] 30 BihUogrcqili I'cal Xofices. 



the caimans not being features of much importance, especially 

 since the Chinese alligator has vestiges of scutes on the abdomen. 

 On the other hand, it is a matter of convenience to separate the 

 esgeutiall}' southern caimans from the northern alligators. 



Another example of the wide sense in which generic terms are 

 employed is the inclusion of the terrapins, frequently classed as 

 Nicoria and Cleyiwv/s, in the older genus Em)/s. In respect to species 

 of this group we notice some discrepancy between the views of the 

 author and those of otlier writers. For instance, the author's Emi/s 

 salvini has been identified with Chrt/semi/s ornata, and E. umbra 

 with C. grayi, while E. pulcherrima has been regarded as only 

 a local form of Xicoria punctularia. 



Again, C rocodilus Morelet'ti, \fh\c\i. the author regards merely as a 

 variety of the common C. crme/icanus, is placed by another writer in 

 quite a distinct section of the genus. On the other hand, the form 

 classed by Dr. Giinther as a variety of the last-named species, with 

 the affix var. acutas, is not recognized at all by the writer referred 

 to. 



We shall await an expression of opinion on these and other 

 points by the author in his promised supplement. 



In the meantime it is satisfactory to find that the author is in 

 favour of amending the orthography and transliteration of scientific 

 names, when necessary, instead of blindly following the errors of a 

 describer who may have had the misfortune to lack a classical 

 education. As an example, we notice the modification of Spix's 

 Kinosternon to Cinosternum ; but here we may venture to suggest 

 that, in our opinion, it would have been better to have given the 

 original spelling when quoting the original reference. !May we 

 hazard the conjecture that had the author seen fit to separate the 

 caimans from the alligators, he would have modified the b.irbarous 

 " Caiman "' into " Caimania," or some other form less inharmonious 

 with classical usage ? 



rinally, we have again to offer our hearty congratulations to 

 Dr. Giinther on the successful completion of his arduous task, and 

 we may likewise take the opportunity of felicitating Mr. Godman 

 on having secured his services as a contributor to such a 

 monumental undertaking as the ' Biologia Centrali- Americana.' 



E. Ltdekker. 



A Natural Ilistor)/ of fJie British Lepidoptera. A Te.vthool- for 

 Students and Colhctors. By J. W. TrTT,F.E.S., Autlior of ' The 

 British Js'octufe and their Varieties,' ' Monograph of the British 

 Pterophorina,' ' British Butterflies,' ' British Moths,' &c. 

 Vol. III. London & Berlin : July 1902. Pp. xi, 55^. 



ArxEB an interval of but little more than two years, we have again 

 the pleasure of reviewing another volume of Mr. Tutt's enormously 

 laborious and comprehensive work on the British Lepidoptera. The 

 size and the manner of execution are similar to the two preceding 

 volumes ; but it is entirely systematic, as no space could be spared 



