3o8 



NATURE 



\Aug. lo, 1876 



represented in a coloured plate. Of the MoUusca, the 

 Gymnobranchs are described by Dr. H. A. Meyer. The 

 number of species met with is but twenty-three ; there is 

 not much that is noteworthy in the list, but that " singular 

 and gaudy animal" of Montagu, Thccacera pcnnigera, so 

 rare on the British coasts, was met with. The list of the 

 Brachiopods, Lamellibranchs, and Gasteropods is a very 

 elaborate one, drawn up quite after the fashion of our 

 British Association Dredging Reports ; the locality, depth 

 in fathoms, and nature of the ground in which each 

 species was found is given, and a sketch of its geographi- 

 cal distribution is added. The greatest depth reached 

 was about 365 fathoms. Crania anomala and TerebraUi- 

 lina caput- serpentis appear to have been met with in quite 

 shallow water; Malletia {Yoldid) obticsa, Szxs., Kelliella 

 abyssicola, Sars., and other deep-sea species were met with 

 at depths of from 50 to 360 fathoms. The following 

 species are described as new : — Lacuna vestiia, off Yar- 

 mouth ; LaeococJilis p07n}neranice, nov. gen. et sp. ; Fusics 

 viabli, and Laihyrus albellus. These three latter species 

 are figured. 



Article IX., by Dr. Mobius, describes the Copepoda and 

 Cladocera. Euchceta carinata, sp. n., is described and 

 figured. The remaining orders of Crustacea are describ.d 

 by Metzger. We note the appearance in the North Sea 

 of an Erichthus form, thus indicating the presence of a 

 Squilla. Galaihea Andrewsii, Kin., is placed as a 

 synonym of G. into-media, Lilljb. ; Thia polita, Ntka 

 edulis, Bythocaris simplicirostris, and other interesting 

 forms, were met with. Sergestes Meyeri, Byblis crassi- 

 cornis, and Dulichia monocantha are described and figured 

 as new. 



The list of fish taken is most meagre, containing but 

 thirty-two species. 



The meteorological investigations of Prof. Karsten are 

 exceedingly interesting, and records are appended as to 

 the temperatures of the sea at various depths. 



Dr. Hensen appends a Report on the Fisheries of the 

 German Coast, in which we find elaborate statistics of 

 the number of fishing-stations, of the fishermen, and the 

 amount of assistance given to them. The off-shore fisher- 

 men are distinguished from the deep-sea trawlers. The 

 number of fishermen on the German coasts is 17,195, with 

 say 8,130 boats ; the number of English fishermen, is given 

 as 134,000, with 36,000 boats. In France, the number is 

 73,757 men, with 16,819 boats ; in Italy, 60,000 men and 

 18,000 boats; in Austria, 7,196 men and 1,852 boats. 

 These numbers are based on reports dating between 18 71 

 and 1874. 



A portion of the Report is devoted to the subject of the 

 possibility of estimating the take of fish. According to 

 the official return of the German Treasury on the import 

 and export of fish during 1873, it would appear that these 

 equalled on — m. 



River fish and cray- fish 342,000 



Sea fish in general 3,150,000 



Herrings 27,798,600 



Shellfish 387,000 



Caviar 973,000 



Total ... 32,650,000 

 This portion of the Report of the North Sea Commis- 

 sion ought to be studied by all those interested in our own 

 fisheries. E. P. W. 



OUR BOOK SHELF 



Eiiihth Annual Report of the Noxious, Beneficial, and 

 other Insects of the State of Missouri. By Charles 

 V. Riley, State Entomologist. 



The perusal of Mr. Riley's yearly reports is one of the 

 pleasures to which the entomologist looks forward with 

 undiminishing eagerness. Each succeeding volume throws 

 open to the student of science fresh fields of discovery in 

 the realms of both nature and art. Mr. Riley's ready appre- 

 ciation of the practically useful in invention, accompanied 

 by that quick discernment which enables him at once to 

 reject or rectify what is useless or cumbersome, renders 

 him especially fitted for the responsible position which 

 he occupies. 



The report now before us is devoted to the considera- 

 tion of five noxious insects, and one innoxious — the 

 Colorado Beetle, the Canker-worm, the Army-worm, the 

 Rocky Mountain Locust, the Grape Phylloxera, and the 

 Yucca-borer, the greater space being given to the third 

 and fourth of the above-mentioned species, in conse- 

 quence of the ravages which they have committed in 

 Missouri during the past year. 



In the chapter on the Canker-worm an illustrated de- 

 scription is given of a very simple and ingenious contri- 

 vance (p. 20) for arresting the progress of the insect at 

 the time of oviposition ; it consists of a circle of tin which 

 surrounds the trunk of the imperilled tree at a few inches 

 distance, and which is held in position by a circle of 

 muslin attached to the tin at its lower edge, and drawn 

 closely round the trunk, with a cord, at the top ; the tin 

 is then covered with a mixture of castor oil and kerosene 

 on its inner surface, which forms an effectual barrier to 

 the insects. 



Other interesting inventions are described ; and not 

 only are careful figures prepared of the noxious species 

 in all stages, but also of their natural enemies ; so that it 

 is the agriculturist's own fault if he fails to distinguish 

 between his friends and foes. 



The Report concludes with the life-history of the Yucca- 

 borer {Megathymus yuccce), an insect hitherto referred to 

 the moths, but which Mr. Riley determines to be a butterfly. 

 Judging by the figure of the adult larva it might be ques- 

 tioned whether the insect is not as nearly related to the 

 moths ; it has the aspect of a Sphinx larva with the 

 wrinkled and (apparently) shining character and general 

 coloration of a Cossus ; ^ the pupa bears out the resem- 

 blance ; the rapidity of its flight quite accords with what 

 is notoriously the character of a Hawk-moth, and the 

 form of its antennas in no way militates against such an 

 affinity ; still it must in fairness be admitted that Mr. 

 Riley adduces much evidence in favour of the Rhopulo- 

 cerous character of the species, the value of which cannot 

 be contradicted until we can bring forward proofs that 

 some undoubted moth possesses the same structural 

 peculiarities. A. G. B. 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 



[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed 

 by his correspondents. Neither can he undertake to return, 

 or to correspond with the writers of, rejected manuscripts. 

 No notice is taken of anonymous communications. \ 



Optical Experiments 



I. Fold a sheet of writing-paper into a tube whose diameter 

 is about 3 cm. Keeping both eyes open, look through * the 

 tube with one eye, and look at the hand with the other, the hand 

 being placed close by the tube. An extraordinary phenomenon 

 will be observed. A hole the size of the tube will appear cut 

 through the hand, through which objects are distinctly visible. 

 That part of the tube between the eye and hand will appear 



' Mr. Riley notes its resemblance to this genus (p. 177). 

 ^ It is necessary to focus the eye upon any object seen tJirough the tube. 

 —Ed. 



