230 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



less prove to have but little connection with the forms with which 

 they were formerly associated. These groups with aberrant 

 habits are those that give rise to the greatest difficulties of the 

 taxonomist." 



Then follows a consideration in detail of the families, forty- 

 seven in number, commencing with Castaniidre, and concluding 

 with Micropterygidse. The arrangement is founded on that 

 of Sir George Hampson in ' Moths of British India.' 



The Diptera are divided into five series, and the Aphaniptera 

 are appended as a sub-order. Of Hemiptera Dr. Sharp says that 

 it is probable that about 18,000 species have been described, and 

 that two-thirds of these belong to the Heteroptera. The classi- 

 fication of this order is a modification of that of Schiodte. 



As a treatise of the natural history of insects the work will 

 most certainly command a leading position. A great charm 

 about it is, that although a distinctly scientific book, the matters 

 upon which it treats are discussed in a bright and most interest- 

 ing style, so that it appeals to "the man in the street," as well 

 as to the student and the specialist. The illustrations are 

 numerous and excellent. 



New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera). By 

 G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. 4to, pp. i-xix, 1-144. Thirteen 

 coloured plates. London : West, Newman & Co. 1898. 



The particular object of the volume under present notice is 

 to facilitate the work af those who may desire to study the lepi- 

 dopterous fauna of New Zealand, and we think that it is emi- 

 nently suitable for that purpose. Collectors who wish to identify 

 and name the moths and butterflies that they capture or rear, 

 will no doubt be easily able to do so with the aid of the well- 

 executed figures, in conjunction with the descriptions. The 

 figures, it may be stated, were drawn by the author himself from 

 the specimens, and their chromo reproduction leaves little to be 

 desired, except that one could have consulted the plates more 

 conveniently if the numbering of the figures had been con- 

 secutive. 



So far as concerns the arrangement of the work our author 

 seems to have adopted the system of Meyrick. Whether or no 

 he has been well advised in this matter is perhaps of no especial 

 importance, seeing that there are about as many new systems of 

 classification of the Lepidoptera as there are old ones still in use. 

 At any rate Mr. Hudson has done a most useful service to 

 the science of entomology in bringing together in a compact 

 and convenient form the "Macro-Lepidoptera" of the area in 

 question. 



The lepidopterous fauna of New Zealand, as it is known 

 to-day, does not appear to be an extensive one. Altogether, two 



