190 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



BOOK NOTICES. 



The Crane-Flies of New York. Part I. Distribution and Taxonomy of the 

 Adult Flies. By Charles Paul Alexander. Memoir 25. Cornell University 

 Agricultural Experiment Station. Ithaca, N. Y., 191!). Pp. 7(')9-993; with 

 G plates and 1 1 text figures. 



It has been heretofore practically impossible for anyone in Eastern Norlh 

 America, except the specialist, to determine for himself specimens of crane- 

 flies taken within that area. The present work has removed this obstacle 

 and, therefore, fills an important gap in entomological literature. It will 

 be widely welcomed by all who ever have occasion to deal with the taxonomy 

 of these flies. 



Mr. Alexander's work on this somewhat neglected gi<»up is so well known 

 that it is .'carcely necessary If) comment on the thoroughness with which both 

 the text and the illustrations ha\e been prepared. The work is based on the 

 stufly of a large number of collections, both i)ul)lic and jirixate, and its 

 geographical scope is much greater than is indicated in the title, all the species 

 from Eastern North America being included. 



Besides the portions concerned with classification and distribution, there 

 are useful .sections dealing with the immature stages, the haunts and habits 

 of both larvae and adulls. The larval habits are very varied, some species 

 being aquatic, some inhabiting mud, others fiuigi, wood and bark, while a lew 

 feed upon leaves like caterpillars. Methods are de.scribed for rearing these 

 various types of larva?. 



The external anatomy of the adult flies is treated from the taxonomic 

 point of view, structures aftording good taxonomic characters, such as the 

 antennae and wing venation, receiving a relatively large space. In connection 

 with the description of abdominal structures it may be mentioned here, al- 

 though not in criticism of Mr. Alexander's work, that the term "pleurite" 

 as applied to the structures attached to the caudal margin of the ninth abdominal 

 sternite, is morphologically incorrect, these parts being undoubtedh' roxiles, 

 and having nothing to do with the pleural region of the segment. 



The analytical keys appear to be excellent in every respect, so far as can 

 be judged by one who is not a specialist in this group. The details of distribution 

 lor each species in New York State are not given in the decriptive part, but 

 in the special section on distribution. An important feature of this section 

 is the discussion of the distribution of the Tipulidae and related familes by life- 

 zones. Following the definitions of the various zones, lists of characteristic 

 plants and crane-flies are given. Between the Canadian and Transition Zones 

 another zone, or sub-zone, the Canadian-Transition, is recognized, a distinction 

 which undoubtedly has its advantages, although it is largeh- a matter of con- 

 venience as to how many zones should be recognized within the territory dis- 

 cussed, where in reality the changes depending on latitude, except where modified 

 by local conditions, are entirely gradual. Some of the plants listed for the 

 Transition Zone are, in the re\iewer's opinion, typical of the l^pper Austral, 

 such as Chamaecyparis Ihycides, Jiiglans yiigra and Sassafras variifolium. 



"The number of species of Crane-flics that should occur in New York State 

 is probably not less than three hundred and this figure seems similarly appli- 



