320 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. XLIV 



In appropriate places between the various chapters on these 

 special groups are interpolated chapters on the supposed mutual- 

 ism of ants and vascular plants, on myrmecophiles, of which 

 anion*: arthropods alone 1,500 species are known, on parasites, 

 and on compound nests. The portion of the text dealing with 

 the habits of ants is concluded by three remarkable chapters on 



which, as a body of mature judgments on this most subtile field 

 of animal investigation, is of the highest order. Any one who 

 wishes to reach sane conclusions in the study of the habits of 

 ants should ponder these chapters with care. The volume con- 

 tains five excellent appendices: the first, on methods of collecting 

 and studying ants; the second, a key to the subfamilies, genera 

 and subgenera of North American Formicidae; the third, a list 

 of the described ants of North America; the fourth, on the 

 extermination of noxious ants: and finally, a bibliography of 

 over 2.000 titles. An ample index brings the volume to a close. 



The brief outline of the subject matter of the volume as already 

 given indicates the breadth of treatment accorded the material by 

 the author. As a result the volume ought to bud numerous read- 

 ers beyond the professionals. Its pages throw many side-lights on 

 human affairs which show that the sluggard is not the only one 

 that might profit from the ant. Although the volume is based 

 upon the studies of a world-wide range of myrmeeologists, the 

 reader is met at every turn with the author's extensive and inti- 

 mate first-hand acquaintance with his subject. This acquaint- 

 ance gives his critical comments unusual value. 



In a book of such high general excellence it might seem ungra- 

 cious to point out minor defects. As a matter of fact, however, 

 the few that were noticed served only to increase the initial im- 

 pression of thoroughness and accuracy. The illustrations, which 

 are of the same high order as the text, are occasionally without 



271, in which the descriptive lettering of the legend is not 

 repeated in the figure. In the text on page 10S giantism is 

 probably a slip for the more usual gigantism. But even such 

 slight defects as these are rare and the book presents an unusually 

 clean appearance for a first edition. The treatment of the sub- 

 ject is so masterly and the material make-up of the volume so 

 excellent that the biologists of this country mav well look with 



