360 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



to render their eggs almost indistinguishable from their environ- 

 ment, Mgialitis pecuaria being a good example of this practice, 

 and its nest is well-illustrated. As we look over these interesting 

 illustrations, we feel that in regions where the birds have been 

 collected and identified the old days of killing and skinning may 

 be considered as closed. The work of the camera has only just 

 commenced, and we would commend to those who have the 

 opportunity, the great possibilities in going over the ground of 

 the old naturalist travellers, provided only with the means of 

 photography. ' The Camera on the Amazons,' the ' Photo- 

 gi'apher in the Malay Archipelago,' are books we would fain 

 see and read. 



A Descriptive Catalogue of the Indian Deep-Sea Crustacea. Deca- 

 poda: Macrura, and Anomala, in the Indian Museum, dc. 

 By A. Alcock, M.B., LL.D., &c. Calcutta: printed by 

 order of the Trustees of the Indian Museum. 



This is another result of the good work accomplished on board 

 the Boyal Indian Marine Survey Ship ' Investigator.' In our last 

 volume we noticed a similar publication referring to the Deep-Sea 

 Brachyura and Indian Deep-Sea Fishes, and we now receive an 

 enumeration of the Crustacea. But this is more than an enumera- 

 tion, seeing that full descriptions of all the species are given ; 

 in fact, we have a monographic account of the results of an expe- 

 dition that is a real evidence of an enlightened administration. 

 Like all sectarians, zoologists must — apart from the larger 

 questions — judge governmental departments by the support they 

 give to their own cause. Whether imperialists or republicans, 

 the duty of all zoologists is to see that science is not neglected 

 by the State. A voyage of the 'Challenger' is far more im- 

 portant to us than the measures which seem often designed by 

 well-meaning legislators to show their incapacity for recognizing 

 the trend of evolutionary progress. The work of the Boyal 

 Indian Marine Survey Ship ' Investigator' covers a multitude of 

 infirmities in Indian administration, and Dr. Alcock is to be 

 congratulated on the valuable use he has made of his oppor- 

 tunities. 



