Feb. 23. 1871] NATURE 331 

In the last chapter a short but clear account is given of | French or Continental insects, some of which are natives 
the recent discoveries as to the metamorphoses of Crus- | of our own country, while many are not found here. In 
tacea, from the works of Spence Bate, Fritz Miiller, Dar- | adapting the work for English readers, it would have been 
well to have stated in every case whether the insect men- 
win, and others. Jaw v : 
In the original work reference is chiefly made to common ! tioned was an English one. The great carpenter bee 

Fic. 3.—Viviearous Staphylinide. (After Schiddte.) 
Corotoca melantho and larva. Sprractha Eurymedusa. q , 
The upper figures are those of Corotfoca. The turning up of the hinder parts of the body is very evident in the engraving. 




















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Fic. 4.—Cocoons oF BraziLian Tineina. 
(Xylocopa violacea), for example, is described as “not un- | used ; but these are small defects in so useful and attrac- 
common ;” but the reader is not told that,although common | tive a work, which is just the thing for a present to an 
in France, it is unknown in England. More simple and } intelligent and inquiring country scho olboy. 
familiar language might also have been occasionally ALFRED R, WALLACE 
