52G BihJtographtcal Notice. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. 



Of late years the British Museum of Xatural History has displayed 

 increasing activity in fostering and furthering the study of Economic 

 Zoology, while no less zeal has been exerted in disseminating the 

 knowledge accumulated by the researches of the professional zoolo- 

 gist, especially where this knowledge has a direct bearing on the 

 health of the community. 



This useful Avork is accomplished partly through the medium of 

 the exhibition-galleries of the Museum, where these agents for the 

 dissemination of disease, and sometimes the direct causes thereof, 

 are displayed side by side with large models, and partly by means 

 of illustrated guide-books which can be taken away and read at 

 leisure. 



A batch of these publications has just reached us, and they cover 

 a wide range of subjects. Two are in the form of poster-leaflets — 

 a WQ"^ departure on the part of the Museum authorities. The 

 "Ely Danger" and the "Mosquito Danger" are the themes chosen 

 for this venture. Each bears a large figure of the adult insect, and 

 sets forth, tersely, the diseases spread by their agency, the breeding- 

 places of the insect, and how to destroy them. Tbey are to be sold 

 at the price of one halfpenny. We wish it could have been found 

 possible to distribute them gratis. 



In the more familiar pamphlet-form the Trustees have made 

 available much indispensable information on "The Bed-bug," 

 " Species of Arachnida and Myriopoda Injurious to Man," and the 

 " Biology of Water-works," all written by members of the staff 

 and generously illustrated. In regard to the bed-bug, two species 

 are described, and much valuable and useful information in regard 

 to their life-history and preventive measures is given. But we 

 venture to think that the section entitled " How it sucks the blood," 

 with the diagrams appertaining thereto, wiU be found quite unin- 

 telligible to the public. To describe this process in simple language 

 is undoubtedly a difficult task, but it should not be insuperable. 

 The description here offered appears to us to be useless. 



The pamphlets on the Arachnida and the Biology of Waterworks 

 are altogether admirable. A vast amount of information, not 

 merely in regard to hygiene, but also in relation to the life-histories 

 of the animals concerned, has been crowded into a surprisingly 

 small space, and this in such an admirable manner that the interest 

 aroused will do much to aid in the dissemination of the knowledge 

 it is the £^im of these pamphlets to spread. 



