THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1S7 



BOOK NOTICE 



General Biology : A Book of Outlines and Practical Studies for the 

 General Student. By James G. Needham, Ph. D. Comstock Pub- 

 lishing Co., Ithaca, N. Y. 



Although not customary in an eTitomological journal to notice 



biological works of a general character, it seems justifiable in the present 



case, in view of the many illustrations of biological phenomena, taken from 

 the insect world, which the author has introduced into this attractive 

 work. 



The book is wholly unlike the ordinary text-books of zoology and 

 botany, in that it is not dominated by any S[)ecial phase of the subject, but 

 touches upon the entire field ; its aim being to guide the general student 

 in following the course of practical studies which it offers rather than to 

 supply him directly with all the knowledge he is expected to acquire. 



Each of the seven chapters forms an introduction to some branch of 

 general biology, which is illustrated by references to familiar examples, 

 and the practical exercises which they contain are not studies of animal 

 types but of the biological phenomena in question. These practical 

 studies contain directions for obtaining and preparing the necessary 

 material, as well as for the intelligent study thereof. They are full of 

 valuable suggestions, not only for the student, but for the instructor, and 

 will be found most useful for teachers of biology, entomology and kindred 

 subjects, in both high schools and universities. 



The arrangement of the subject matter is somewhat novel, as 

 indicated by the following list of headings of the seven chapters : 



I. The Interdependence of Organisms. 

 II. The Simpler Organisms. 



III. Organic Evolution. 



IV. Inheritance. 



V. The Life Cycle. 



VI. The Adjustment of Organisms to Environment. 

 VII. The Responsive Life of Organisms. 



All the chapters except the second contain many references to insect 

 biology. The first discusses the relations between flowers and insects, 



