30 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Several pages which are devoted to the anatomy and embryology of the 

 group, and are embellished by many useful figures, are succeeded by an 

 account of the fossil forms and by a discussion of the zoological position 

 of the class. 



Dr. Sharp has taken up the Insecta (Hexapoda) in the third chapter, 

 and nearly five hundred pages are devoted to the general consideration of 

 the subject and a careful review of the Aptera(Thysanura and Collembola) 

 the Orthoptera (inclusive of the Forficulidse), the Neuroptera (under 

 which name he includes several of the groups given ordinal rank by 

 Brauer, Packard, Comstock, and others) and the lower families of the 

 Hymenoptera. The remainder will follow in future volumes, which the 

 Entomological world will look forward to with much interest. No one 

 who is familiar with the work of the author needs to be assured of its 

 excellence, and it will be sufficient to state that the literary side is fully as 

 well upheld as the scientific. The reader whose knowledge of scientific 

 terms is limited will find that careful attention has been given to making 

 them clear, while the specialist will see that many important points, 

 simply touched upon or slurred over by most text-books and " Natural 

 Histories," are here elaborated by a master hand. The figures of large 

 and bizarre forms of Orthoptera and the accounts in the text of their 

 wonderful adaptation to environment convey a most instructive lesson. 

 A remarkable case of resemblance to an ant is shown by a small Locustid 

 {Myrmecophana fallax) which, with a form of body recalling in general 

 that of an ant, is dependent for the "stalk" or pedicel of the abdomen 

 upon a white spot on each side of the body, leaving only a narrow dorsal 

 line dark. 



We have not room to speak of all the groups in detail, but mention 

 should be made of the very interesting accounts of the Termites, or white 

 ants. To the inquiring mind, also, the practice of citation of authorities 

 by means of foot-notes must commend itself— this plan being followed 

 throughout the work. The beauty and careful selection of the illustra- 

 tions deserve special remarks, while the press work is of the best. On 

 the whole, we must consider the enterprise as one meriting the support of 

 every entomologist who cares to see the treatment of his favourites placed 

 in the hands of those competent to properly deal with it and who are 

 able to give us a well-written, thoroughly interesting and reliable guide. 



H. F. WICKHAM. 

 Mailed January I5lh, 1896. 



