204 The Irish Naturalist. [September, 



There is one positive mistake in this ehapter that I call attention to, 

 although it does not strictly refer to the British Fauna, and that is the 

 inclusion of the Belostomatida among the Nepidtc (" Some tropical Nepidcc 

 attain a gigantic size," p. 191). The true position and affinities of the 

 Nepida are extremely obscure, but they are probably as far removed from 

 the Belostomatidz as a Sesiid from a Pierid ! Our present scanty know- 

 ledge points to their descent from Reduvioid ancestors, the Be/ostomatidie 

 proceeding from an Acanthioid through a Naucoroid stock ; the Corixidce 

 and later Notonectid<B y are doubtless from the last-named. The Nepidcc 

 differ entirely from the other Hydrocorisse, in facies, in structure, and in 

 habits ; the long posterior respiratory tubes (modified pleura) which are 

 so marked a feature of the NcpidiC, are quite absent in the Bclostontatidic, 

 where the pleura are more or less normal, while the short strap-like 

 processes in the latter are connected with the sexual organs. 



In the Lepidoptera, Mr. Carpenter does not consider the old divisions 

 of Rhopalocera and Heterocera scientific, nor does he adopt the Jugatoe 

 and Frenatae of Comstock, the Incomplete and Obtectae of Chapman, 

 nor Packard's exclusion of the Micropterygida to found a sub-order 

 (Laciniata), distinct from all the other families (Haustellata). "On the 

 whole it is better not to adopt any division of the Lepidoptera between 

 the order and the family." Forty-six families are recognised, the principal 

 being placed in the following order : — Microptoygidcr, Eriocraniida-, 

 Hcpialidtc, Zyganida, Psychidce, Cossidcc, Scsiidtv, Tortricida, Tincidiv, Ptcro- 

 phoridce, Pyralidce, Lasiocauip'uhe, Lymantriidce, Arctiidiv^ Noctuidw, Sphingidcc, 

 Geometridce, Uraniida, Bombycida, Saturniides, Hesperiida, Lyccetiida, 

 Popi/ioiiidiC, Fieri Ju , and NympJialidtc. The author does not agree with 

 Grote that the raniassi-Papi/ionidcT should terminate the series, but 

 considers the NymplialiJ<€ as the dominant family, and ends the 

 Lepidoptera with the Satyrinee. 



The Diptera are divided into three groups : Aphaniptera, Orthorrhapa, 

 and Cvclorrhapa ; the recent researches, however, of Heymons {Zoo/. 

 Anzeiger, xxii. 1899, pp. 223-40), lend support to the view that the Fleas 

 should form a separate order. 



The fifth chapter deals with Insects and their surroundings The sub- 

 joined list of topics shows that very little of importance and interest has 

 been omitted, viz. : Abundance of Insect life, Cave Insects, Freshwater 

 and Marine Insects, Geographical Distribution, Vegetable-feeders, 

 Scavengers, Insects of Prey, Parasites, the various significances of 

 colouring, Sexual Modification, Family and Social Life, and Insects in 

 relation to Man. 



Chapter 6 briefly sketches the relationship of the Insect-orders, 

 not only among themselves — past and present—but in comparison with 

 the other orders of the Arthropoda. 



"The names of authorities are not mentioned in the text, but reference 

 figures in heavy type call attention to the bibliography at the end of the 

 book," where 217 representative and well up-to-date titles will be found. 

 These should prove very useful to the young worker. The book is 



