—43- 



too long to reprint, but if any of our readers who may he in the position 

 to aid Mr. Scudder will write to him, we doubt not that he will receive 

 the list by return mail. Almost anybody can do something in this way. 

 and we hope that Mr. Scudder will succeed in securing an abundance 

 of the desired material 



Book Notices. 



New Genera and species of Californian Coleoptera. By Thos. L. Casey, 

 Lt. Eng'rs. Bull. Cal. Ac. Sci., Vol. T, pp. 283 — 336, 1 pi. Dec. 15, 1S85. 



Describes 31 species of Staphylinidae, mostly belonging to the Ale- 

 ocharini, with the new genera Colusa with five species (all new), Ponto- 

 maloia with three species {Phytosus opacus Lee. and two new), Platyusa 

 with one species, Bryonomus (for Cafius canescens Mann, and C. semi- 

 niiens Horn) and Vellica {Homalini). Describes also three species of 

 Actidium {TrichopterygidcB), Euscaphurus saltator (n. gen. et sp. Dascyl- 

 lidae) Cccnocara occidens, (Ptinida?), Platycerus californicus (Lucanidne) 

 and Polyphylla marginata (ScarabaMdae). 



In attacking the Ahocharini, Lt. Casey ventures into an unexplored 

 field, where he is comparatively safe from making synonyms, because 

 most of the species from the Pacific Coast are undescribed. It is to be 

 hoped however, that Lt. Casey will not confine his work to mere de- 

 scriptions; but will take up some of the groups systematically. 



The Butterflies of the Eastern United States. For the use of classes in Zoo- 

 logy and private students. By G. H. French, A.M. Phila. Lippincott & Co., 

 pp. 402, ff. 93. 



This is a neat work, in its get up; but rather disappointing in its 

 contents. It should have been supposed that for the use of students, or 

 as a text book, there should be some explanation of the basis of classifi- 

 cation. There is nothing of this. The genera are not described at all 

 except in the "Key", in which the most superficial characters are used. 

 The sub-families are but little more fully defined, and the families are in 

 much the same position. The species are rather fully described, and the 

 book obtains its value from being a compilation of descriptions of species, 

 with figures enough to guide the user with considerable certainty to the 

 insect he desires to name. An intelligent student can probably name 

 all his species from the Eastern United States, but when through with his 

 work would have no more idea of classification than could be gathered' 

 from Harris or Packard. The work is a disappointment. The classifi- 

 cation, putting the Papilionidoe at the head, is perhaps not subject to 

 criticism in a work of this kind: but some mention of the differences of 

 opinion on this subject might have been profitably made. 



