262 Apnl, 



from M. Obertliiir, written after a careful comparison of two insects side b_y side : — 

 "Les Cucujus OrouveUii et coccinatus sout deux especes bien distinctes. Le C. 

 Grouvellii, difPere du coccinatus par ses elytres mates et non brilliantes, sa taille plus 

 grande, sa forme plus allongee, les epines du bord de son prothorax plus nombreuses 

 (ce dernier un pen plus fortement ponctue), sa tete moins large, ses lobes infr^- 

 oculaires moins saillants et plus paralleles, ses antennes un peu plus robustes, et la 

 couleur de ses eljtres moins vive. II n'y a aucun doute assurement." 



Cucujus Davidis, Grouvelle, 1881, := C. imperialis, Lewis, 1879 ; and Mon. 

 Ancey's specimen from Cheefoo, which I noticed before, belongs to this species. — 

 George Lewis, 39, High Street, Wimbledon : \2th February, 1883. 



Ants axd their Wats, with Illustrations and an Appendix, giving a complete 

 List of Genera and Species of British Ants. By Rev. W. Fareen White, M.A., 

 M.E.S.L. 8vo, pp. 1—279. London : Religious Tract Society. 



The above is the title of a very nicely got-up and readable little book, which 

 has recently appeared under the auspices of the Religious Tract Society. It owes 

 its origin, as the author tells us, to a series of papers written by him in " The 

 Leisure Hour " during the year 1880, and the substance of these, together with the 

 additional information collected by him since the time of their publication, are in- 

 corporated in the present volume. He gives an interesting general account of the 

 habits and modes of life of our British Ants, glancing also at those of their conti- 

 nental and exotic allies; and to the text are added numerous woodcuts illustrating 

 the peculiarities in structure of many of the more interesting forms, &c. He con- 

 cludes his book with a chapter on the Termites, or "White Ants," and adds an 

 Appendix, giving a list and short descriptions of all the species found in Britain, 

 whether introduced accidentally or not. It is a book which we feel sure will be read 

 with pleasure by those who are interested in these instructive little creatures. 



The author, besides giving the results of his own long experience, adds to the 

 interest of his narrative by quoting largely from Sir John Lubbock and others ; 

 in his remarks on the effect of light upon Ants, he appears to differ slightly from 

 Sir John in his conclusions, he seems to think that Ants are attracted by light and 

 heat, whereas Sir John Lubbock seems to think that they are attracted by heat and 

 darkness. The remarks as to the farm-stock, &c., of the Ants, in Chapter XIII may 

 be thought a little fanciful, and we think we are right in considering Platyarthrus 

 not only " very like a wood-louse," but really one. 



From a scientific point of view, it is impossible not to take exception to the 

 union of the true Ants and MutiUidce in one " phalanx ;" so far as we know, there 

 has not been of late years a single continental authority who has adoj)ted sucli a 

 view, and it seems to be so completely at variance with the habits and structure of 

 the creatures themselves, that we see no reason for adoj>ting a principle so opposeil 

 to the general consensus of opinion. 



Fifth Annfal Report of the Dulwioh College Science Society, 1882. 

 Dulwich College : January, 1883. 



We are glad to be able to notice the record of tlie fifth year's work of the above 

 Society. The report before us shows that the Society has been occupied in most 



