NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 37 



of nearly three-quarters of a million, and a certainty of not less 

 than half a million London Cats. In an interesting, but to the 

 zoologist melancholy article on "Wild beasts' skins in com- 

 merce," it is stated, as generally believed, " that the last of the 

 Quaggas was killed years ago." This is probably a fact, but the 

 writer, quite recently when in South Africa, was told by a very 

 high authority that strange reports had been received on this 

 subject from the Western Coast region. Is it too late to restore 

 the Beaver to our streams ? Mr. Cornish thinks not, and their 

 presence need not be much dreaded. " Shallow streams they 

 dam ; and to make this dam they cut down trees and do mis- 

 chief. But on deep, slow streams, such as the Thames, they 

 make burrows in the bank and ' lodges,' but do not attempt to 

 build dams, because the water is deep enough for their wants. 

 All they need is enough willow-bark to feed on. If anyone 

 would turn out a few Beavers on the Thames, and let them have 

 the run of an osier-bed, they would probably increase and 

 multiply." 



There are sixteen illustrations. That of " Rob Roy's 

 Cattle " is an artistic success. 



Catalogue of the Syntomidce in the Collection of the British 

 Museum. By Sir Geo. F. Hampson, Bart. Published by 

 the Trustees of the British Museum. 



This is really the first volume of a most important publica- 

 tion, being nothing less than the commencement of a descriptive 

 and analytical catalogue of the Moths of the World. The 

 method is so clear and simple, and the wealth of illustration so 

 ample, that any ordinary student cannot fail to identify, both 

 generically and specifically, such species as he may desire to 

 know, and in a classificatory sense understand ; while to the 

 entomologist the result of an exhaustive study, based on the com- 

 parison of nearly all available material, is a boon. Of course Sir 

 George Hampson cannot expect that his proposed classification 

 will be universally followed ; that is a proposition which, however 

 reasonable, is still an open question with most lepidopterists, but 

 it is probable that the great use that must be made of these 



