function to perform in connection with insect control, but that so far as 

 our worst pests are concerned, their value has been greatly exaggerated. 

 If birds are of less importance than many think, much less value, he 

 claims, is to be attributed to protective coloration than popular opinion 

 would give it. 



i'hc i)art dealing with insects as carriers of disease is full of valuable 

 infornjalion, obtained frotn the results of the most recent investigations. 

 Household insects come in for a good deal of attention, nearly all the 

 species found being discussed and remedies suggested, so that this is a 

 very valuable ihapter. 



I'hroughout the book Dr. Smith has never lost sight of the economic 

 aspect, and the numerous references to individual species of an injurious 

 nature are made more valuable by the suggestions for control which almost 

 invariably follow. 



The last chapter is called "The ^Var on Insects," and is a resume of 

 all the most up-to-date methods adopted by man for controlling injurious 

 species. 



The value of the book is considerably increased by frequent illustra- 

 tions. Kntomologists will find this work a boon to them, inasmuch as it 

 brings within handy reach a mass ol valuable information that is frequently 

 rcijuired, and that would otherwise be obtained only through much 

 searching. The general public will find it a most interesting revelation of 

 a new world of marvellous interest, into which they have found it difficult 

 to get more than a mere glance in popular books. The book should be 

 in every farmer's home, and in every school and college library. — L. C. 



Mailed l.iniiary i^^h, 19IU. 



