346 



SCIENCE. 



(N. S. Vol. XV. No. 374. 



bald to prepare an illustrated monograph of 

 the family Culicida3, based upon the collections 

 of the British Museum and upon the collec- 

 tions sent in by private individuals and col- 

 lectors throughout the world. The date when 

 this work was placed in Mr. Theobald's hands 

 is not mentioned, but his work has certainly 

 been done in little more than two years, and 

 the results are displayed in the three volumes 

 mentioned. The material at his disposal has 

 been larger than has ever been brought to- 

 gether elsewhere and he has described in detail, 

 with synoptical tables of subfamilies, genera 

 and species, 340 species of Culicidfe, dib- 

 tributed in twenty-three genera, 108 of the 

 species and 10 of the genera being new to 

 science. Of the species, 131 belong to the old 

 genus Culex, and of these 51 are new to sci- 

 ence. Of the malaria-bearing genus Anoph- 

 eles, 39 species are described, of which 

 12 are new to science. For ^North America 

 37 species are described, of which 5 are new, 

 but the author calls especial attention to the 

 fact that but little collecting of mosquitoes 

 has been done upon the Pacific coast. 



The end is by no means reached, since Ray 

 Lanliester, in his preface, states that collec- 

 tions are still arriving at the Museum, and it 

 is to be hoped that this will continue for years 

 to come; so that a supplementary volume will 

 be necessary at no distant date to record ad- 

 ditional species and correct present conclu- 

 sions. 



Mr. Theobald has given the world a remark- 

 able monograph in a remarkably short space 

 of time. His work is original in a high degree. 

 In his preliminary matter, covering nearly a 

 hundred pages, he enters extensively into the 

 morphology of the group and its biology. He 

 arrives at the interesting conclusion that the 

 scale structure of these insects is one of the 

 most important characters for both generic 

 and specific distinction. This conclusion is of 

 great importance, but is in a measure unfor- 

 tunate for workers since it necessitates the use 

 of a compound microscope in addition to the 

 high-power hand lens for the proper separa- 

 tion of species. He establishes five new sub- 

 families of Culicidfe, namely, the Anophelina, 

 the CuHcina, ^deomyina, Trichoprosoponina 



and Corethrina. It is unfortunate that these 

 groups were not given the uniform subfamily 

 ince termination required by modern rules of 

 zoological nomenclature, but after all this is a 

 small point. 



Especial care has been taken with the im- 

 portant subject of geographic distribution, and 

 many interesting points have been brought out. 

 As with other Diptera, these insects have ap- 

 parently no great faunistic value, and many 

 species, such as Anopheles maculipennis, Culex 

 pipiens, 0. fatigans and Stegomyia fasciata, 

 are widespread. 



The character and great number of the il- 

 lustrations are worthy of especial commenda- 

 tion, and Mr. Theobald is heartily to be con- 

 gratulated upon his great work; and the joint 

 committee is to be congratulated as well upon 

 the fact that it is able to secure a man who 

 was able to perform this enormous task 

 so successfully and in so short a space of time. 

 The work is provided with a bibliography, de- 

 fective in some respects, and with an index 

 which might to advantage have been made 

 somewhat more complete. 



Realizing the necessity for concise and prac- 

 tical directions to communities, municipal and 

 health organizations and individuals who wish 

 to start a mosquito crusade. Major Ross, the 

 distinguished investigator who first established 

 the transfer of malarial parasites by mosqui- 

 toes and who has since directed the practical 

 work which England has attempted to carry 

 on in certain of her tropical colonies, has filled 

 the want most excellently in his 'Mosquito 

 Brigades.' The book is written by a man of 

 highest scientific ranl^ who is at the same time 

 a practical man. His book is divided into 

 sections, entitled, 'Things to be Learnt,' 

 'Things to be Done,' 'Summary,' 'Miscellane- 

 ous Remarks,' 'Appendix,' 'Books.' It is a 

 handy little book of only 98 pages, but covers 

 the ground in an admirable manner. 



Taking the headings of his section, entitled 

 'Things to be Done,' for example, they are as 

 follows : Appointment of Superintendent, The 

 First Step, How to Raise Funds, Small Be- 

 ginnings, Organization of the Brigade, Or- 

 ganization and Duties of the Culex Gang, Or- 

 ganization and Duties of the Anopheles Gang, 



