344 
of the genus Pisidium, but also the geological 
relations of the British species. 
All taxonomic work on fresh-water Mollusca— 
perhaps all taxonomy of fresh-water invertebrates 
—is difficult, even when no obfuscation has accrued 
from the fitful labours of commentators, because 
of the infinite little diversities of environment to 
which fresh-water species are exposed; but the 
genus Pisidium offers peculiar difficulties, on ac- 
count of the small size of the shells and the 
obscurity of their specific features. 
There can be little doubt that this fine mono- 
graph, with its critical treatment of history and 
synonomy, its concentrated attention upon crucial 
hinge characters, its graphic summaries of specific 
distribution, its exhaustive bibliography, and its 
copious wealth of figures, will make the way easy 
for students of the British species of the genus 
Pisidium. But it is doubtful whether any but an 
experienced veteran will appreciate the immense 
labour and unwearied application which this work, 
involving close examination of many thousands of 
specimens, recent and fossil, represents. 
(2) The sixth volume of this important and use- 
ful work consists partly of concise descriptions— 
accompanied by exact records of distribution— 
of species added to the British list since the publi- 
cation of the fifth volume in 1891, and partly of 
miscellaneous notes and records compiled by Mr. 
Donisthorpe. There is an interesting introductory 
chapter by the senior author, in which classifica- 
tion and some other matters of general interest 
are discussed. For classification he repeats his 
division of the Coleoptera into three suborders: 
Adephaga, Polycerata, and Lamellicornia, the 
Polycerata including the Staphylinoidea and five 
big groups (Clavicornia, Serricornia, Heteromera, 
Phytophaga, and Rhynchophora), which some 
entomologists still regard as suborders. 
The species question is briefly alluded to in a 
few very sensible words, Dr. Fowler apparently 
not being addicted to the belief that species are 
entities that sprout into existence ready-made. 
(3) In this volume the four tribes Rhyssides, 
Echthromorphides, Anomalides, and Paniscides 
are reviewed, the first two tribes being briefly 
characterised and the last tribe being fully defined, 
while the limits of the third (Anomalides) are 
merely indicated by the constituent genera. There 
are 298 species included, and these are distri- 
buted in 30 genera, 71 of the species and 8 of 
the genera being named and defined as new to 
knowledge. All the genera and species are differ- 
entiated in neat and concise, yet adequate, tables; 
and beyond this the limits of each genus are critic- 
ally discussed, and in the case of species the 
NO. VO -93)| 
2327; 
NATURE 
[JUNE 4, 1914 
synonomy and geographical distribution, and 
usually the salient specific attributes, are fully con- 
sidered. It is a model of a revision, and the only 
word that can be breathed against it is that in the 
geographical grouping of the species of the larger 
genera political instead of zoological divisions of 
the globe are adopted—which is rather a pity, as 
the geographical distribution of many of the 
genera is very suggestive, and deserves to be 
emphasised. It is to be hoped that in taking this 
course the author has not been influenced by those 
extremists of the convergence school who try to 
flout the systematist out of his calling. 
(4) A portrait and an appreciative biographical 
sketch of the original of this bequest—a man dis- 
tinguished alike for his ardour in natural history 
and. sport, his culture, and his generosity—take 
this small volume quite out of the roll of common 
museum catalogues. 
The material catalogued includes ninety-seven 
picked specimens of Indian big game trophies, 
making a collection such as, to quote Mr. 
Lydekker, “it would nowadays be impossible to 
bring together.”” Every specimen is meted and ap- 
praised acording to mode. No fewer than twenty- 
four of them have a place in the front rank, four 
of these—to wit, of the Shou (Cervus wallichi), 
the Tibetan Antelope, the Himalayan Serow, and 
the Lahul Ibex—being ‘records’; while eight 
more—namely, of the Yak, the Bharal, the Sind 
Wild Goat, the Nilgri Tahr, the Blackbuck, the 
Yarkand Gazelle, the Yarkand Stag, and the 
Chital—are, severally, proxime accesserunt. 
Modest as are its limits, the work bears the 
author’s hall-mark. 
(5) This volume, dealing with a group of insects 
of approved economic value, is a noteworthy 
addition to the fauna of British India. But if it 
satisfies expectations it excites them no less, since, 
though all the great component parts of the 
Ichneumon family are defined and correlated, it is 
only an instalment in which about half the known 
specific forms are arranged and described. 
The author’s preface, wherein he quotes with 
full appreciation the saying of Agassiz, that “the 
purpose of systematic work must be to increase 
our knowledge of the relationship of animals,” at 
once inspires confidence. This confidence is 
strengthened by the judicious management and 
scholarly tone of the introductory chapter, in 
which a historic account of the family is followed 
by sections, as clear as they are concise, treating 
of metamorphosis, structure, and classification. 
After this, the author’s statement that concise 
tabulation is very difficult, on account of the extra- 
ordinary instability of species in this family—an 
