4 Ins. 
XIII. INSECTA. 
Works on metamorphosis continue to be numerous and important. 
Tower (1380) and Verson (1411) make communications as to the method 
of ecdysis. Vaney (1402) has examined the metamorphosis of Diptera 
in a variety of species. He confirms the opinion that phagocytosis, 
though of much importance in the higher forms, is really a secondary 
phenomenon. The protection of the imaginal buds by an external secre¬ 
tion is discredited, as he has seen the buds actually penetrated by the 
agents that destroy the larval tissues. This memoir also contains much 
other interesting matter. Anglas’ succinct account of the histological 
phenomena of metamorphosis will be found very useful (26).' Berlese’s 
papers (93—95) throw additional light on this fascinating subject. 
Wasmann’s (1449) account of Termitoxenia relates a very extraordinary 
case—without parallel among Insects—of functional hermaphroditism 
conjoined with a totally abnormal ontogeny. It is however at present 
to a considerable extent conjectural. 
Vosseler’s account (1429—1431) of the Sahara Orthopterci and their 
modifications will interest all, it marks a distinct advance in the depart¬ 
ment of Natural History it deals with. The habits of Oxysoma oberihuri 
described by Escherich (407) should receive attention as they reveal a 
new relation between ants and their guests. Wheeler’s papers on this 
subject are very interesting (1490, 1491). Giardina has a valuable etho- 
logical paper on Mantidce (334). The stridulation of Acherontia atropos has 
been the subject of experiment by Cobelli (246) who finds that it is not 
due to expulsion of air. Berlese’s note on the copula of the house-fly 
(96) ought to attract the attention of those who are occupied with the 
mechanisms of male and female genitalia. 
The paper by Marshall & Poulton (868) includes, under the heading 
bionomics, a great variety of interesting Natural History observations. 
Levander has a good paper (806) on the Natural History of Anopheles 
claviger in Finland. 
Miss Embleton gives a paper (392) on an important economic topic, 
which by a curious coincidence was shortly followed by a similar one 
from Professor Berlese (92). Portschixsky (1085) also treats of the 
same subject in connection with the control of Ocneria dispar. 
I take this opportunity of pointing out that it would be a great 
advantage if papers were sent more freely to the Record. Many Societies 
only publish their Volume—or only deliver it to libraries—months, or 
even years after separate copies of the papers have been distributed. 
This, and various other facts make it almost impossible for a Recorder 
to be fully up to date by the aid of the Libraries alone. In the Anales 
del Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires the Editor adopts the highly com¬ 
mendable system of stating the date “of putting into circulation” of the 
separate copies. One of the memoirs in Vol. vii was “put into cir¬ 
culation” 19tli August 1899, and another lltli June 1902, and the Vol. 
was received in this country at the end of 1902, so that 3^ years elapsed 
before the paper circulated in 1899 reached the Recorder. The Medd. 
Soc. Faun. Penn, for 1898—1902 only reached this country towards the 
close of 1902, though the volume opens with the Proceedings of the 
Society for October 3rd 1896. This year I have been able to see for the 
first time the Proceedings of the Iowa Academy, though they extend from 
1887 to the present time, and include several papers that have not been 
previously recorded, though now 12 or 15 years old. These facts are 
mentioned to show that the Record can only be kept up to date with 
the assistance of authors and societies. 
