1888.] (59 



or from the errors of contemporary or succeeding authors in the application of the 

 old names, not always due to ambiguity in the original descriptions, as is proved by 

 recent investigations ; or, it may be, that a species has been described and named in 

 ignorance of a previous description and name. 



The author states that the rules of nomenclature that have been adopted are 

 practically those set forth by Staudinger in his "Catalog der Lepidopteren des Euro- 

 paischen Faunengebietes." To most of the sixteen rules are added examples of the 

 application of them to the Hemiptera ; the claims of the " Law of prescription " 

 and of " Continuity of use for a certain period " are criticised adversely; and the 

 rule of Priority of printed publication of recognisable description is insisted on the 

 only means of ensuring stability in nomenclature. 



Although endeavours have been previously made the nomenclature of the 

 palaearctic Hemiptera- Heteropter a described by the old authors has never till now 

 been overhauled on fixed principles, and it is fervently to be hoped that this revision 

 will, in the main, be accepted, and that we may be reconciled to the inconvenience 

 of the changes of name, in some cases necessary, by the consideration that they are 

 final. The labour of the investigation of the 359 species enumerated, verifying the 

 descriptions, where possible, by actual examination of the original examples, and 

 tracing, at times, one species under several names, has been enormous, and the result 

 of this work by an impartial and able Hemipterist is not, we think, likely to receive 

 an adverse criticism to any appreciable extent. The work is a very important 

 contribution towards the attainment of fixity of specific nomenclature and merits 

 study by all Entomologists to whichever Order of insects they may be attached. 

 For, as the author says, if the principles and amendments of this work be accepted, 

 all exotic Hemiptera or Homoptera, as well as insects of some other Orders, require 

 a similar revision ; this having been already made in respect of Coleoptera, Lepidop- 

 tera and some groups of other Orders. 



Nine pages are devoted to the consideration of the principles on which the 

 partition and appropriation of genera should be effected; on. this portion of the 

 work it is possible that opinions may differ, but genera are not of so much consequence 

 as species, for, after all, the constitution of a genus is a matter on which authors do 

 not agree, as is shown in the works of every writer up to this time. 



Part ii consists of the synonymy of 359 species worked out in chronological 

 order on the principles adopted ; lists of the genera and species adopted in place of 

 those used in Dr. Puton's " Catalogue d. Hemip. d'Europ.," 2nd edit. ; an Index 

 generum and an Index specierum. 



Handbttch fur Insekten-Sahmler von Alexander Bait. Band ii ; Die 

 Kafer (Magdeburg, Creutz'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1888). — This is a sort of 

 popular guide to the study of the beetles that are more usually met with in Germany, 

 Austro-Hungary, and Switzerland ; and to those younger collectors of Coleoptera in 

 England who understand German, it may certainly prove of considerable service, as 

 the plan is well worked out, and the tables and descriptions seem concise and useful ; 

 it is written chiefly for beginners, and in the more obscure groups only a few species 

 are mentioned, but the generic tables will be found useful by all. One of the great 

 features of the book is the intercalation in the letter press of small woodcuts repre- 

 senting species of typical genera, which, in many cases, are well executed. 



