834 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXI. No. 543. 



and various other stages in many of the forms. 

 The complete life history is presented of one 

 species — P. perniciosa. Seven other • species 

 are treated, on the willow, sour gum, poplar, 

 oak and chestnut. P. vastatrix, the phylloxera 

 of the vine, is purposely omitted. The excel- 

 lent figures show the galls, as well as their 

 inhabitants, but it is very much to be re- 

 gretted that the colored figures of the galls 

 prepared by the author could not have been 

 published instead of the photographs. 



The second entomological publication of 

 the Carnegie Institution is equally as interest- 

 ing as the first. It treats of the colors of a 

 genus of common wasps — Polistes* There 

 are chapters on the origin, development and 

 variation in the color pattern in these wasps; 

 the geographical distribution of certain types 

 of coloration in the United States, and a com- 

 parison with the distribution of these wasps 

 in the world; on the chemical nature of the 

 pigments; on variation in specimens from the 

 same nest, and the degree of variability in 

 males and females; and on the correlation in 

 markings between different parts of the insect. 

 These are followed by technical descriptions 

 of the known species, and a bibliography of 

 the subject. 



For several years the Entomological Insti- 

 tute at Gifu, Japan, conducted by Mr. Nawa, 

 has published a semipopular entomological 

 paper. It now commences a series of more 

 pretentious publications, the first number of 

 which treats of the Sphingidae of Japan, by 

 K. Nagano, f It is in folio size and consists 

 of 48 pages in Japanese and five colored plates, 

 with an English translation of 15 pages in the 

 back. Thirty-four species, with their larva>, 

 are figured on the plates. These are rather 

 too highly colored. 



A NEW entomological journal is Casopis, or 

 Acta Societatis Entomologicce Bohemice. It 

 is published in Bohemian at Prague; four 

 numbers are issued each year. It is edited by 



* W. M. Enteman, 'Coloration in Polistes,' Car- 

 negie Institution, Wasliington, Publ. no. 19, 1904, 

 pp. 88, 4 col. plates, 2 maps. 



' Icones .Japonicum Insectorum,' Vol. I., 

 Lepidoptera Sphingida;. Gifu, Japan, 1904. 



a committee of five Bohemian entomologists, 

 headed by the eminent neuropterist, Professor 

 Franz Klapalek. It treats mostly of local in- 

 sects. 



The entomological literature of New Zea- 

 land has been enriched by two valuable books. 

 One of them is a catalogue of aU New Zealand 

 animals.* The insects occupy a large part of 

 the work. In the introduction there is a list 

 of the various expeditions that have collected 

 material on New Zealand; and an account of 

 the different elements of the New Zealand 

 fauna, and notes on the geological history of 

 the island. The other book is a systematic 

 account of the Neuroptera.f The neurop- 

 teroid fauna of New Zealand is characterized 

 by many peculiar genera of caddice flies ; and 

 the author, in an appendix, shows that their 

 larvae are the principal food of trout. 



M. Ch. Kerremans has begun a mono- 

 graphic account of the family Buprestidse,^ a 

 group which he has studied for many years. 

 Five parts have been issued, with 160 pages. 

 The introduction contains much ethological 

 matter on geographic distribution, variation, 

 sexual dimorphism, mimicry and protective 

 resemblance, etc. 



Dr. Sjostedt, who a few years ago pub- 

 lished a considerable work on the termites of 

 Africa, has now issued an appendix to that 

 work. § He here gives synoptic tables to all 

 the species, new localities for many old spe- 

 cies and descriptions of a considerable number 

 of new forms. He wisely uses the genus 

 Termes in the broad sense, ignoring the many 

 new genera which have recently been created 

 from it. There are many notes on the nests 

 and habits of the species. 



That the famous Vedalia cardinalis is not 

 the only useful species of its genus is evi- 



* ' Index Fauna; Novae Zealandiap,' by F. W. 

 Hutton; London, Dulau and Co., 1904, 370 pp. 



t ' New Zealand Neuroptera,' by G. V. Hudson; 

 London, West, Newman and Co., 1904, 102 pp., 11 

 colored plates. 



t ' Monographic des Buprestides,' Bruxelles, 8vo, 

 1904-1905. 



§ ' Monographic der Termiten Afrikas, Nach- 

 trag,' Kgl. Siwnslca Vetensk.-Akad. HundL, Bd. 

 38, 1904, pp. 120, 4 pis. 



