394 Bibliographical Notices. 



the larva of species of Oryctes. Now it is quite obvious 

 that any theory based upon structure would certainly prove 

 fallacious in the case of ScoUa ; and it must be borne in mind 

 that, even in the operations of such well-known burrowing 

 species as Sphex ichneumoma and Ammophila sabulosa, half 

 the work is really performed by the use of the mandibles; 

 all the pebbles and harder parts of the ground excavated are 

 removed by them, thrust backwards and kicked out of the 

 burrow by the legs. The insects frequently issue while at 

 work, carrying pebbles in their jaws, which they fly off with 

 and drop at a short distance. 



I have thought it desirable to pen the above observations 

 for two reasons : in the first place, I claim to have first made 

 known the habits of Agenia, in connexion with remarks upon 

 the structural peculiarities of the insects ; and, secondly, 

 I have repeatedly published an opinion that none of the 

 Pompilidffi are parasitic insects ; and I must repeat my opi- 

 nion that the evidence adduced by Mr. Walsh in favour of the 

 parasitism of the genus Ceropales is by no means conclusive. 



BIBLIOGEAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Facts and Arguments for Darivin. By Fritz Muller. With Ad- 

 ditions by the Author. Translated from the German by W. S. 

 Dallas, r.L.S. 8vo. London : Murray, 1869. 



Just four years ago we gave, from the ' Bibliotheque Universelle,' 

 a general notice of the contents of Dr. Fritz MiiUer's little work 

 ' Fiir Darwin,' in which that distinguished zoologist put forward 

 certain observations and arguments derived from his study of the 

 Crustacea, which he regards as almost conclusively in favour of the 

 Darwinian hypothesis. Our former account of the contents of this 

 remarkable book went so far into details as to render any further 

 particulars unnecessary ; and we need do little more than caU our 

 readers' attention to the recent appearance of a translation of the 

 work by Mr. W, S. Dallas, with additions by the author. It is to be 

 hoped that this translation will make the contents of this admirable 

 little treatise more generally known among English naturalists ; for 

 it must be confessed that the original, although highly appreciated 

 in Germany, has made but little progress in this country. And it 

 must be remarked that Darwinian proclivities are by no means ne- 

 cessary to enable the reader to benefit by its perusal. A great part 

 of the contents consists of the records of a long series of observations 

 on the natural history and structure of the Crustacea, and especi- 

 ally on the developmental history of these animals. We know of no 

 work from which so satisfactory a general view of the phenomena 

 is to be obtained. Indeed this is no more than might have been 



