REVIEWS BRITISH COLEOPTERA, ETC. 17 



Outline Description* of British Coleoptera. By Rev. T. Blackburn, B.A. 



1875. Perth : J. Young. Price 2b. 7d., post free. 

 This forms the first part of what promises to be, when complete, a very 

 useful addition to our rather meagre list of books on British Coleoptera. 

 It is reprinted from the "Scottish Naturalist," in which excellent serial, 

 we are informed, the " Outlines" will be continued until finished. The 

 portion under examination, embraoing the Geodephaga, Hydradephaga, 

 and Philhydrida, gives a good idea of the intention and plan of the work. 

 The author, in a short but highly practical introduction, tells us that, as 

 his book is " designed especially for beginners," the object he has kept in 

 view "is the provision of a ready means of identifying species, not 

 classification." It is important to keep this in mind, as otherwise the 

 " beginner" who takes up the book will be rather puzzled at the apparent 

 disorder in whioh the specific names are arranged ; anyway, he may be 

 excused if he express his regret that the rules of identification and classi- 

 fication should not always run on the same lines. The plan of the work 

 is " to furnish in the briefest possible form tables of the leading charac- 

 ters of the British Coleoptera." By the free use of abbreviations the 

 matter is much compressed, and, as they are all easy to remember, at 

 least two great advantages accrue — the student oan take in the full 

 details of a description at a single glance, and the book is brought within 

 " pocket" limits. The author has succeeded in most cases in displaying 

 the salient points of each species. The printing is well done, in clear, 

 though small type ; and the only typographical errors I have detected are 

 in Helophorus tuberculatiu, on page 62, and Hydraena nigrita, on page 67. 

 Would that similar brevity, clearness and accuracy characterised all 

 professedly scientific publications! The "Outlines" can be strongly 

 recommended, not only to " beginners" but to " old hands." 



W. G. Blatoh. 



Floral Dissections, illustrative of Typical Genera of the British Natural 

 Orders. By the Eev. Geo. Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S. London : 

 Stanford. Price 4s. 

 This is a very satisfactory book, containing a large number of illustrations 

 lithographed and described by the author. To those who, like the 

 members of our Science Classes, have to study Botany in the winter 

 when fresh specimens are not obtainable, it should prove of great 

 Bervice ; and when actual specimens can be had, this book will teach the 

 student " what to look for," the very point on which he requires 

 instruction. W. J. H. 



An Atlas of Anatomy, or Pictures of the Human Body, with descriptive 

 Letterpress. By Mrs. Fenwick Miller. London : Stanford. 

 Price 12s. 6d. 

 This book contains twenty-four quarto coloured plates, comprising 

 100 separate figures, boldly drawn and highly coloured, being indeed of 

 a high order of merit. They are quite large enough to serve as ordinary 

 olass diagrams, whilst the accompanying letterpress and index fully 

 explain and describe them. W. J. H. 



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