REVIEWS. 187 
might be possible in publishing the Htudes de Lépidoptérologie Comparée, 
has been thrown off. Plates 340 to 363 are of Catagramma and allied 
genera, and the remainder, five of Acraea, one of Hesperids, five, 364 
to 869 of Satyrids, four of Hesperids and Heterocera, are of species 
from Madagascar. 
Of the volume of text something more than the first hundred pages 
are devoted to a monograph of the Catayrammides. There are some 
references to the effect of the war of 1870 on Guenée’s study of the 
group and of the present war on the monograph before us. These 
include some details as to Bismarck’s falsification of a despatch that 
caused the war of 1870, and instances of the lies that the Germans 
constantly manufacture. This is not strictly “ Entomologie,” but it 
illustrates how it is impossible in Entomology, or in anything else, to 
avoid the effects of the war, and to reflect on the indescribably abomin- 
able conduct of the Prussians.” The monograph contains a number of 
text plates in black and white to show the character of the three genera 
of Catagrammas, viz., Catagramma, Callicore, and Perisama. It is 
represented that the differences and relationship to each other of these 
genera are the result of creative design. M. Oberthiir probably felt that 
the Catagrammas illustrated this thesis very satisfactorily, but he would 
probably not disagree if one said that any other group would lead to 
similar conclusions. We no doubt all accord here with M. Oberthiir, 
though some of us see these results as the effect of constant creative 
action, others find them flow from the unity, uniformity and order 
that have been immanent in things from the beginning. 
The next part treats of Madagascar insects, beginning with Acraeas 
and continuing with the Satyridae, the Hesperiidae, Agaristidae, 
Saturniinae, Noctuae, and Nyctemeridae. 
The chapters on Acraea and Satyridae amount to monographs of the 
forms and certain genera of the latter as represented in Madagascar. 
There is a report by M. Gaston Melou on the resistance of African 
Acraeas to the action of cyanide of potassium. He found the ordinary 
eyanide bottle with 88% cyanide that he used had practically no effect 
on Acraeas, so he tried pure cyanide of 99%, this was more effective, 
but took half an hour to an hour to kill the Acraeas, and so for practi- 
cal collecting purposes was no better than the weaker. Yet the vapour 
of benzine, of ether, or of chloroform, kills them in one or two minutes. 
It is suggested that they may be immune because their food-plant con- 
tains hydrocyanic acid, but M. Melou did not test the matter. 
There 1- an account of the early stages of Lophostethus demolini, a 
sphinx widcly spread over Africa. It feeds on trees of the mallow 
tribe. A curious habit is reported as to pupation. “During the pupa- 
ition the caterpillar does not free itself from its skin; this seems to melt 
(se fondre) like the colours, and remains whole, making an envelope for 
the pupa.” 
Twelve portraits of entomologists complete the volume, of these the 
names best known to English entomologists are perhaps Lacordaire, 
Bellier de la Chavignerie, Blachier, Querci, and Verity. 
Last, but not least, we must not forget the preface, “A mes Amis,” 
at the end of the volume. This explains how the war, in its direct 
effect on M. Culot and on M. F. Le Cerf, has disarranged the con- 
tinuity of the work as intended, and postpones to vols. xi. and xii. items 
properly in order with the present F'asciculus ; how the necessity for 
