286 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Transactions show careful editing, and are well printed on good 
paper. We congratulate the Union on its publication, and can 
but hope for a continuance of such healthy work so well 
turned out. 
Praktische Insekten-Kunde. By Prof. Dr. EK. L. TAscHENBERG. 
Bremen: Heinsius. 1879—80. 
From our previous knowledge of Dr. 'Taschenberg’s writings, 
when this work was announced we had but little doubt that a 
useful volume would be produced. Our expectations have been 
more than realised, and we now have a very valuable, compre- 
hensive Manual of Entomology. It is also particularly well 
illustrated with 3830 original woodcuts. These, as might be 
expected, are far from being of equal merit, but of many we can 
safely say that they are the most life-like entomological figures 
we ever saw; the position and surroundings of many of the 
Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera, in their various 
states, are particularly natural, as well as being artistic; of the 
Diptera, on the other hand, several of the figures are complete 
failures. 
Professor Taschenberg gives first a short general introduction ; 
then the structure, anatomy, metamorphosis and systematic 
arrangement of the Hexapods are fully considered. Hach of the 
seven orders of insects are then separately treated of. The 
yeneral structure, metamorphosis and literature of the order, 
with the methods of capture and preservation are first given; 
then a synopsis of the families, followed by the general economy 
‘of the genera and well illustrated life-histories of the most 
characteristic or specially noxious species. ‘Tabular arrange- 
ments of the genera and occasionally of the species are frequent, 
—a great assistance to beginners. 
The Neuroptera are dismissed in seven pages of generalities 
and four pages of specialities, Chrysopa and Panorpa only 
claiming attention. In the Orthoptera, Taschenberg. includes the 
Thripide, Termitide, Psocide, Perlide, Ephemeride, Odonata, 
Collembola, Thysanura, and Mallophaga, in addition to those 
families generally contained in the order. In this he follows 
Erichson, but the arrangement has not been generally accepted. 
After the Hemiptera (Rhynchota) we have an eighth order 
containing the apterous parasites (Anoplura, Mallophaga, 
