PERIODICALS AND PAMPHLETS. 
151 
He has had recourse for advice to the highest authority, Dr. Murray, and the- 
result is a disquisition on such derivations, which we much regret space does not 
allow us to transfer to our pages. 
Among the subjects which the author promises to deal with in the Mono- 
graph (of which the first volume only has appeared), is that of the curious sound- 
organs possessed by some species. Readers of the article by Mr. R. T. Lewis 
on “Nature Notes from South Africa,” in the present number, will look with 
interest for an explanation of the vocal powers of these stridulent insects. The 
females are, we believe (/nirabile dictu!), comparatively silent, and the “music” 
is caused by the amatory chirping of the male. There are people who are so 
fond of this that they keep Cicadas in little cages to sing to them. Whether this 
song is an unmingled blessing is doubtful, for some large South American species 
are said [not by Dr. Buckton] to chirp “ loud enough to be heardf'at the distance 
of a mile 1 ” 
We have said nothing of the excellent manner in which the writer has dealt 
with the forms, metamorphoses, general anatomy, and the chief details connected 
with the life history of this family of insects, as our object has been to dwell 
rather upon the very unusual and successful manner in which he has popularised 
and brightened what might have been to outsiders a harsh and repellent treatise. 
But those who had read Dr. Buckton’s former entomological productions will be 
sure that, for scientific accuracy, the task could not be in more competent hands. 
In addition to the diagnoses of all the British species, about 230 in number, 
each species is illustrated by one or more excellent coloured drawings. Our 
readers will be interested to know that the author acknowledges that he owes 
many of them to the enthusiastic zeal of his daughters, as these ladies are among 
the most active workers for the Selborne Society, of which Dr. Buckton himself 
is a veteran and honoured member. 
PERIODICALS AND PAMPHLETS. 
Of the many pleasing proofs of the hold that the study of natural history has 
upon the minds of young people in the present day, there is not one more con- 
vincing than the large portion of the magazines, now published in almost every 
important school, which is occupied by notes on botany, zoology &c. When we 
remember how — not very many years ago — such pursuits were looked upon with 
the utmost disfavour as eccentric deviations from the orthodox studies, we must 
felicitate the schoolboy of to-day on the increased wisdom of his preceptors, and 
the increased pleasure of his school days. Apart from the intellectual gain there 
are many cases in which the out-door study of natural history is of great benefit 
to boys who are physically incapable of taking much part in athletic exercises ; 
indeed, such work, good for mind as well as body, might often serve to counteract 
the absurd and barbarous idolatry of athletes and athleticism which at present 
works so much mischief in our public schools. Canon Fowler, of Lincoln, him- 
self a distinguished head master, has recently shown how the public schools which 
are most distinguished for successes in “Sports” are far inferior to others in 
intellectual contests, and adds: “Another side of the subject, a side which I 
have always considered, from long experience and observation, to be most 
dangerous, is the deterioration of character which is inevitably caused in many 
boys who have come to the front in games by the amount of flattery and 
general adulation that is bestowed upon them by their fellows, and by the notice 
and favour which is often shown them by certain of the masters. I have seen 
boys who gave every promise of turning out thoroughly well, gradually, from pure 
conceit, losing their heads and becoming thoroughly spoilt. Sometimes the 
nonsense gets knocked out of them later on, but occasionally it sticks to them ;. 
but worse than this, I have seen the moral character deteriorate, owing to the 
boundless influence that they have gained by their position, and have not known 
how to use aright.” But the “ body versus brains ” section, even of public schools, 
have not entirely their own way. Readers of Tom Brown will remember the 
low value put upon “ Madman Martin,” the ardent student of natural history 
