638 Miscellaneous. 
Occasionally M. Fabre sees reason to question the observations of 
former writers. Thus he has been unable to confirm the statement 
that Pentatoma grisewm watches over its young like a hen over her 
chickens, or that the favourite prey of Reduvius personatus is the 
bed-bug ; nor does he regard the superficial resemblance between 
Volucella and a wasp as having anything to do with mimicry. The 
relation of Volucella to the wasp seems to be that of a simple 
scavenger. We have not space to quote M. Fabre’s observations, but 
one interesting point which he discusses, not for the first time, is the 
limitations of instinct. ‘This is illustrated in the case of the common 
wasp. When its nest is covered with a bell-glass, the enclosed 
wasps never dig a passage out, but remain cooped up till they die ; 
and though stragglers left outside will dig their way in, they are 
equally unable either to show their companions the way out or eyen 
to make their own escape. 
Index Animalium, 1758-1800. A Caroto Davis SHERBORN 
confectus. Cambridge University Press, 1902. 
“Tun objects of this work,” says the author, “are (a) to provide 
zoologists with a complete list of all the generic and specific names 
that have been applied by authors to animals since January the first 
1758; (8) to give an exact date for each page quotation ; (c) to give 
a quotation for each reference sufficiently exact to be intelligible 
alike to the specialist and to the layman.” 
Although Mr. Sherborn has received help from many quarters, 
this has but lightened in some small degree a truly colossal task, 
which, indeed, the author scarcely hopes to finish in his lifetime. 
The value of this undertaking to zoologists cannot be easily 
estimated. A solid foundation has at last been laid on which to 
base a definite system of nomenclature, though, having regard to the 
wilfulness displayed in certain quarters, this seems almost too much 
to hope for! 
This first volume, in the matter of binding and printing, is in every 
respect worthy of the Cambridge University Press. It is a bulky 
book, embracing no less than 1195 pages. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
On the Classification of the Thalassinidea. 
By L. A. Borrapaize, M.A. &c. 
ADDENDUM. 
On p. 540, to the list of genera of the Laomediide, add: MNaushonia. 
On p. 541, after the definition of the genus Jawea, add: 
Genus NavsontA, Kingsley, 1897. 
Definition: ‘ Laomediide which have on the maxillipeds of the 
first pair a lash to the exopodite and a podobranch, the first pair of 
legs stout and subchelate, the second pair very short and simple, 
and a well-developed, flat scale on the antenna.” 
Species : 
Type. WV. crangonoides, Kingsley, 1897. Bull. Essex Inst. xxvii. 
