CORRESPONDENCE, 381 
note calling attention to their resemblance to Distomum larve. Could 
not Mr. Sedgwick be induced to insert an account of these important 
groups in the form of an Appendix to Vol. II.? 
In the section on Crinoids we are disappointed to find no 
reference to the nervous nature of the axial cords and of the central 
capsule. The Worms are, for the most part admirably treated, but 
we cannot but regret that Mr. Sedgwick did not see fit to insert a 
paragraph about Phoronis, which is barely mentioned. The chapter 
on Crustacea is, as might have been expected, particularly good. 
Prof. Claus does not adopt the recently proposed classification of Boas, 
but retains the order Arthrostraca (Edriophthalmata) to include the 
Isopoda and Amphipoda, and divides the Decapoda into Macrura and 
Brachyura, and it into Natantia and Reptantia. Like most modern 
authors, with the exception of Huxley, Claus counts the antennules as 
the first pair of appendages, the eye-stalks being considered as out- 
growths of the head; the telson is considered to be an independent 
segment. The Merostomata (Gigantostraca) are retained among the 
Crustacea, no reference being made to their undoubted Arachnidan 
affinities. The section on Peripatus has been wisely brought up to 
date by Mr. Sedgwick; except in his notes there is no reference to 
Balfour’s work on that most interesting of Arthropods. 
The volume is illustrated by nearly 500 woodcuts, which are of 
an unusual degree of excellence; large and clear, without being 
unduly diagramatic. A few more reference letters in some of them 
would have been an improvement. 
We repeat that this book is by far the most satisfactory English 
work on the subject; in fact, we may say, the only satisfactory one for 
beginners. We have no doubt that it will be almost universally 
adopted. 
1 i 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
—_ 
LUCANIDA OF NEW ZEALAND. 
a 
To the Editor. 
Sir,—In No. 5, Vol. IL., of the “N.Z. Journal of Science ” there 
appeared a paper (taken from the publications of the Entomological 
Society of Brussels) on the Lucanide of New Zealand, by Dr. Sharp. 
My copy of the “ Journal,” having been wrongly addressed, did not 
reach me till a week ago, so that I could not notice the paper in 
question sooner. 
I may state that the species I named as Dorci belong to Lissotes ; 
but as Professor Westwood, when giving its description, called it a 
sub-genus only, I did not attach so much importance to the new name 
as I should have done. Asregards the creation of synonyms I can only 
state that as the three species (L. abditus, Z. planus, and L. stewart) 
were published before ZL. desmaresti and L. menalcas, the charge 
ought to have been brought against the author of these latter species 
and not against me, that is, supposing cither of these two species to 
