278 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
colours and markings of various larve. ‘This lecture is very 
fully illustrated both with woodeuts and by the coloured plate. 
After very fully discussing this subject, in conclusion he says :— 
“TI think we see reasons, for many at any rate, of the variations of 
colour and markings in caterpillars, which at first sight seem so fantastic 
and inexplicable. I should, however, produce an impression very different 
from that which I wish to convey, were I to lead you to suppose that all 
these varieties have been explained, or are understood. Far from it; they 
still offer a large field for study; nevertheless I venture to think the 
evidence now brought forward, however imperfectly, is at least sufficient to 
justify the conclusion that there is not a hair ora line, not a spot or a colonr, 
for which there is not a reason,—which has not a purpose or a meaning in 
the economy of nature.” 
The third and fourth lectures are devoted to Sir John Lubbock’s 
favourite study, the habits of ants. These pages are most read- 
able, for they treat of, amongst other economy, the food of ants, 
their modes of warfare, their slaves, division of labour, recollection 
of friends, agriculture among ants, powers of communication, 
and so many other senses and habits that we cease to wonder at 
the fascination this group of insects has for the author. 
We cannot too strongly recommend this book to our readers, 
and no village library should be without it. Thoroughly scientific, 
it is written so popularly that it reads as easily as a story 
book. It is suitable alike for the school boy, the gardener, the 
farmer, the entomologist, and the general reader. In fact we 
cannot conclude our pleasant duty of noticing so charming a book 
without congratulating the author upon his happy thought of 
publishing these lectures.—J. T. C. 
OBITUARY. 
Wittram Wiutson Saunpers, F.R.S., F.L.S:, &e.— Mr. 
Saunders died at Worthing, September 13th last, in his seventy- 
first year, having been born June 4th, 1809. He was born near 
Wendover, Bucks, and was the second son of the Rev. James 
Saunders, the Vicar of Kirklington, Oxfordshire. Educated at 
Addiscombe, he eventually joined the Honourable East India Com- 
pany’s service as an engineer; but after a short absence of about 
a year, he returned to this country in 1832. Having devoted 
much of his leisure while in India to the study of Natural History, 
he brought back collections of insects and plants, and while there 
he published at least one scientific paper. Having married and 
