128 
stations in France at which the observations cover 
a period of fifty years, from 1851-1900, but fairly 
long periods are given for fifty-eight stations 
which constitute the principal values dealt with. 
Mean temperature charts are given for each 
month, and there are also seasonal charts for 
winter, summer, and for the year. Diurnal range 
_of temperature is also dealt with. Barometric 
pressure is treated in a very similar manner to 
the temperature, and mean pressure charts are 
given for all months and for the year. A chapter 
is devoted to the disturbances of the atmosphere, 
and a detailed description is given of the general 
movement of cyclonic and anticyclonic systems. 
Maps are given showing the prevailing winds and 
the resultants for the four seasons of the year. 
M. Bigourdan provides a good résumé of the 
climate of France in about 130 pages, and the 
information is expressed in a popular manner, 
although its scientific accuracy is all that could 
be wished. The numerous charts enable the 
reader to obtain the several meteorological factors 
for any part of France. 
The Psychology of Relaxation. By Prof. G. T. 
Patrick. Pp. viii+280. (London: Constable 
and Co., Ltd., 1916.) “Price 55: net. 
On the further side of the Atlantic one of the 
world’s great peoples has been swept away 
by a passion for wild and crazy amusement; on 
this side the others are locked in the bloodiest 
war the world has seen: these are the pheno- 
mena, at first sight antithetically diverse, which 
Prof. Patrick brings together in his study of 
“relaxation.’’ With them he sets the craving 
for alcohol, constantly rising in spite of pro- 
hibitive legislation, and—longo intervallo—the 
habits, widespread if not omnipresent, of laughter 
and profane language. In the author’s view all 
these forms of human behaviour are, at bottom, 
illustrative of a single principle. The activities 
and relations of civilised life imply the upbuilding 
and functioning of extremely complex mental 
mechanisms, full of tensions, restraints, and inhibi- 
tions. To maintain these always in operation is 
an impossible task. From time.to time, therefore, 
the complexes break up, and man falls back with 
relief into conduct expressive of simpler mental 
structures organised and consolidated in the far 
distant days of the race’s childhood: he plays, 
he laughs, he swears, he fights. Alternatively, he 
seeks the same end—the temporary dissociation 
of his too complex mental mechanisms—by means 
of the narcotic power of alcohol. 
Prof. Patrick finds much to say in defence of 
his thesis—even for his rather startling view of 
war as a gigantic “rest-cure’’—and says it very 
well. The cautious reader will, however, feel that 
he has pressed a sound principle of interpretation 
much too far—that he has brought into clear relief 
one factor in the phenomena he analyses, but at 
the expense of neglecting others of equal signifi- 
cance. Still, his factor is undoubtedly one of 
great importance, and his exposition of its réle 
is both informative and pleasant to read. 
: Ty Pate 
NO. 2451, VOL. 98] 
NATURE 
f 
[OcTOBER 19, 1916. 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 
[The Editor does not hold himself responsible for 
opimons expressed by his correspondents. Neither 
can he undertake to return, or to correspond with 
the writers of, rejected manuscripts intended for 
this or any other part of Nature. No notice is 
taken of anonymous communications.] ‘ 
Elasticity and Entomology. 
In Nature for June 22 (vol. xcvii., p. 340) there 
appeared an interesting letter under the above head- 
ing from the pen of Frof. Bryan. Perhaps | may be 
permitted to contribute some further remarks on the 
same subject, although my distance from the centre 
of Empire must necessarily entail a long delay before 
publication. 
Unfortunately, the method of setting insects upon 
“Continental” pins does not appear to be “old- 
fashioned,” for a large number of specimens received 
by me from all countries (excluding England, where, 
on the other hand, the insects are often set too low) 
are set in this obnoxious manner. In dealing with 
the same I always handle them by placing the forceps 
upon them under the insect, at a point only slightly 
above the level to which they are to be driven into” 
the cork. Even so, the danger of vibrations, causin, 
loss of antennz, etc., cannot wholly be obviated. 
After many years’ experience I have come to the 
conclusion that the shorter pins of English make, be 
they ‘‘ silvered,’’ ** gold,” or black, are in every way pre- 
ferable to the long German pins. The insect should, 
however, be set at least half-way up the pin, and not 
so low down as is necessitated by the construction of 
many of the peculiar “curved” setting-boards still in’ 
use in England. 
Using the numbers of the well-known ‘Kirby and 
Beard”? make of pins, out of the following numbers 
which I have in use every day, viz. I, 3, 5, 8, I5s 173 
and 19, Nos. 1, 3, 5, and 8 may be classed as stout, 
and can be relied upon never to bend when inserted 
into cork or “‘lino,’’ unless handled extremely roughly. 
Nor, so far as I can see, is there any deterioration in 
the elastic quality of such pins over a period of at 
least twenty years. On the other hand, Nos. 15, 17, 
and 19 must be classed as slender pins, and can 
never be relied upon, for certain, not to buckle under 
the pressure necessary to place the insect firmly in 
the cabinet. As all the smaller kinds of insects must 
be set upon one or other of these pins, or upon the 
even smaller silver-wire pins known as ‘‘caps,” I 
have come to the conclusion that the only safe plan in 
all these cases is to use the Polyporus strips first sug- 
gested by Lord Walsingham—who, I believe, found 
this fungus growing in Merton Park, and ingeniously 
turned it to entomological use. As these strips are 
now sold by at least one tirm in Australia, no doubt 
they are easily obtainable in England. <A 
short piece of the strip is cut off and placed 
on a No. 8 pin, as shown in the illustration ; 
the finer pin carrying the insect is gently 
inserted into the other end of the strip. The 
label may then be placed on the larger pin, 
below the strip, facing upwards, so that it can 
be read without moving the insect. I have a 
series of a new species of Coniopterygid, ex- 
panse only 3 mm., and the smallest Neuro- 
pterous insect known to me, set in this manner upon 
‘‘caps,”’ and they look extremely neat in the cabinet. 
Returning to the subject of vibrations, might I 
suggest the use of a very simple expedient to obviate 
the constant breaking-up of the abdomen in those 
insects with long or fragile bodies, such as dragon- 
flies? This is the process of bristling. which I have 
used with success for vears, but which I have never 
