35 



On the Gknera of Carabid.e, with Special Reference to the Fauna of Boreal America. 

 By George H. Horn, M.D. From the Transactions of the American Entomological 

 Society, October, 1881 ; 105 pp., with eight plates. 



In this paper the author dwells at some length on the value of the modifications of 

 various organs of the body in the Carabidse, for the purposes of classification, following 

 with a complete classification of the tribes in this order, the points of difference being 

 illustrated by examples in the excellent plates which accompany the text. Throughout 

 this work there are many tables wherein the main points of difference are grouped in such 

 a manner as to enable the student to readily recognize the many genera into which our 

 numerous species are divided. This addition to our Entomological literature will prove 

 a great help to Coleopterists, and only those who know the extent of this subject will be 

 .able to estimate the amount of labour and careful study required to produce such a work 

 ^s that we have before us. 



The Honey Ants and the Occident Ants. By Henry C. McCook, D.D. ; 8vo., pp. 

 188, illustrated with thirteen plates. 1882. 



This work, in the words of the author, is "a monograph of the architecture and 

 habits of the honey-bearing ant, Myrmecocystus melliger, with notes upon the anatomy 

 and physiology of the alimentary canal; together with a natural history of the Occident 

 harvesting ants or stone-mound builders of the American plains." It is written in a 

 charming and popular style, and the details of the curious habits of these interesting 

 creatures are given in such a manner as to show that the author has studied them closely, 

 and is quite familiar with every aspect of the subject treated of, while the beautiful 

 illustrations are a material aid towards the ready comprehension of the whole matter. 

 This work is well worthy of a place in the library of every student of nature. 



A Manual op Injurious Insects, with Methods of Prevention, and Bemedy for their 

 Attacks to Food Crops, Forest Trees and Fruit, and with a short Introduction to 

 Entomology. By Eleanor A. Ormerod, F.M.S., London, England. 1881. 



It is with very great pleasure that we draw attention to Miss Ormerod's excellent 

 work on Injurious Insects — the full title to which we have given above. It js the first 

 effort that has been made in England to bring within the reach and comprehension of 

 ordinary farmers and gardeners a complete account of the insect enemies that they have 

 to deal with. The work begins with an introduction to Entomology, in which the reader 

 is furnished with an account of the general life-history of insects during the various stages 

 •of their existence, beginning with the egg and going on through the larva and pupa to 

 tiie imago. This is followed by a sketch of the classification of insects, based upon Prof. 

 Westwood's division into thirteen orders, each of which is represented by wood-cuts of 

 common species, in order that it may be easily recognised by the reader. The book is 

 divided into three parts, viz., Food Crops, Forest Trees and Fruit, with the insects that 

 injure them respectively. In each part the various crops, trees, etc., are treated of as 

 regards their insect enemies, in alphabetical order ; for instance, the " Food Crops " begin 

 with the Asparagus, Bean, etc., and end with Turnips, thus making it very easy to obtain 

 information about any insect that happens to be prevalent. Every insect treated of in 

 the book is made easily recognisable to the non-scientific reader by means of admirable 

 wood-cuts, partly the work of the talented authoress herself, and partly reproductions of 

 the beautiful illustrations in Curtis' Farm Insects. Each cut shows the insect in the 

 various stages of its existence, while the letterpress gives an account of its life history. 

 As an example of Miss Ormerod' s work, we give two illustrations selected almost at 

 random. 



