140 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



in a very scholarly manner, and given us a book leaving little to be de- 

 sired, beyond that constant and bitter craving of naturalists for a know- 

 ledge of the earlier stages of life of the insects treated. We could indeed 

 wish that the structural characteristics of the larger divisions had been 

 more amply treated, and that the author had not rested satisfied with 

 groupings in the Lycaeninae and Hesperidee, newly manufactured, con- 

 fessedly artificial and temporary, and to which the very descriptions which 

 follow do violence. But the excellence of the entire work, the consistent 

 manner in which the task has been carried out, the technical skill, excel- 

 lent judgment and broad learning everywhere displayed, as well as the 

 very considerable addition to our knowledge involved, disarms adverse 

 criticism and invites only praise. Would that such a Maecenas and such 

 an author might oftener company together ! 



The work is published in quarto in sumptuous style, is unexception- 

 able in typography and profusely illustrated. Besides 46 plates of some 

 of the best chromo-lithographs of butterflies which we have ever seen, 

 there are 129 wood cuts scattered through the text, generally illustrating 

 special structural features, especially in neuration and leg structure, which 

 are of the greatest value. The author, as would have been expected of 

 one of our best lepidopterists, familiar with the structure as well as the 

 early stages, the form and coloring of butterflies, has followed closely in 

 the lines of the classification made prominent in recent years by Bates, in 

 which the Hesperidae are immediately preceded by their nearest allies, the 

 Papilionidse. It remains only to say that a good deal of interesting read- 

 ing will be found scattered through the portly volume, and that there are 

 points in the preface worthy of careful attention. About 500 species are 

 described. Samuel H. Scudder. 



The Ottawa Naturalist. Vol. i., Nos. i and 2, April and May, 1887. 

 A welcome addition to our few Canadian serials on Natural Science 

 we heartily wish it abundant success. 



A Revision of the Lepidopterous Family Saturniid^e. By John 

 B. Smith. Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 

 Washington, Dec, 1886. 

 A very valuable illustrated paper on this interesting family of moths. 



