124 THE REPORT OF THE 19 



BOOK NOTICES. 



General Index to Miss Ormerod's Reports on Injurious Insects, 1877 to 1898. — 

 By Robert Newstead, F.E.iS. London : Simpkin, Marshall & Co. (Price 18 pence). 



For twenty-one years Miss Ormerod has been issuing her valuable Reports of Obser- 

 vations on Injurious Insects, and in them has furnished a most useful mine of information 

 regarding all the principal insects that that have been productive of injury in the British 

 Isles during this long series of years. To render this mine readily available at any 

 mpment, a very satisfactory index has been prepared by Mr. Newstead. The greater 

 part of it consists of a " General Index," in which reference is given to every insect treated 

 of in the Reports under its scientific name, with reference also to habits, modes and sub- 

 jects of attack, etc. This is followed by a " Plant Index," with reference to the insects 

 attacking each ; a similar " Animal Index," and a third comprising other matters attacked, 

 such as bones and leather, seeds, etc. 



We are glad to learn from her preface to the volume that Miss Ormerod is about to 

 begin a second series of Reports in a somewhat different form. C. J. S. B. 



Flashlights on Nature. — By Grant Allen ; illustrated by Frederick Enock. 

 Toronto : William Briggs, 29 Richmond Street West. (Price 70 cents), pp. 312. 



The late Mr. Grant Allen's versatility as a writer is well known, but whatever opinion 

 may be formed regarding his novels and tales of fiction, there can be no question that 

 few authors can be compared with him when he devoted himself to natural history sub- 

 jects. His papers show that he must have been a most minute and painstaking student of 

 the wonders of plant and animal life, while at the same time his literary skill enabled 

 him to describe what he had seen and studied in a most charming manner and without 

 any loss of scientific precision. He had also the able assistance of Mr. Enock, who is a 

 well-known entomologist, and who evidently aided the author not only with his beautiful 

 drawings but with his careful observations as well. 



Most, if not all, of the papers in the volume before us have already appeared in the 

 pages of a widely circulated magazine, but they are well worthy of reproduction in this 

 more permanent and convenient form. They treat of insects, birds and plants, under 

 such titles as the Cows that Ants Milk ; a Plant that Melts Ice ; a Beast of Prey (spider); 

 a Woodland Tragedy (doings of a Butcher-bird) ; Marriage among the Clovers ; the first 

 Paper-maker, etc. The closing paper, a Foreign Invasion of England, gives an admirable 

 description of the life-history of the Hessian -fly. The illustrations, about a hundred and 

 forty in number, are very beautiful, and in clearness and excellence leave nothing to be 

 desired. Anyone with a love of nature cannot fail to be delighted with the book and to 

 derive a knowledge of many things that were secrets to him before. 0. J. S. B. 



OBITUARY. 



On the 16th of October there passed away at Peterborough one of the original mem- 

 bers of the Entomological Society of Ontario. The Rev. Vincent Clementi, B.A., died 

 at the age of eighty-seven years. He was a clerygman of the Church of England but had 

 retired from active service some years ago in consequence of failing eye-sigbt and other 

 infirmities. Born in England, the son of a famous musicial cam poser, U. Clementi, Esq , 

 and educated at the University of Cambridge, he came to Canada in 1855 and settled in 

 Peterborough. In 1863 he was appointed rector of Lakefield, where he remained for 

 eleven years ; he then became rector of Lindsay, and on his retirement returned to 

 Peterborough to spend the rest of his days. He was an active member of the Masonic 

 Society and rose to be Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Ontario. In his younger days, 

 and indeed throughout the whole of his life, he was devoted to natural history, horticul- 

 ture and art, and was especially interested in entomology. He contributed occasionally 

 to the early volumes of The Canadian Entomologist, and took a hearty interest in the 

 welfare and success of the Society. His water colour drawings of insects were remark- 

 able for their accuracy and beauty of execution. He was held in the highest respect and 

 regard by all who knew him, and died a devout and upright man. 0. J. S. B. 



