April, '07] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 1 59 



as the various entomological societies of America will be heeded 

 in the matter. 



We need lists, synopses, and manuals that are thoroughly 

 and really " manuable " — to adapt a meaningful Spanish word. 

 Why can we not have scientific works gotten up on as good a 

 plan as Oxford Bibles, — on thin, strong paper, with flexible 

 covers, and with copious marginal notes and references. I 

 would feel contented to pay even six dollars to get the synop- 

 sis of the Chalcids in the thoroughly usable and condensed 

 form in which it might easily have been issued. But to be 

 compelled to burden myself with this elephantine monstrosity, 

 that is as different from what it should be to serve the very pur- 

 pose for which it was intended as a solid- wheeled ox-cart is from 

 a racing sulky, is enough to make one doubt the fitness of some 

 things born of modern scientific activities. And over and above 

 all other considerations, it fills one with regret to think how 

 much more of important and needful work could have been put 

 out within the same cost and space of this one unwieldy tome. 



Considered from almost any point of view, what could be the 

 benefits to any one in the absurd inflation of a book containing 

 about the material of Cresson's Synopsis, and intended for a 

 working manual, to the size of the bulky and costly tome under 

 discussion. And we are unfortunately compelled to ask the same 

 question about Wytsman's " Genera Insectorum " and a num- 

 ber of other otherwise extremely important general works being 

 issued to-day. The ridiculous form in which such works are 

 being issued compels small and costly editions of very limited 

 circulation, whereas such works should surely be in the hands 

 of every working student in the country. 



It often seems as if public institutions of to-day considered 

 it a most noteworthy event to issue a work as nearly as possible 

 in the form of the ponderous and impossible folios of the seven- 

 teenth century. I will agree that such events are always as 

 note-worthy as possible, but they are not praiseworthy ! Is 

 there not some publishing house or public institution that will 

 break away from musty and antiquated traditions and give us 

 entomological manuals — of which in days to come the number 

 will be legiom-An a practical, thoroughly usable form, really 

 conforming to the needs of twentieth century workers ? 



