4 Ins. 
XIII. 1NSECTA. 
recently come to the Recorder’s notice. Hansen’s paper on Hemimerus 
(406) shows that enigmatical insect in quite a new aspect, and introduces 
us to what appears to be a mode of viviparous reproduction previously 
uuknown in Insects. Binet’s memoir (91) on the structure of the 
ventral chain of nerve ganglia, is accompanied by experimental observa- 
tions. C. Janet has given excellent descriptions and figures (485, 486) 
of the stridulatory organs in one of our common ants. Gonin’s lucubra- 
tion (379) on the metamorphosis of Lepidoptera , and the formation of their 
wings, is interesting, and touches some very important aud difficult points. 
Considerable attention has been devoted to the anatomy and morpho- 
logy of the terminal segments of the abdomen, and their sexual modifi- 
cations, by Yerhoepf (1099, 1104, 1106, 1107), Escherich (275), and 
Peytoureau (808). This last memoir includes a summary of the subject, 
with criticisms and suggestions. 
Nassonow has been able to elucidate, to some extent, the very obscure 
question of the development of Strepsiptera (741) ; and Nagel’s paper 
(740) makes a valuable addition to the subject of the senses and sense- 
organs of Insects. Lowne’s comprehensive work on the blow-fly, designed 
by the author as a resume of the principles of anatomy, physiology, and 
morphology as applied to Insects, has been completed (653). 
Bateson’s work on variation (49) includes several entomological 
sections, and will be found valuable even by those who are not pre- 
pared to become disciples of “ discontinuity,’’ until that term shall have 
received a more definite application. 
Plateau (852) has contributed some sensible remarks on the subject of 
the “ protection” of Abraxas grossulariata. Redtenbaciier’s paper on 
the different kinds of migratory locusts gives information that will be 
of interest in many parts of the world ; it is to be regretted that it should 
have appeared in an almost inaccessible publication (869). Wasmann’s 
Catalogue of Myrmecophilous and Termitophiious Arthropods (1127) is a 
very useful work, that has involved an enormous amount of labour. 
Brongni art’s work on early fossil Insects (136) is certainly one of the 
most valuable of its kind that has ever appeared, if only in consequence 
of the number and excellence of the illustrations ; one of these represents, 
of the natural size, an insect of over two feet in expanse of wing. The 
text of this work is in large part devoted to a review of the question 
as to the origin of wings, and the nomenclature of their nervures. This 
discussion, however, does not deal with the chief difficulty of the subject, 
viz , our insufficient knowledge of the histology and development of 
wings. Scudder’s work on fossil Tipulidce appears to be one of the best 
monographs that has yet been produced on a special family of fossil 
Bisects. 
Last year the Recorder called attention to the insufficient way in which 
new species and genera are frequently indicated to be such, and he takes 
this opportunity of alluding to a practice of the opposite kind that 
appears to be rapidly extending, viz., the publication of descriptions as 
“ new species,” or “ gen. nov.’’ although diagnoses or descriptions have 
