Bibliographical Notices. 121 



protest against the singular use which our author has made of the 

 signs * and f, to indicate that specimens have been examined by 

 himself. Mr. Kirby is a young author, and we are sure that he will 

 forgive our pointing out that these signs are very perplexing to the 

 eye, and, besides, have been used for quite different purposes in 

 other scientific works. How much easier to have appended the 

 usual "b. m." or the marks "!!" or "nidi spec." In the same 

 way, when the descriptions are quoted or abridged, how much more 

 satisfactory if these had been noted by inverted commas or an 

 abbreviated name. 



At the head of each genus, we find an analysis of the species 

 comprised in it. Here we cannot but regret that Mr. Kirby has not 

 adopted the Lamarckian or dichotomous method. The use, also, of 

 italics for the more distinctive characters in the specific descriptions 

 would have been a great boon to the traveller, whose time is so 

 valuable. 



We think that the authority should have followed the specific 

 names in the body of the book, as well as in the synonymic list 

 given in the Appendix. We say it with reluctance ; but the care- 

 lessness of entomologists is in this respect quite proverbial. 



We could have wished that the best figure of each insect had been 

 quoted throughout ; and certainly some indication of the range might 

 have followed the specific descriptions. By using five capital letters 

 for " North, Middle, South, East, and West " Europe, much informa- 

 tion might have been condensed in a very short space. The alpine 

 or mountain insects might have been distinguished in a similar 

 manner, and the " kind of station " would have been another welcome 

 addition. 



Having relieved our mind by these free remarks, we have no hesi- 

 tation in recommending Mr. Kirby's handy-book to the notice of 

 our summer tourists. Travellers are in these days |very apt to run 

 into zoological eccentricities. It is not at all uncommon to see blue 

 or green gauze nets waving on the Rhigi or from a passing carriage, 

 in many parts of the Continent. The * Manual of European 

 Butterflies ' is a work of good promise, and a proof of no small 

 diligence on the part of its author. 



But why should entomologists have a monopoly ? With the excep- 

 tion of Lord Clermont's little book on the Mammals and Reptiles of 

 Europe, we know of no portable Manual for the English traveller of 

 zoological tastes, when he is starting for a six-weeks' ramble on the 

 Continent. Have we not other naturalists who might give us the 

 digested results of their long study of different branches of the 

 European Fauna? Might we suggest to Mr. Alfred Newton how 

 useful would be a manual of the European birds? And will not Dr. 

 Giinther take pity on the poor fishes, all neglected since the illus- 

 trious Agassiz left Europe for his Transatlantic home ? 



A very useful feature of Mr. Kirby's book is the table of geo- 

 graphical distribution, inserted as an Appendix. This table is 

 admirably constructed ; for Mr. Kirby has succeeded in showing not 

 only the country in which each insect has been found, but also the 



Ann. $ Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol, si, 9 



