NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 155 



have engaged in similar labours can fully estimate what it 

 involves to unravel the tangled synonymic skein of an immense 

 and dimcult family of moths such as the Noctuidce, and at the 

 same time to revise the genera throughout, especially when the 

 generic revision is of a constructive and not a purely destructive 

 character. The wholesale ." lumping " of genera, as sometimes 

 practised, frequently causes as much, if not more confusion than 

 their occasional almost impractical subdivision ; while, on the 

 other hand, a " lumping " of many so-called species, and a 

 stricter analysis in genera, frequently advances a more real 

 appreciation of the composition of a difficult and involved group 

 of animals, either high or low in evolution. We think that Sir 

 George has been happy in his treatment of this problem in the 

 present volume ; in the old genus Polia he has included many 

 species hitherto placed under Mamestra, and in other generic 

 creations ; whilst he has not hesitated to propose new generic 

 divisions for other species belonging to the same extensive group. 

 Even the British lepidopterist will find some change in generic 

 nomenclature, and much guidance and considerable clearance 

 has been effected with the Nearctic species. The author has 

 generically revised some of his former work, as well as that of 

 other entomologists, and we feel that it is almost as impossible 

 for the entomologist as the pietist to reach perfection ; at least 

 we can aim at that ideal, and this book is a very advanced 

 attempt at doing so. An atlas with eighteen coloured plates 

 accompanies the volume. 



Our Country's Animals, and how to know them. By W. J. 

 Gokdon. Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Lim. 



We have already noticed several volumes of this series, and 

 in the present issue Mr. Gordon has written on the Mammals, 

 Reptiles, and Amphibians. The treatment is exactly that pursued 

 by the author on previous occasions, and will doubtless prove 

 useful to the many who desire to know the names of British 

 animals, but do not possess other publications on the subject. 

 The illustrations are to the point of recognition, if not artistic ; 

 but we are much struck with that representing the Otter, which 

 depicts that animal having the audacity to not only seize a Perch, 

 but also over its formidable dorsal fin ! 



