774 Recent Literature. [ December, 
Comparative Anatomy being a notable exception. This palæon- 
tology will consist of two volumes, and will, when completed, be 
a valuable work of reference, though almost entirely based on 
European forms. 
Miss Batrarp’s Insect Lives.'—This attractive little book 
deserves commendation from the fact that the authoress has 
evidently the zeal of a genuine naturalist, has studied insects in 
the field and closet, and describes what she has seen in a clear 
and admirable manner. The first and best lesson in the study of 
insects is the rearing of a butterfly from the egg; one learns 
more of entomology in this than by any other method. This book 
will, we feel sure, induce boys and, we hope. girls to gather cater- 
pillars and rear butterflies just for the fun of the thing, while 
unconsciously they will be learning valuable lessons in observing 
natural objects. We have no fault to find with the illustrations, 
which are beautiful, and generally, when original, accurately, as 
well as artistically drawn, while those which are copied from the 
best entomological artists, are faithfully done; some, however, 
are evidently electrotypes from Harris, Riley, etc. We notice 
an error on page 11. The spinneret, in caterpillars, is situated 
on the wuder not the upper lip, the silk glands passing into the 
floor of the mouth and opening through the labium. We heartily 
endorse the advice to those beginning the study of insects that 
“we should not begin with statistics—studying how many thou- 
sands of moths and butterflies there are supposed to be, or how 
many species of insects have been classified and named, Take 
‘one to begin,’ as children say, and study it thoroughly.” 
GRABER’s Insects.2—We have already drawn attention to the 
first two parts of this admirable work, and the commendations 
then bestowed upon it will apply to the present part. The biology 
of insects is concluded by chapters relating to the reproductive 
habits of insects, parthenogenesis and certain anomalous modes 
of reproduction, and to their powers of destruction. The author 
evidently belongs to the German ultra-Darwinian materialistic 
school, and claims, to use his own words, that: “It is the grand, 
free idea of the present age, which acknowledges the existence 
outside of and above nature of no power and in general no being, 
that all existing, all physical and psychical phenomena may be 
explained by the active causes in nature, and that the individual 
is not necessary for the preservation and harmonious develop- 
1Insect Lives, or Born in Prison, By Jutta P. BALLARD. Cincinnati, Robert 
$1.00. i TA 
Sor 
Clarke & Co., 1879. Sq. 12mo, pp. 97. fee 
2 Die Naturkrafte. Eine naturwissenschaftliche Volksbibliothek. XXII Band, 2 i 
Hälfte. Die Insekten. Von Dr. Virus GRABER. I Theil, 2 Hälfte: vag 
chendes Lebens und Entwicklungsgeschichte der Insekten. Mit 127 original holz- 
schnitten. Mûnchen, Druck und Verlag von R, Oldenbourg. 1879. 3 marks. © 
