1880 .] Analyses of Boohs. 655 
in England, is described as nowhere common in France, though 
more plentiful in the south than in the north, and as abundant 
in Algeria. This fine species has therefore a wide range, since 
in some parts of Eastern Europe, though local, it may be gathered 
up in hundreds ; and we fear that its splendid colouration may 
some day attract the notice of those who purvey decorative 
insects to milliners, and thus ensure its extirpation. It would 
almost seem as if, in the more eastern parts of Europe, the 
“ Mediterranean ” and “ European ” subregions of the Palae- 
arctic region were less distinctly severed than in the more 
western parts. Is this because extreme climates are more 
favourable to insect life, or because in Eastern Europe the Medi- 
terranean basin is not fenced off from the central plain by such 
unbroken barriers as the Alps and the Pyrenees ? 
It is painful to learn that the beautiful species Carabus ruti- 
lans, once common in the Eastern Pyrenees, has now become 
very scarce, and that C. hispanus is undergoing the same fate in 
the Cevennes. 
The Buprestidae, which in England are exceedingly rare, not 
a few species being doubtful, are in France sufficiently nume- 
rous to rank among injurious insects. Their larvae are described 
as particularly numerous to pear trees. We find no mention of 
Chrysobothris chrysostigma and of Ancylochira octo guttata, both 
of which are found in Central Europe, and we should think might 
naturally be expected to occur in France. 
We may strongly recommend this little work to all entomolo- 
gists who wish to obtain a general oversight of the French 
Coleopterous fauna. We do not know any other work which, 
under this head, supplies so much information in so little 
compass. 
We regret, however, to point out that, in the introductory 
chapter on the study of Entomology, M. Naudin goes somewhat 
out of his way to pronounce man entitled to rank in a separate 
kingdom, distinct from the animal world, and known as the 
kingdom of reason ! We had hoped that the day for such con- 
secrations of popular prejudice had passed away. 
Revue Internationale des Sciences Biologiques. July 15, 1880. 
We give from this journal an abstract of a paper by Dr. Hove- 
lacque, on the “ Characteristics of the Inferior Human Races.’ 
On the length of the cranial vault the writer lays no emphasis, 
remarking that the anthropoid forms of Africa (gorilla, chim- 
panzee) are dolicocephalous, whilst those of the Eastern isles 
(mias, gibbon) are brachycephalous. The cranial capacity he 
VOL. II. (THIRD SERIES). 2 Y 
