284 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



In the introductory matter, which covers 76 pages, the author gives an 

 interesting sketch of New England Orthopterology, an account of the principal 

 collections of New England Orthoptera, and sections on the anatomy, habits, 

 coloration, distribution and many other matters concerning the biology of the 

 order. He also describes the injuries caused by locusts and other Orthoptera 

 and the methods employed for their control, and concludes this part of the book 

 with a very useful section giving full directions for the collection and preservation 

 of specimens. 



The general account of the habits of Orthoptera is based on those of the 

 locusts, or short-horned grasshoppers, and is followed by a delightful description 

 of the songs of grasshoppers and crickets and the methods by which they are 

 produced. The next section on coloration contains much of interest. The 

 three types of insect coloration, structural, pigmental and combinations of these, 

 are all illustrated by species of this order, the majority being of the pigmental 

 type. Many interesting examples of sympathetic or protective coloration are 

 given, while the non-sympathetic coloration seen in the brightly' coloured wings 

 of the Oedipodinae, is regarded as being due, not to the phenomenon of "con- 

 trast mimicry" but as a means of signalling to other individuals of the com- 

 munity. Dichromatism and the varied coloration of certain species, such as 

 the Carolina Locust, are considered to be independent of environmental colora- 

 tion. The dichromatism of the Green-striped Locust is discussed in a special 

 section by Dr. Phineas W. Whiting, who performed a series of experiments 

 which seemed to show that temperature, and not humidity nor light, is the im- 

 portant factor in the colour determination of this species. 



The sections entitled "Geographical Distribution" and "Colonization of 

 New England — Dispersal Routes" are particularly excellent. In the former 

 various faunal zones are characterized and their boundaries within the New 

 England States clearly defined, and the characteristic species of Orthoptera 

 inhabiting each are enumerated. Local distribution is also discussed and the 

 author's well-known classification of locust habitats is introduced in illustration 

 of this subject. Following this section is one on "Wingless and Vestigial-winged 

 Orthoptera," in which the author's views on wing-length as a habitat relation 

 are quoted from a former publication (Publ. 18, Carnegie Inst. Wash.). 



The economic aspect of the subject is treated at considerable length in three 

 sections dealing with the injuries of locusts and other Orthoptera in New England, 

 remedies against locusts and earwigs, and natural enemies, including bacterial 

 and fungus diseases, parasites, such as hair-worms, mites and tachinid flies, 

 predaceous insects, amphibians, snakes and birds. Remedies against cock- 

 roaches are dealt with under the general account of the Blattidae in the special 

 part of the volume. 



In this second part, which deals with the classification and description of 

 the various species, the same high standard of excellence is maintained, and the 

 descriptive matter is relieved of the dryness usually characteristic of systematic 

 works by the many vivid word-pictures of the habits and environmental re- 

 lations of the different species. The author is wisely conservative in following 

 a system of classification that has long been in general use, and in introducing 



