1882.J 
173 
Analyses of Books. 
especially the sodium bromide for the prevention of sea-sickness, 
is well known, but the author insists upon the administration of 
large doses, say of from 30 to 100 grains, if the effect is to be 
secured. He gives also the caution that when the tendency to 
sea-sickness appears overcome the doses should not be con- 
tinued. Sleepiness by day, loss of sensitiveness in the fauces, 
are, the author finds, indications to discontinue the treatment. 
Dr. Beard, in the course of his experiments on the Maine 
“jumpers,” gave large doses of the potassium salt to one of his 
subjects, but without any beneficial results as far as the jumping 
was concerned. Concerning this case Dr. Beard makes the fol- 
lowing curious remark : — “ I did not know how much I gave 
him, but this I do know that I would never give the same quan- 
tity to anyone again under any circumstances.” 
The Insect Hunter's Companion : Instructions for Collecting 
Butterflies , Moths , Beetles , Bees, Flies, &>c. By the Rev. 
Joseph Greene, M.A. Third edition, revised and extended. 
London : W. Swan Sonnenschein and Allen. 
We have here an enlarged and improved edition of a manual 
which has been found useful by many entomologists. The 
editor, Mr. A. B. Farn, in his preface, brings forward an argu- 
ment for the study of inserts, which will be intelligible even to 
the meanest capacity — the fact that many of the deadliest foes to 
agriculture are to be found among these apparently contemptible 
creatures. Fully agreeing with him as regards the importance 
of a thorough knowledge of these enemies, we can scarcely pro- 
nounce any economic results “ the grandest end ” to be sought 
for in the pursuit of entomology. We should look upon the 
study of insects as a field where the problems of the origin and 
distribution of animal life may be attacked with advantage. 
The instructions here given for obtaining specimens of insects 
in their various stages of existence, and for rearing larvae, &c,, 
are sound and practical. The chief deficiency which we note is 
that the author takes a too exclusively “ British” point of view. 
Surely, in these days of travelling and emigration, there is no 
occasion to assume that even the tyro must confine himself to 
the meagre insect fauna of the United Kingdom. A few methods 
of baiting for insects might have been advantageously added for 
the benefit of such insect hunters as may be disposed to try their 
fortune in where insects are more abundant. Thus, a white 
cloth spread out in a garden is a great temptation to insects of 
almost all orders, and a double crop will often be found upon it 
and below. A hole bored with a large gimblet in the trunk of a 
tree, so as to set the sap flowing, is a very successful bait, espe- 
