the; CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 26i 



BOOK REVIEW 



Applird Entomology, An Introductory Text-Book of Insects in 

 Their Relation to Man, by H. T. Fernald, New York: McGraw-Hill Book 

 Company, Inc. p. I-XIV, 1-386, 388 text figures, 1921. 



This book, as stated by the author, is intended primarily as a -classroom 

 text for students in Agricultural colleges who do not intend to specialize in 

 Entomology but "need it as a part of their agricultural education and particularly 

 as a tool which they can use wherever insects are related to their special lines 

 of work." 



In attacking this problem of writing a combined text book of systematic 

 and economic entomology, even for the class of students referred to, the author 

 has undertaken a very difficult task and one which many teachers of the subject 

 feel cannot be done satisfactorily. However, there are many teachers who 

 hold the opposite view. But, whatever the view, this new book will be welcome 

 to all as a valuable contribution to entomology and, whether it is used as a text 

 book or not, it will often be consulted by teachers and students ; for it. is written 

 in a very readable and interesting style and presents most of the essential facts 

 of elementary systematic entomology in a new and attractive manner and also 

 gives a fairly full account of most of our insect pests and of the methods of 

 their control. 



The first 58 pages are devoted almost entirely to an account of the ex- 

 ternal and internal structures of insects, their development, losses caused by 

 them, nature's method of control, insecticides, fungicides and fumigation. Each 

 of these topics is treated briefly and yet with sufficient fullness to give a good 

 general knowledge of the subject. 



The main part of the book, or a little more than 300 pages, is composed 

 of a description of the characteristics and peculiarities of the different orders 

 and of the chief families under these orders, together with a description of the 

 chief insects of economic importance under each family, their habits, life 

 histories and methods of control. Much attention is paid to this economic as- 

 pect and in consequence most of the very destructive insects of North America 

 are discussed at considerable length. 



There are many good illustrations and a few that are somewhat poor. A 

 few more illustrations, especially of the immature stages of- insects in certain 

 orders, would have been an improvement and also the addition of a host index. 



The life histories and control measures of the various insects discussed 

 are, with a few exceptions, up-to-date and sufficiently full for the purpose. 



There are a few typographical errors and inaccuracies here and there 

 throughout the text but not sufficient to mar the value appreciably. 



The book should be very welcome, not only to teachers and to iftider- 

 graduates in agricultural colleges but alsD to many others who are interested in 

 entomology. — L. Cae.sar. 



