ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 89 



The Natural History of Aquatic Insects, by Prof. L. 0. Miall, F. R. S. London 

 and New York, MacMillan &, Co. (66 Fifth avenue, N. Y.; price, $L75), pp. 395. 



This interesting work is intended, as the author states, " to help those naturalists 

 who take delight in observing the structure and habits of living animals," and also to 

 revive an interest in the writings of some of the old zoologists who did notable work in 

 their day, but who are now almost forgotten, namely, Lyonnet, Reaumur, Swammerdam 

 and De Geer, of whose lives and work ho gives a short account. 



To any lover of nature who wishes to look into the lives and doings of living crea- 

 tures, and to investigate their structure and appliances for carrying on the business of 

 their lives, this book will prove a very great help as well as an unfailing pleasure, and it 

 ought to lead many a reader to explore for himself the ponds and pools in his own neigh- 

 borhood which teem with insect life. The different groups of insects that live in the 

 water in their larval or perfect states, are treated of in turn — water bf etles and the larvai of 

 many flies, the caterpillars of some moths, caddis worms, May flies, alder flies (Sialiche), 

 stone flies (Perlid«), dragon flies, pond skaters, water boatmen, etc. The very names of 

 these insects bring to mind what one cannot fail to have seen and watched and wondered 

 ovfi. To have many of these wonders explained and described, and to have the insects 

 themselves depicted and the peculiarities of their structure made clear by excellent wood- 

 cuts, is what we owe to the author of this book, and we hope that many will turn to i<.s 

 pages with profit ard delight. It is a handsome volume, with clear, large type and a 

 number of very good illustrations. — C. J. S. B. 



The Cambridge Natural History, Vol. V. Peripatus, by Adam Sedgwick, M.A., F. 

 RS.C; Myriapods, by F. G. Sinclair, M.A.; Insects, (Part 1) by David Sharp, M.A., 

 F.R.S. London and New York, MacMillan & Co. 



The possession of some such work as this is of primary importance to the student ia 

 any department of zoology, to enable him to obtain, and have at hand for reference, a 

 general knowledge of the varied groups into which, for convenience of study and classifi- 

 cation, the animal kingdom is divided. In every home that can afford the luxury of 

 books it will also be found most valuable, affording a continual fund of instruction, and 

 implanting in the children a spirit of inquiry, and of interest in the many wonders of 

 nature. It is only about ten years since the publication, in six sumptuous quarto volumes, 

 of the Standard Natural History, edited by Prof. Kingsley, and having as contributors 

 many of the most eminent scientific men of America. To a certain extent their references 

 and illustrations were more largely drawn from the fauna of our own continent, although 

 a work of this general character must not be expected to be in any way restricted in its 

 choice of examples of any group. Our knowledge of the animal kingdom is, however, so 

 constantly being enlarged by the labours of an ever increasing and better equipped body 

 of investigators, that the present work will be found to be considerably in advance of any 

 previous publication. The editors are S. F. Harmer, M.A., Superintendent of the Cam- 

 bridge University Museum of Zoology, and A. E. Shipley, M.A., University lecturer on 

 the Morphology of Invertebrates. These names, and those of the authors of the various 

 memoirs, are a guarantee as to the accuracy and completeness of the work, and of its 

 fitness either for the private student or for the teacher of zoology. When finished it 

 will consist of ten handsome large octavo volumes, which will form a desirable addtion 

 to any library. 



Mr. Sedgwick's memoir on Peripatus indicates at once the marked advance that has 

 been made in some directions of biological research. In the Standard Natural History, 

 where it is placed as a sub-class — Malacopoda — of the insects, this curious genus occupi- s 

 scarcely more than a page, for the knowledge of it was than very fragmentary. Mr, Sedg- 

 wick, whose studies of the genus have been very extended, and who has written previous 

 monographs, gives a very interesting account not only of the outward appearance of thii 

 very peculiar creature, but also of its embryology, development and habits. There are 

 numerous illustrations and a map showing the distribution, which extends through por- 

 tions of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America and the VVest 



