1920] Book Reiiews 129 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



The Orthoptera of Northeastern America, by W. S. Blatch- 

 ley. The Nature Publishing Co., IndianapoHs, Ind., 1920. 



In this volume Professor Blatchley has added another to his 

 valuable series of entomological treatises, useful alike to the special- 

 ist and the general student of entomology, and one which was much 

 needed, so many scattered descriptions having appeared in recent 

 years at the hands of a number of authors that their collation and 

 correlation by a special student of the order was greatly to be 

 desired. Professor Blatchley 's residence in Indiana and Florida 

 and his long familiarity with the group enabled him to bring to the 

 task an equipment possessed by few; and his views on the syn- 

 onymy, etc., of the various forms should accordingly receive the 

 consideration they deserve, even though it is, perhaps, too soon to 

 decide definitely the standing of some of the less known forms. 



The notes on songs, habits and distribution naturally constitute 

 the most attractive part of the book to the biologist, but the bib- 

 liography and synonymy are equally helpful to the student. 



The volume is well illustrated with text cuts, and well printed 

 except for several instances of inversion of cuts, cases apparently of 

 mistaken humor (?) on the part of the printer's devil (or should it 

 read vice versa?) . So flagrant are these in character that one might 

 truthfully say that Professor Blatchley owes it to his fellow-scien- 

 tists, having manuscripts to publish, to acquaint them with the 

 name of the firm responsible for such actions. 



The book is a very presentable, readable, and useful account of 

 the order as found in eastern North America, indispensable to every 

 student of the orthoptera, the first of its kind in its field, and we 

 bespeak for it the welcome it deserves. 



A. P. M. 



