204 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Hesperiidne and Megathymidre more closely with the bulk of the 

 Rhopalocera than the two first families mentioned. Although this 

 classification may be partially borne out by the neuration, we do 

 not think it can be supported by other parts of the structure of the 

 insect. 



The Yonnfi Beetle-Collector's Handbook. By Dr. E. Hofmann, Curator 

 of the Royal Natural History Museum at Stuttgart. With an 

 Introduction by W. Egmont Kirby, M.D., Joint Author of 

 ' Britisli and European Butterflies and Moths,' ' Beetles, Butter- 

 flies, Moths, and other Insects,' &c. Illustrated by twenty 

 coloured plates, comprising over 500 figures. (Swan Sonnen- 

 schein & Co. 1897.) 



The Coleoptera, or beetles, form one of the largest orders of insects, 

 and an introductory book with plenty of illustrations was greatly 

 needed by beginners taking up the study. Nothing could be better as 

 an introductory book than Rye's ' British Beetles,' but the number of 

 species described and figured in that book is too small to carry the 

 beginner very far; and of the larger and more complete works. Cox's 

 gives only descriptions, while Fowler's is too large and expensive for 

 many who might wish to possess it. Nor is it well for a beginner to 

 commence with too large a book, which is liable to confuse and dis- 

 courage him. It is much better to begin with a smaller one, and then 

 to proceed to the more complete ones when he has already sufficiently 

 mastered the subject to be able to understand and use them with more 

 or less advantage. 



The little book before us will be very useful to schoolboys and 

 residents in the country who are inclined either to begin to collect 

 beetles, or who feel sufficient interest in those which they may happen 

 to meet with to wish to know something about them. It was of course 

 impossible to describe and figure (dl the 3000 British beetles in a 

 small space, but a large number of representative species are figured 

 and briefly described, with special reference, in many cases, to habits 

 and transformations ; while the Introduction, contributed by Dr. W. 

 Egmont Kirby, deals briefly with such subjects as the structure, deve- 

 lopment, and habits of beetles, with instructions for collecting. 



As the book is evidently the adaptation of a German work, a few 

 species are figured and described which are not included in the British 

 lists, but these are distinguished by the want of an asterisk before 

 their names, and their presence is no disadvantage, for it counteracts 

 the now rapidly subsiding prejudice in favour of restricting our interest 

 to British species ; while from another point of view it will be useful, 

 because several of the species thus figured h:ivo either been reputed 

 British, or are liable to be introduced into England from time to time 

 with vegetables or timber. 



