84 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



REVIEWS 



Melanism and Melanoehroism in British Lepidoptera. By J. 

 W. Tutt, F.E.S. (London : Swan Sonnenschein, and Co. October 

 1 891), pp. 66. 



We have perused with much interest this contribution to an 

 important phenomenon, about which there is singularly little to be 

 found in the literature of British Natural History. This is not a 

 little remarkable because it is a subject that should especially 

 demand the attention of our naturalists, since our islands appear to 

 be the headquarters of melanic forms. This peculiarity is 

 considered, by the author, to be due to the great humidity of our 

 climate ; and it is interesting to note that where the humidity is at 

 its maximum with us — i.e. in Ireland and certain districts in 

 Scotland, — melanism and melanoehroism among the Lepidop- 

 terous insects are also at their maximum. As bearing upon this 

 subject we may remark that there are two important cases of 

 melanism among the mammalia which bear out these views. These 

 are : — (1) the black form of the Common Rat, the Mus hiber?iicus of 

 Thompson, which is fairly abundant throughout Ireland, and not 

 unknown in the Hebrides, and yet practically absent from the 

 mainland of Britain. (2) The black variety of the Water Vole 

 (Arvicola amphibia), which is much commoner than, and, perhaps, 

 replaces the type in some .of the northern districts of Scotland. 

 This animal is widely distributed in Britain — there are no voles 

 in Ireland — but melanic forms are of exceptional occurrence out of 

 Scotland. Though the little volume under consideration treats of 

 the subject under the light afforded by the evidence relating to one 

 order of the Insecta, yet it is a valuable contribution to an interesting 

 subject, and it should be read not only by entomologists but by 

 all interested in the peculiarities of our insular fauna. To the 

 Scottish naturalist we have said enough .0 indicate that it is of 

 especial value and interest. 



British Edible Fungi, how to distinguish and how to cook them, 

 by M. C. Cooke, M.A., LL.D., deserves hearty commendation as 

 well fulfilling its aim of giving clear information regarding the 

 edible Fungi of our country in a manner that can be understood by 

 any one wishful to know how to recognise and how to make use of 

 them. The admirable figures on the twelve plates, illustrating forty- 

 three species, add much to the value of the book as a ready means 

 of identifying the Fungi. 



