92 Bibliographical Notices. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



The Great Atlas Moth of Asia (Attacus atlas, Linn.'), with a coloured 

 Plate of its Transformations. By Philip Henry Gosse, F.li.S. 

 8vo. London : West, Newman, & Co. 1879. 



In this little book that veteran naturalist Mr. Gosse gives a short 

 account of his experience in rearing the larvae of the great talc- 

 spotted Atlas moth of South-eastern Asia. The species is one of 

 those silk producing Bomhyces to which attention has been of late 

 years directed in consequence of the fatal diseases which have 

 attacked the common silkworm ; and, according to Mr. Frederick 

 Moore, it is from its cocoons that the Tusseh silk of China is ob- 

 tained. In this country, at any rate, the cultivation of Attacus 

 atlas would seem to be attended with considerable difficulties ; for 

 out of eighty larva? Mr. Gosse only succeeded in bringing one to what 

 would appear to be the mature stage (after five moults) ; but even 

 this did not spin up. The author gives a detailed description of the 

 lame in their various stages up to the sixth, as just mentioned, 

 when they are large handsome caterpillars of a general delicate 

 pale green tint, and adorned along the back with numerous spini- 

 form processes ; and he completes his account of the transformations 

 by describing the cocoon and pupa from a specimen imported in 

 that state. Coloured figures are given of the eggs and larvoe (the 

 latter in their first, fourth, and sixth stages), and of the pupa and 

 cocoon. The remarks on the natural history of the insect, and the 

 details of its author's proceedings in his attempt to rear the larva), 

 contained in this little work will prove both interesting and useful 

 to all who devote their attention to this branch of entomology. 



Supplement to the Second Edition of ' Acadian Geology,'' <Sfc. By 

 J. W. Dawson, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., &c. 8vo, 102 pp. Mac- 

 millan and Co., London &c, 1878. 



Tnis Supplement, containing additional facts as to the geological 

 structure, fossil remains, and mineral resources of Nova Scotia, New 

 Brunswick, and Prince-Edward Island, constitutes an appendix of 

 new mattor for the Third Edition of the ' Acadian Geology,' the 

 Second Edition of which we noticed as a most satisfactory and 

 useful work in 1868. 



Principal Dawson, of M'Gill University, Montreal, collecting to- 

 gether all the important facts illustrative of the geological structure 

 of the Dominion, long ago worked out not only a local natural 

 history, but a cosmopolitan view of his great subject, and elucidated 

 it with knowledge obtained from every source available to geologist, 

 mineralogist, and naturalist. 



Still collecting and comparing facts and opinions, the author has 

 much to add about the strata, fossils, and mineral productions, very 

 little to retract as to hypothetical views in matters of dispute, and 

 much to enforce in corroboration of his views of modified uniformi- 

 tarianism, glacialization of a mixed character, the origin and nature 



