li 



series of families, but these families appear to be formed with 

 little regard to their comparative importance. In the Lepidoptera, 

 for instance, the whole of the diurnal butterflies are included 

 under the family Papilionidse, which is made to appear as of the 

 same rank as the Sphingidae, the Jj^geriidse, and the Zygfenidse. 

 In Coleoptera, while adopting almost all the small families of 

 Lacordaire and Le Conte, he makes the Curculionidae include 

 the Brentliid£e, and altogether omits the Anthribidae. Again, no 

 reference is made to divisions between the families and genera. 

 The Pax)ilionidge, including all the diurnal butterflies, and the 

 Cerambycidse, including all the Longicorns, are illustrated by a 

 series of genera and species without a liint that these enormous 

 groups consist of several well-marked families, subfamilies, or 

 other subdivisions, often characterized by marked differences of 

 structure and economy. 



I will now mention what I conceive to be the good points of 

 the work, and these, I am happy to say, are more numerous than 

 the defects. 1. A very clear account is given of the habits and 

 economy of the most interesting groups and species, taken from 

 the best observers, and illustrated by excellent figures. 2. The 

 embryology and development of the chief groups are very fully 

 given, from the most recent researches of Claparede, Weissmann, 

 Huxley, Lubbock and others. 3. The phenomena of Partheno- 

 genesis, Dimorphism and Mimicry are described with tolerable 

 completeness. 4. Various obscure and degraded types have 

 been classed with the allied higher forms, and the evidence for 

 their respective afiinities stated. Thus fleas and bee-lice are put 

 under Diptera ; Stylops under Coleoptera ; Pediculi with Hemip- 

 tera; Poduridse and Lepisma with Neuroptera. Even where the 

 true position of any of these groups is not finally settled, it is, 

 I think, an improvement to treat them in tliis manner, rather than 

 to give them undue importance by forming additional primary 

 groups for their reception. 5. The chief known fossil insects 

 are introduced into the series, and their afiinities pointed out. 

 This is a subject which it is to be hoped will soon become far 

 more important than it has hitherto been, now that leaf and insect 

 beds are being carefully worked. Dr. Packard announces the 

 discovery of a very rich tertiary insect-bed in Colorado, west of 

 the Rocky Mountains. 6. The adoption, in the body of the work, 

 of the simple series of families under each order, is, I think, a 



