SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



309 



The Hemiptera — Homopiera of the Britiih Islands. 

 (Cicadina and Psyllina). By James Edwards, 

 F.E.S. 271 pp. 8vo, illustrated by 2 plates. 

 (London : L. Reeve and Co., i8g6.) Price 12s. 



According to the custom of Messrs. Reeve and 

 Co., in the series to which it belongs, this work is 

 published in two forms ; the smaller, we have 

 received for notice. It consists of the letterpress 

 portion of the larger edition, which is published with 

 twenty-eight coloured plates, at 43s. net. In the book 

 before us are two plain plates with outline drawings 

 of anatomical characters of the insects under 

 discussion. These will be found useful. It is 

 unfortunate that, as in the case of the other books of 

 this series, there is an absence of synonymic and 

 bibliographical references, for nowadays synonomy 

 is of such high consequence when clearly explained. 

 The numbers of British species has been raised 

 from 268 — included in the Douglas and Scott 

 Catalogue of 1876 — to 307 in this work. Following 

 a description of the general characters of the 

 Homopterous sub-order of the Hemiptera are some 

 useful remarks in the introduction upon collecting 

 and preserving the specimens for study. Some of 

 the former instructions are rather elaborate, though 

 the author states that they are worth the trouble 

 entailed in their prosecution. We have not seen 

 the larger edition mentioned. 



Investigation into Applied Nature. By William 

 Wilson, Junr. 143 pp. 8vo. (London : Simpkin, 

 Marshall; Aberdeen: John Rae Smith.) No price 

 given. 



This is a series of collected and other papers by 

 the author, bearing upon the economic relation 

 between certain scientific studies and the applica- 

 tion of their subjects to man's uses. For instance, 

 " Our Indigenous Flora as Food Plants," " Pasture 

 Plants," etc. There is some originality in several 

 of these essays, both with regard to opinions and 

 expression. Occasionally the scientific names of 

 plants are confusing to the modern botanist, but 

 doubtless the author knows what he means by 

 Pyyolea vacciniece or Tussilago far'fara. In writing 

 about "Agricultural Zoology" the author says; 

 " When we reach our third province, we im- 

 mediately touch the province of insects ; not only 

 so, but it is noted for the immense variety of its 

 forms, and it is only reasonable to suppose that 

 agriculture has also immense interests involved in 

 it. First we find the earthworm. . . Next 



in order of structure we have the insects proper," 

 and so on. We can hardly believe that Mr. Wilson 

 desires to infer that earthworms are to be classed 

 as insects ; still, either through carelessness of 

 expression or intention, he clearly does so. We 

 fear that beyond causing gratification to the author, 

 this work will add little to human progress. 



Insects affecting Domestic Animals. By Herbert 

 OsBORN. 302 pp. large 8vo. Illustrated by 4 

 plates and 170 figures in the text. (Washington : 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1896.) 



This admirable work is known as "Bulletin No, 5, 

 New Series, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

 Division of Entomology," and forms one of the 

 many valuable publications issued by the U.S. 

 Government for the instruction of its citizens. It 

 was originally intended to make this the joint work 

 of the late Dr. C. V. Riley and Mr. Herbert 

 Osborn, but the unfortunate death of Dr. Riley 

 threw the responsibility upon the latter. The 

 result is, as we have said, admirable. Without 

 being too technical or prolix, the author takes us 

 through the long series of pests which affect our 



domestic animals. Though written for the American 

 public, the contents of this book will be found just 

 as useful in Europe. Full particulars of each para- 

 site are given with their life-histories, the hosts 

 upon which they live, damage they effect, and the 

 most modern and effectual remedies for the alle- 

 viation of their attacks. The illustrations, which 

 are in most cases new and original, have been 

 specially drawn or checked under the supervision of 

 the author. Chapter ix. is a bibliography of the 

 subject referring to the more important works on 

 parasites, and will be found useful for reference. 

 Altogether, this is a book to be used by all sorts 

 and conditions of readers on both continents. The 

 author is one in authority in his subject, being 

 Professor of Zoology and Entomology at Iowa 

 Agricultural College, and formerly Commissioner 

 to inquire into these parasites. There is not any 

 mention of price on the book, but our experience is 

 that all works produced under these circumstances 

 are extraordinarily inexpensive, and may be 

 generally obtained through Messrs. Wesley and 

 Son, Essex Street, London. 



Analytic Keys to the Genera and Species of North 

 American Mosses. By Charles Reid Barnes. 

 221 pp. large 8vo. (Madison, Wis. : published by 

 the University, 1897.) Price i dol. 



This new work on the mosses of North America, 

 by Professor Barnes, cannot fail to at once attain 

 to the position of a standard for reference. It has 

 been revised and extended by Mr. Fred de Forest 

 Heald, and generally brought well up to date with 

 the co-operation of many of the leading bryologists 

 of America and Europe. The object of this large 

 book is stated to be to fill up an interval before 

 the new manual of North American mosses can be 

 completed, and to further their critical study. It 

 is really a third edition of a work first published 

 with a similar object in 1886. All species known 

 to be included in the moss-flora of that continent 

 are included in the keys, which are followed by an 

 "Appendix," occupying half the book, containing 

 descriptions of species and varieties published since 

 the issue of Lesquereux and James' " Manual of 

 Mosses of North America." These are 603 in 

 number. 



Liverpool Marine Biology Committee. Tenth Annual 

 Report. By W. A. Herdman, D.Sc, F.R.S. 

 52 pp. 8vo. (Liverpool ; T. Dobb and Co., 1897.) 

 Price IS. 



Professor Herdmann, as usual, produces an 

 interesting report of the work done by the Com- 

 mittee over which he presides, and at the Port 

 Erin Biological Station, where he directs. It was 

 an eventful year in 1S96 with the Committee, for 

 it had to look its best on the visit of the British 

 Association to Liverpool. The year is also 

 memorable on account of the compilation of an 

 index list of all the species of marine animals 

 and plants recorded by the Committee during its 

 first ten years' work. According to the Station 

 Record, the tables at the Port Erin Laboratory were 

 occupied on fifty-nine occasions by workers chiefly 

 in connection with Owens College, Manchester, and 

 University College Liverpool ; though others came 

 from such distant places as Christiania, Heidelberg, 

 Geneva, lerseke and Louvain. Professor Herdman 

 recounts some amusing remarks passed by visitors 

 when inspecting the contents of the tanks, such 

 as the freijuently expressed indignant exclama- 

 tion, " but a fish is not an animal, is it ? "—and 

 that too from apparently educated persons. We 

 quite sympathise with the I'rofessor, for we need 



