103 
Although hardly so simple as its title would imply, may yet 
form a useful stepping-stone to the more advanced works on 
Coleoptera. 
‘“‘ Descriptive List of the British Anthomyide,” by R. H. 
Mead, F.R.C.S., &c. (London, Gurney & Jackson.) Is a 
welcome contribution to the literature of the much-neglected 
British Diptera. Rumour has long been rife, but when 
may we hope to see some thorough monograph of this, at 
present, little-worked order? 
‘“Farm and Garden Insects,” by Prof. Wm. Somerville. 
(London, Macmillan & Co., Ltd.) As its title implies, 
treats of the economic section, and contains much practical 
information. 
‘Favourite Flowers of the Garden and Greenhouse,”’ by 
Edward Step, F.L.S.; the Cultural Directions edited by 
Wiliam Watson, F.R.H.S., Assistant Curator, Royal 
Gardens, Kew. (London, Frederick Warne & Co.) AI- 
though this book may be said to trench on the ground of 
the Horticulturist rather than that of the Naturalist, the 
authorship of Mr. Step is a sufficient guarantee that the 
scientific aspect has not been lost sight of, the brief generic 
descriptions and histories being all that can be desired in 
this respect. It is fully illustrated by well-executed coloured 
plates of representative species. 
Although, from the foregoing, we do not find any par- 
ticularly startling events in connection with the past year, 
in some other respects it has been one of especial interest. 
The year 1897 will undoubtedly come to be regarded as one 
of those epoch-marking years that form the milestones on 
the path of time. Men of light and learning, from the ends 
of the earth, have been gathered together in this country to 
celebrate the sixtieth year of the reign of our Queen. The 
attention of the whole world has been directed to the events 
of those sixty years, events the like of which are not to be 
found in any similar period of the world’s history. Arts, 
manufactures, science, have progressed as they have never 
progressed before; and natural science, the branch with 
which we are more particularly interested, has not lagged 
one whit behind. 
Improved means of communication, additional postal 
facilities, and the increase in the number of local societies 
dealing with various branches of natural history subjects, 
have all tended to increase free intercourse between indi- 
viduals. Life is far too short to give the isolated worker 
much hope of successfully dealing with the innumerable 
