THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 217 



BOOK NOTICES. 



Entomology for Beginners, for the use of Young Folks, Fruit Growers, 

 Farmers and Gardeners. By A. S. Packard, M. D. New York : 

 Henry Holt & Co. — i vol., 8 vo., pp. 367. 



It is with much pleasure that we draw the attention of our readers to 

 the publication of this work. For many years past, we have been re- 

 peatedly asked to recommend some book that would serve as an intro- 

 duction to the study of Entomology, and enable young collectors to make 

 a satisfactory beginning in the pursuit. Hitherto, we have been unable to 

 mention any single work that would answer the purpose, and we have felt 

 constrained to tell enquirers that they must procure several books, for 

 instance, Kirby & Spence's Entomology, Harris's Insects Injurious to 

 Vegetation, etc., and even then not have what they want. Dr. Packard's 

 new book is certainly one that has long been wanted, though we fear that 

 it is a little too technical in its language, and too abtruse in its treatment 

 of some of the subjects to exactly meet the requirements of beginnerst 

 We think, too, that the author has not been judicious in the arrangemen. 

 of the matter ; the first two chapters on the structure of insects and their 

 growth and metamorphosis will, we fear, prove rather repellant to one 

 who has collected a few specimens and wants to know something about 

 them and what to do with them. They are carefully written, and give an 

 admirable summary of what every student of Entomology requires to 



know ; but they are a little beyond the youthful mind, or the uninstructed 

 powers of the ordinary farmer. We, therefore, strongly advise all beginners 

 who procure this book — and we recommend them to get it without fail — 

 to commence their reading with Chapter vi., which contains very interesting 

 and useful directions for collecting, preserving and rearing insects ; they 

 mieht then turn back and read Chapters iv. and v. on insect architecture, 

 and insects injurious and beneficial to agriculture. By this time, we have 

 no doubt, they will have become so deeply interested in the work that 

 they will not be discouraged by the drier details and the harder words in 

 the remainder of the book. The third chapter, which fills over a hundred 

 pages, gives an admirable synopsis of the classification of insects, and 

 should enable a beginner to arrange with some degree of system any 

 specimens that he collects. The author has departed from the usually 

 received divisions of insects, and sets forth no less than sixteen orders ; 

 this number he obtains by sub-dividing the Neuroptera, Orthoptera and 

 Diptera. To the new orders thus formed, he applies the novel terms 

 Plectoptera, Platyptera, Mecaptera, etc. We feel rather doubtful about 

 their general acceptance, and think it a pity that they should have been 

 put forth in an elementary work of this kind before they had been dis- 



