148 
REVIEWS. 
Notes of Observations on Injurious Insects. Report, 1879. London : 
W. Swan Sonnenschein & Allen. 1880. 
Workers in other branches of Science are apt to look down 
on entomologists in the light of flycatchers who make mere 
collections, rather than as students who contribute to the world’s 
knowledge of the creatures they catch. No doubt there is some 
truth in this accusation; for, after all, there is enough in the 
beauty of the objects which make up this great division of the 
Invertebrata to justify one fond of Natural History in forming 
such a collection. But we should scarcely complain of the col- 
lector ; for, with the exception of those who have been specially 
’ trained from youth to the study of Biology, the men of science 
have risen from the great body of collectors. 
In addition to the accurate knowledge of the life-history and 
anatomy of any particular group of animals, there is another 
study, viz., the position an animal bears with regard to man— 
whether its existence is to his advantage or otherwise in the race 
for the survival of the fittest. This is the object of the valuable 
Observations collected through the energy and patience of Miss 
E. A. Ormerod and her co-workers, the Rev. T. A. Preston, M.A., 
and Mr. E. A. Fitch, F.L.S. A report of these Observations 
has been recently issued, and forms an interesting illustrated 
pamphlet of ‘forty-five royal octavo pages. 
The work of obtaining these observations from many and 
remote parts of the country is necessarily difficult. Prejudice, 
ignorance and apathy have to be overcome; ignorance no doubt 
being the chief difficulty. Miss Ormerod has wisely given in 
the Report now issued woodcuts of life-histories of most of the 
insects under observation. ‘This will be a great help to others 
who are willing to report upon, but who were unable to name, the 
insects, whether larval or otherwise, which have arrested their 
attention. 
In the report for 1879 about eighty species of injurious insects 
have been under consideration. The Observations have been 
made in many and widely separate places, extending from the 
north of Scotland to the south of England. No one can doubt 
the value of concerted action in getting together a large mass of 
