1898] SOME NEW BOOKS 133 
dealing with the many and varied instances of artificial deformation 
of the person for purposes of fashion, was published in book form 
(“ Nature Series”) in 1881, and has probably been very widely read. 
The customs of this nature are of even greater interest than might 
appear from a perusal of this article, since there is much to study in 
the motives which have led to the curious practice, the initiation and 
other ceremonies associated with many modes of deformation, the test 
of endurance for which some of them serve, and so forth. Interesting 
as is Sir William Flower’s account as an introduction to the subject, 
it is high time that a comprehensive general work were compiled from 
the large mass of information which has now accumulated. 
The volume concludes with short biographical memoirs on four 
great biologists—Rolleston, Owen, Huxley, and Darwin. 
H, BALFOUR. 
PACKARD’S ENTOMOLOGY 
A Text-Book oF ENromoLoey, including the Anatomy, Physiology, Embryology, and 
Metamorphoses of Insects ; for use in agricultural and technical schools and col- 
leges, as well as by the working entomologist. By Alpheus 8S. Packard, M.D., 
Ph.D., Professor of Zoology and Geology, Brown University. Pp. xviii. and 730. 
1 plate and 654 figures in text. New York: The Macmillan Co, London: Mac- 
millan & Co., 1898. Price, 18s. net. 
TuE title “ Text-Book of Entomology” too often denotes a work compris- 
ing a meagre outline of the external morphology of insects, and a bare 
recognition that they possess some internal organs, followed by well- 
nigh interminable summaries of the characters of orders and families 
and catalogues of genera. The ‘ working entomologist’ is too easily 
tempted to devote his whole attention to those outer structures of 
insects which enable him to classify their multitudinous species, and 
to neglect those vital organs whose form and development throw so 
much light on the most interesting problems of insect-life. Hence 
the ‘ text-book’ is apt to be as dry as the specimens whereof it treats. 
Prof. Packard’s previous writings would lead us to expect from him 
a text-book of a very different kind, and.students will not be dis- 
appointed with the present work. It is divided into three parts. The 
first deals with morphology and physiology; a short discussion on the 
place of insects in the animal kingdom, and their relation to other 
arthropods, is followed by nearly 200 pages devoted to external and 
300 to internal anatomy and functions. The second part, consisting 
of 80 pages, contains a summary of our knowledge of insect embry- 
ology. The concluding 130 pages are occupied with an account of 
insect metamorphosis followed by some speculations as to the origin 
of the larval and pupal stages. There is no scheme of the classifica- 
tion of insects. A summary of the orders recognised by Prof. Packard 
would have been desirable, as there is, necessarily, frequent reference 
to ordinal names ; but these will be understood by most who are likely 
to use the book, which is by no means an elementary treatise. The 
author does express the opinion that the Collembola and Thysanura 
are worthy to be separated from other insects as a distinct sub-class, 
a view hardly tenable when we consider the close similarity of such a 
springtail as Japyx to the wingless earwigs. 
The introductory chapter on the relationship of insects to other 
arthropods is valuable, but it might have come better at the end of the 
