Ins. 1 
IN SECT A. 
By D. Sharp. 
The most important systematic works dealing with the Insects of the 
whole world are again, in 1888, to 'be found under Ortliopterci , viz., 
Brunner yon Wattenwyl (112), and Saussure (791, 792) ; the second 
of Do Saussure’s memoirs, besides describing a large number of new 
gonora and spccios, discusses somo points of mimicry and the musical 
apparatus of Orthoptera. Reuter’s (736) laborious work on the synonymy 
of Rhynchota is accompanied by a statement} of his opinions on some 
points of nomenclature. 
Faunistic works are again extensive. Skuse (841 ) has commenced a 
series of memoirs on the Diptera of Australia, a subject that has been 
hitherto greatly neglected : his work deserves special notice, not only for 
the reason mentioned, but also because he has, in due course, first taken 
in hand the minute Gall-flies [and Midges ; these are very numerous, and 
are mostly described as new. 
Scudder (820) has apparently determined to say all that may be said 
of general interest about the Butterflies of New England, and has thus 
included a considerable quantity of matter that would not have been 
misplaced in a book with less restricted faunistic limits. 
Godman & Salvin’s work on the Natural History of Central America 
(319) has made much progress in the order Coleopterci. 
Rostock & Kolbe’s tables for the determination of the Neuroptcra 
of Germany (778) will probably be found useful by other European 
Neuropterists. 
In Anatomy and Physiology some valuable works have appeared. 
Grassi, in his memoir (329) on Thysanura , discusses several points of 
importance and general interest, such as the phylogeny of Insecta , the 
classification of Ncuroptera , and whether the I'hymrmrajavQ primitive or 
degonerato Insects. Rath (712) and Ruland (786) treat of tho organs 
of sense, the latter giving particulars about the structures existing on the 
antennae, while Rath, in his investigations, includes also the trophi. 
Patten continues his studies of “eyes” by a memoir (662) on their 
development in the larva of Acilius ; and Plateau (674, 675, 676) has 
published an account of experiments made with the object of ascertaining 
what the functional powers of the optic organs really are. 
1888. [vol. xxv.] e 1 
