104 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



They have been much neglected in this country ; but the 

 volume now before us will serve to give a very general idea of 

 their forms and habits. Their history, as expounded by the 

 continental authors, has been very carefully collated by Mr. 

 Murray ; and the numerous figures illustrating these chapters 

 will also make the determination of the now known forms a 

 comparatively easy task. The lately published papers of Dr. 

 Thomas, Dr. Kramer, Dr. Flogel, and M. Megnin, contain 

 further facts. The latter has given us, in addition to his 

 other valuable contributions to Acarology, a most complete 

 life-history of two species of the little scarlet Tromhidii, from 

 the egg, through the hexapod form to the octopod, and 

 perfect state, illustrated by two admirable plates (Ann. Sc. 

 Nat., 6th ser., Zoologie, iv. 4). The gall-makiug Phytopti are 

 also worthy of further observation : one or two of their 

 productions have engaged attention in Britain, but very little 

 is known of the mites themselves. 



We cannot find space to go further into the contents of the 

 volume, but suffice it to say that it treats of many well-known 

 and repulsive pests, giving information known to but few. It 

 may interest some of our readers to know that " the simplest, 

 easiest, and most effectual of all contrivances to destroy mites 

 iii cabinets, is to expose a few crystals of pure naphthaline 

 for an hour or two in the drawers." Asa handbook it cannot 

 be expected to contain much new information or scientific 

 discovery. Indeed, such pretensions are clearly disavowed in 

 the Introduction ; but as a resume of published information 

 it is very complete. With its four hundred and thirty-three 

 pages, and four hundred and fifty-seven figures, it is well 

 worth the outlay of three shillings, and deserves attentive 

 perusal. Should it not add to the knowledge of the specialist, 

 it will certainly do so to the general entomologist or zoologist, 

 and cannot fail to instruct all readers. — E. A. F. 



Death of James Scott Bowerbank, F.R.S., LL.D. — 

 It is with deep regret we have to record the death, on the 8th 

 of March, at the advanced age of eighty years, of Dr. Bower- 

 bank, whose name as an eminent naturalist and microscopist 

 is familiar to all our readers. It is intended, if possible, 

 to give a biographical notice and photograph in the May 

 number of the 'Entomologist.' — Ed. 



