April, ’18] 
REVIEWS 
271 
Reviews 
Field Book of Insects, with special reference to those of north¬ 
eastern United States, aiming to answer common questions, by 
Frank E. Lutz. Pages I to IX, 1 to 509, about 800 illustra¬ 
tions, many in color. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York and 
London, 1918. 12°. Price, $2.50. 
This study in concision and clarity, withal interesting, delightfully so in places, 
discusses in less than 500 small pages, about 1,400 insects, gives 800 illustrations and 
touches many of the more interesting biologic, economic and systematic phases of 
insect life. The book bears the impress throughout of a field naturalist, possessed of a 
healthy skepticism concerning certain “stock’’ explanations and he who has felt the 
call of the wild will find therein much suggestive and inspiring. One notes here and 
there the reaction of fiction on one phase of science. 
The author speaks a good word for the scientific name, though he is not above using 
common designations. He has dared to be inconsistent with his treatment of various 
groups, giving keys in some, none in others and though explaining the fundamentals 
of classification, he has not hesitated to discuss groups or even individual insects from 
the popular or even historical aspect,—the matter being admirably adapted to the 
limitations and possibilities of the forms considered. The large number of illustra¬ 
tions go far toward making up for the absence of a glossary to explain the technical 
terms of the simplified keys. The excellent indexes, habitat and plant and entomo¬ 
logical, are extremely serviceable in locating information grouped under the hundreds 
of names. 
There are some errors, presumably some omissions and yet most entomologists will 
feel that in this little volume they have an exceedingly interesting compilation, while 
the beginner could hardly find a better introduction to the exceedingly abundant and 
very important group of animals known to the lay man under the somewhat contemp¬ 
tuous term of “bugs” (Advt .). 
E.P.F. 
