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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
Siicli is Dr. Cobbold’s idea, only imperfectly explained. Readers must 
consult the book itself for all the outline arguments. But in the meantime 
we must say, we do not see what advantage the new terminology has over 
Huxley’s proto- and deutero-zooids, or indeed those over the old Strobila 
scolex and proglottis. Are not all, to a certain extent, objectionable, for 
the manner in wliich they trammel up” our ideas H 
Ere we conclude our notice we must say a word of praise of the more 
purely editorial features of this volume. The index of authorities, general 
index, and supplemental bibliographical list, are most copious, and have 
been carefully prepared and arranged. 
BRITISH MOTHS.* 
A GREAT many of the younger members of the modern school of zoolo- 
gists look down on the study of insects as an over-wrought field, 
wliich has ever been barren of anything but an appalling list of species. 
This is a most egregious mistake ; and we trust that the publication of so 
excellent a volume as that which Mr. Newman has now issued will help to 
dispel this false notion, and popularise a love of this branch of entomology 
among the better class of rising naturalists. As the author very fairly 
states, our works of reference on the moth family are most imperfect; and 
we cannot help thinking he is right in attributing this to the circumstance 
that many of those who have prepared treatises while they have been 
tolerably conversant with the imago or perfect form, have not been so well 
acquainted with the larva and pupa, and hence have often erred in their 
diagnosis. Another explanation is that the descriptions have not seldom 
been taken from foreign books, and therefore errors have been committed of 
the most confusing kind in the matter of terminology. These defects are 
obviated fully in Mr. Newman’s work. The author has, so far as was 
possible, de.scribed and figured the British moths from actual specimens both 
of larva and perfect insect, and by this means he has avoided the mistakes of 
his predecessors. 
Mr. Newman complains that, much as has been the attention devoted to 
the moths, the system of classification is still imperfect. Here there is a 
field for the young naturalist who will study the whole group in all its 
stages, and devise or hit upon a natural method. The scheme of division 
he adopts is that of the four sections. Nocturnes, Geometers, Cuspidates, and 
Noctuas, the several familiosbeing arranged under these and the genera, species, 
and varieties following in the proper order. In all coses, whether of groups 
or of varieties of species, the author’s descriptions are really painstiikingly 
simple. Technicalities are, to a wonderful extent, avoided, and no eflbrt is 
spared to make the account intelligible even to those who have never taken 
a scientific work into their hands. Thus it seems to us that an intelligent 
• .\n Illustrated Natural History of British Moths, with life-.size Figures 
from Nature of pat h Species, and of the more striking Varieties.” By Edward 
Newman, F.L.S., F.B.S.A. London : Tweedie. 1809, 
