REVIEWS. 
83 
only work, and from what we have seen of the diagnostic characters and the 
plates, we regard it as a treatise which no entomologist’s library should be 
without. It may be useful to our readers to know how the authors preserve 
their specimens. The best method, they say, “ is to fix them on stout card 
by means of gum tragacanth reduced to the consistence of paste by means 
-either of dilute acetic acid, or of water in which a little oxalic acid or corrosive 
sublimate has been dissolved. Turn the insects on to a piece of white blotting- 
paper, sort them into species, cut the card into strips wider than the length 
of the insects, pin one strip to a piece of thin cork, and cover rather thickly 
with the gum as much space as will suffice for one insect, lift the specimen 
by means of a wetted brush on to the gummed card, and place its legs and 
antennae quickly into their natural position, taking care not to force them 
and to lift the antennae from the base.” Messrs. Douglas and Scott promise 
to complete their history of Hemiptera by publishing a treatise on the 
Homopterous species. 
THE PLANET SATURN.* 
I T might be thought that a chapter in any astronomical treatise would be 
sufficient space to devote to the consideration of a single planet. Mr. 
Proctor, however, evidently does not think so, and has given us a beautiful 
monograph upon the ringed planet, well written, full of erudition, and con- 
taining some new and original views. A mere glance at his work is sufficient 
to show what attention the author has given to the subject ; and although 
we think he now and then commits himself to opinions which he has not 
elaborated, we must confess that on those points which he wishes to prove 
he has brought an overwhelming mass of evidence to bear. His book is 
divided into two parts : 1st, that treating of the planet ; and 2nd, a sort of 
appendix, in which we are treated to an account of the astronomy of the 
ancients, and to a description of some very recent astronomical phenomena. The 
author leaves the history of the discovery of Saturn pretty nearly as he found 
it, so that the date cannot be stated. The most interesting part of his book 
is that upon the constitution of Saturn’s rings. These bodies he does not 
consider to be solid masses, but concludes, from a number of arguments we 
cannot here introduce, that they are composed of flights of disconnected 
satellites, so small and so closely packed, that, at the immense distance to 
which Saturn is removed, they appear to form a continuous mass. Mr. 
Proctor considers that this theory is further borne out by the existence of 
what is recognized as the “ zone of meteorites,” and by what is known as 
the zodiacal light, which theory supposes to be produced by a ring of 
minute cosmical bodies surrounding the sun. “ The Planet Saturn ” is well 
worth reading. 
* “ Saturn and its System.” By Richard A. Proctor, B. A. London : 
Longmans & Co. 1865. 
