Bibliographical Notices. 371 



insects in general and of the different groups and species referred 

 to appears to be very correct ; even the names of the groups and 

 insects are generally rightly spelt — a rare occurrence indeed in 

 popidar books. The treatment adopted is as follows. After a short 

 introduction, the author indicates the distinguishing characteristics 

 of the class of Insects, and then describes in some detail the struc- 

 ture of the different parts of which these creatures are composed, 

 and the nature of their metamorphoses, indicating, in connexion 

 with the wings, the classification followed in the more special part 

 of the book. This information is then summarized in a table of 

 orders, with illustrative examples. Each order is then treated 

 somewhat in the same fashion, characterized and divided into fami- 

 lies or tribes, with descriptions of the appearance and habits of some 

 of the commonest species belonging to it ; and each of the larger 

 orders has likewise its tabular synopsis, furnishing a summary of its 

 contents. The systematic arrangement is doubtless open to criti- 

 cism, and esjjeeiaily, as already stated, to the charge of being rather 

 antiquated ; but the learner who has acquired all the information 

 which Miss Staveley affords "will easily understand and appreciate 

 the different views of other writers whose works may fall into his 

 hands. 



One of the great attractions of this book to the young entomolo- 

 gist will be the beautiful figures with which it is illustrated : these 

 consist of sixteen excellent coloured plates bj' Mr. Robinson, and of a 

 considerable number of woodcuts, both of details and of insects, scat- 

 tered through the text. The whole of these figures are admirably 

 executed ; so that, both from a literary and an artistic point of view, 

 we feel pleasure in recommending the book to our readers as an 

 introduction to the study of entomology. 



An Introductory Text-booh of Zoology, for the Use of Junior Classes. 

 By H. Alleyne JS'icholson, M.D., D.Sc, Ph.D., F.R.S.E., F.G.S. 

 Sm. 8vo. Edinburgh and London : Blackwood, 1871. 



We have already had occasion to speak in favourable terms of 

 Dr. Nicholson's zoological manuals ; and we have now to call atten- 

 tion to a third publication, of a more elementary nature than either 

 of its predecessors, and intended, as the author tells us, " for the use 

 of junior classes." This little work seems to us well adapted for its 

 purpose, although perhaps the " junior classes " will be incUned to 

 think that the quantity of technical terms which they are called 

 upon to leani in order to understand its teachings is rather too great. 

 Dr. Nicholson would indeed have done weU to have adopted a more 

 popidar style in a junior class-book. 



The arrangement adopted is the same as in the larger manuals, 

 namely that of Prof. Huxley, followed almost without a variation. 

 The classification is carried as far as the orders, and illustrative ex- 

 amples are cited and described under each group. The illustrations 

 are for the most part, if not entirely, identical with those employed 

 in the author's pre\dous books, and are generally good. 



