()(i [March, 



CiCADiXEN (Hemipteba-Homopteka) von Mittel-Europa : von Dr. L. 

 Melichar. 8vo. pp. i-xxvii, 1-364. 12 plates. Berlin: Felix L. Dames. 1896. 



Tlie preface indicates that this work has been undertaken with the view of 

 obviating the difEcuItics that beset the beginner of the study of the Cicadina, in 

 consequence of tlie labours of the writers thereon being diffused throughout many 

 journals, monographs and articles ; as well as to afford a guide to otlier entomologists 

 who, for want of help in the definition and determination of the families, genera 

 and species of this interesting Order, have not paid any attention to it. For this 

 purpose the results of the investigations of Fieber, Flor, S'lgnoret, Ferrari, Kirsch- 

 bauni, J. Salilberg, Puton, Buckton, Edwards, &c., as sliown in their separate works, 

 as well as in the numerous papers in periodicals by Marshall, Puton, Lethierry, 

 Scott, Douglas and others, are here brought together and consolidated in one view. 



The work embraces the Cicadina of Mid-Europe, Austro- Hungary, Germany 

 and Switzerland. Most of the British species are included : the few exceptions may 

 in time to come be found to occur on the continent of Europe. The scheme adopted 

 contains a short historical Review of the bibliographical literature ; a Synopsis of 

 the outward anatomy ; a chapter on localities where Cicadina are to be found, and 

 instructions for collecting and preparing them. Then follow a statement of the 

 characters of the eight Families info which the Cicadina are divided, and under 

 each of these the characters of the genera and descriptions of the species. The 

 plates are engraved in the best manner, and illustrate the cardinal generic characters. 

 Tile work has been rendered the more valuable by reference to the rich Imperial 

 Museum at Vienna, and its library, and by the great help afforded by its officers, all 

 of which have been at the disposition of the author. 



The result of the whole is exceptionally excellent, and no one who desires to be 

 inducted into the study of the Cicadina, and to avail himself of a facile guide to 

 the knowledge of the species, will be able to dispense with this efficient work. 



(Dbituari). 



Prof. I'hilipp Bertkau, Ph.D. — Through an oversight we have omitted to 

 notice earlier the decease at Bonn of this hard working German Zoologist on the 

 22nd October last, after a long illness. He was boim at Cologne on January 11th, 

 1849, and after a training in Natural Science, settled in Bonn in 1874 as tutor in 

 Zoology, subsequently becoming Curator of the Museum in that town, and Secretary 

 of the local N'atural History Societies. Tlie greater part of his published papers 

 concerned Arachnida, and especially their anatomy, but he also wrote on Psocidce, 

 Orthoptera, &c., and his last paper of importance was a list of arthropodous her- 

 maphrodites so far as recorded. In drawing up this he was no doubt greatly assisted 

 by tlie bibliographical researches he had to make as compiler of the entomological 

 portion of the German " Bericht," he having succeeded Gerstiicker and Brauer, and 

 in carrying out this useful work he lightened the labours of hosts of entomologists. 

 Personally he was much esteemed by his friends and pupils. 



Arthur Sidney Olliff, F.E.S.—We have recently received news of the decease 

 of Mr. OUiff at Sydney, N. S. W"., on December 29th. He had been ill for some 

 time, but we were not prepared to hear that his indisposition bad terminated 



