34 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



and when the branch is eaten through the larva continues its feeding in 

 forming a tunnel through that portion of the branch which is cut off from 

 the supply of sap. 



The instinct of insects is wonderful enough, and more accurate per- 

 haps than a mental process, but while we justly ascribe to them all the 

 attributes pertaining to their natural gift, we are not warranted in imput- 

 ing to them an intelligence only to be arrived at through a course of 

 reason. 



BOOK NOTICE. 



The Butterflies of New England, with original Descriptions, accom- 

 panied by eight lithographic Plates, in which are given at least two 

 hand-colored Figures of each S^Decies. By C. J. Maynard. Boston, 

 Bradlee Whidden, 1886. 



The author of this work is a well-known taxidermist and ornithologist, 

 who here endeavors "to present recognisable figures and intelligible 

 descriptions of the Butterflies," etc. The drawings and descriptions, he 

 says, are original, but he has been obHged to compile descriptions of the 

 larva and pupa from works of various authors, and is indebted to such 

 works for many notes upon habits, distribution, etc. 



He has coined a new set of names for the veins of the wings, ^nd 

 likewise a set of English names for the several species. No authority 

 follows the specific names in the text, but those " who are curious to 

 learn who first described any given species, can ascertain by referring to 

 an Index," etc. He sees no reason why polymorphic forms, which he 

 calls " phases of coloration," should receive names, and in this connec- 

 tion thinks that entomologists have overlooked the results of an important 

 law, that of reversion. The classification adopted is that used in the 

 arrangement of the collection of the Boston Soc. N. Hist., " merely 

 because of its simplicity," and hence the series begins with the Satyridae, 

 and Papilio stands next the Hesperidae. By all which it will be seen that 

 the author has ideas of his own, but is not very well read in the recent 

 literature of lepidopterology. 



The plates are described as hand-colored, and it seems to be implied 

 that the coloring therefore is something superior. Whereas it is very bad 

 indeed — could not well be worse. This is conspicuously so in Limenitis, 



