34 



Butterflies : Their Structure, Changes and Life Histories. By Samuel H. Scudder. 



We are indebted to the author for a copy of this beautiful book, a well-printed octavo 

 volume of 322 pp., illustrated with 201 figures. The work is divided into thirteen 

 chapters, the first six of which treat of the structure of butterflies in all the stages of 

 their growth from the egg to the perfect insect. A chapter is devoted to the internal 

 organs of caterpillars, and another to the transformation of these organs during growth. 

 The remaining chapters deal with the life histories of these attractive insects and the 

 changes which they undergo under varying circumstances. Following these is an Appen- 

 dix containing instructions for collecting and preserving insects, etc., a list of the common 

 and scientific names of butterflies, and a list also of the food plants of their caterpillars, 

 all written in a plain and popular style. It is a great pity that a work of this character, 

 coming from so well-known and talented an author, and containing as it does so much 

 useful and valuable information, should be marred by the introduction of a series of new 

 names for our butterflies, which, to the great bulk of the Entomologists of America, seems 

 to be a most unreasonable imposition, and against which there is a general feeling of 

 revolt. That any author should persist in carrying the rules of priority so far as to 

 resurrect old documents, the authority of which is of the most questionable value, and on 

 the strength of these insist on the changing of nearly all the names of our butterflies, is a 

 tax on the patience of the practical man which few can endure, and a serious bar to the 

 progress of our favourite science. Neither do we think that the introduction of a large 

 number of newly-invented common names will add in any degree to the popularity of 

 Entomology ; it were far better, in our opinion (with few exceptions), to use the specific 

 name of the insect for this purpose, which is as easily learnt and conveys a more definite 

 idea than is possible with such common names as those given by this author. 



Papilio. 



This valuable monthly serial, devoted entirely to Lepidoptera, has now reached its 

 ninth number, with an average of about 20 pages per number. It is the organ of the 

 New York Entomological Club, is well got up as to printing and paper, and is edited by 

 the Secretary of the Club, Mr. Henry Edwards. A large portion of its space is devoted 

 to descriptive Entomology, with occasional papers relating to the life history of species. 

 In the September number, among other interesting papers, we find one by Mr. W. H. 

 Edwards on the alleged abnormal peculiarities of Argynnis myrina, which was read 

 iDefore the Subsection of Entomology at the recent meeting of the American Association 

 at Cincinnati. In this paper the author shows from records of careful observation that 

 many of the remarkable statements made by Mr. Scudder on the abnormal peculiarities 

 of this insect are incorrect. In the October number is a full description of the preparatory 

 stages of Thecla Henrici, by the same author ; notes on an Aquatic Noctuid Larva, by 

 J. H. Comstock ; and descriptive papers by A. H. Grote, B. Neumoegen and Henry 

 Edwards. 



^Bulletin No. 6, PROJif the Department op the Interior, U. S. Entomological 

 Commission ; being a General Index and Supplement to the Nine Reports of the 

 Insects of Missouri. By C. V. Biley; 8vo., pp. 177. 



This useful pamphlet will add much to the value of the Missouri Reports, containing 

 as it does a very complete index to all the matters contained therein. Following the 

 introduction we have tables of the contents of the nine reports, then a list of errata, 

 followed by a few pages of notes and additions ; then follow descriptions of new species, 

 • descriptions of adolescent states, lists of illustrations, a copious general index and an 

 indpx to plants and food plants. 



