86 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



in the Annalcn de la Societe entomolor/iquc do Belpiqur, giving a complete 

 account of the collection of Brunner von Wattenwyl, one of the richest 

 in existence. This Avas accompanied hy a synoptical table of the 

 genera, the first modification of Dohrn's system of the sixties. The 

 system thus established has remained in vogue until his latest and 

 most important work, though it was followed, but not superseded, by 

 Kirby's llcrisii/n in 1890. In 188G he examined de Haan's types in 

 the Leyden Museum, and published a paper with descriptions of six 

 novelties. In 1888 he gave us his first paper on Fea's collection from 

 Burmah, followed, six years later, by a more complete and larger study of 

 the same, both being published in the ylnnales of the Genoa Museum. 

 Three years ago he completed the manuscript of a complete monograph of 

 the Fi)vfiridaria as knoAvn down to the end of 1896 ; this was after- 

 wards brought up to the end of 1897, whilst his last work was a paper, 

 again published at Genoa, in the spring of 1900, with descriptions of 

 a number of novelties, and synoptical tables of several genera. At 

 length, after an unavoidable delay of three years, his great monograph'' 

 has been published in Das Ticrrcich. Originally written in French, it 

 has been translated into German by Krauss, who is the author of the 

 few pages on the single species of llonunerus. 



This work, of which the importance can hardly be overestimated, is 

 handicapped by the regulations of the great publication of which it 

 forms a part. On opening it we are disappointed at not finding a 

 longer introduction, in which the author could give us the benefit of his 

 many years' experience of observation of this difficult group ; it is also 

 incomplete, owing to the length of time involved in publication, for 

 it only includes forms known down to the end of 1897, since which 

 date a considerable number of new forms have been described. It 

 begins with a " Litteratur-Kurzungen." This is followed by a 

 " Systematischer Index," Avhich gives 81 genera and 308 species, not 

 including several doubtful forms. There are a few spevica inccrtac 

 si'difi, and finally the Hcmimcridae, with the unique species. The part 

 dealing with Forjkididac proper occupies 129 pages. The introductory 

 remarks upon structure are illustrated by a clear diagram showing the 

 nomenclature of the parts, the tarsal segments are also figured 

 considerably magnified, which should give assistance to students who 

 are turning their attention to this group, for the shape of the second 

 tarsal segment is one of the most important characters and is some- 

 what difficult to observe. A short paragraph treats of the development 

 and of the distinction of the early stages from the imago, but no 

 detailed mention is made of the remarkable post-embryonic develop- 

 ment of Diplatijs, described by Green. A few words are devoted to 

 the habits of earwigs, and their distribution. De Bormans recognises 

 31 genera, 308 species, 20 subspecies, and one variety, with two 

 uncertain genera and 31 uncertain species. An important synoptical 

 table of the certain genera follows, thus definitely establishing the 

 system of the Forjiculidae as at present known, for the one genus too 

 recently established for inclusion, i.e., (Tonolahis, easily falls into 



* Das Tierreich, Eine Zusammeiistellung und Kennzeichnung tier rezenten 

 Tierformen. 11. Lieferung. Orthopteia, Eedakteur: H. Krauss. Forfieulidae 

 und Hemimeridae bearbeitet von A. do Bormans und H. Krauss. Mit 47 

 Abbildungen, Berlin. Friedlander. 1900. 



