I902. Reviews, 195 



Injurious and Useful Insects : an Introduction to the Study of 

 Economic Entomolog)'. By L. C. Miai^Iv, F.RS. London : George 

 Bell and Sons, 1902. Pp. 256. Price, -^s. 6d. 



We have often been asked by students and others interested in the 

 practical study of entomolDgy to recommend a small handy book, 

 reliable in its science and sound in its practical advice, that might serve 

 as an introduction to the subject. Hitherto there has been no such 

 ideal elementary work in our language, for the late Miss Ormond's 

 writings, with their scanty treatment of biological questions and their 

 wealth of detail regarding practical remedies, are more adapted for 

 cultivators who have missed the benefit of a scientific training than for 

 beginners who want to get at the reason of things. Professor Miall's 

 admirable little book completely supplies this felt need, and we can 

 hardly give it higher praise. 



The book is divided into four parts. First comes an account of the 

 outward and inner structure of the Cockroach, as a typical insect ; then 

 follow fairly detailed and beautifully graphic accounts of the form and 

 life history of well-selected common insects — almost all of economic 

 importance, six or seven species representing each of the principal 

 orders. The third section gives a summary of the orders of insects, with 

 notes on the more important families. A short but most suggestive 

 section on the " Destruction or Mitigation of Insect Pests" closes the 

 book, and there are remarks on this point in connection with the 

 special injurious insects described in Part 2. 



It may be thought this last-named practical aspect of the subject 

 should have received more attention, but we believe that Prof. Miall's 

 treatment of it is the best possible in an elementary book. He gives a 

 number of general principles on which the practical work of the 

 economic entomologist depends, and detailed accounts of the successful 

 methods that have been adopted against two especially destructive insect 

 pests in America. Laying stress on the importance of expert know- 

 ledge of the subject, he points out how much work remains to be done 

 on it in our own islands. Certainly the student who has gone practically 

 through the " lessons " of this little volume will be equipped for in- 

 vestigating the ravages of any particular insect-pest he may meet, and 

 learning how to fight it. And his work is likely to be successful, because 

 he will have been taught to study insects, as any other living creatures 

 in the right way — to observe and to think for himself. 



The style of the "lessons" is admirably clear, and the interest of each 

 life-history is well maintained throughout. The only change in the 

 general plan of the book that we can suggest as an improvement, would 

 be the association of the second and third parts — so that the systematic 

 account of each order and its families might follow immediately the 

 accounts of its typical members. Perhaps a certain amount of repeti- 

 tion might thus have been saved, a reference to any particular order 

 facilitated. The figures — over 100 in number — are, with few exceptions, 

 good and well chosen. 



G, H. Cf 



