(1) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma Coleoptera Rhynchophora: Curculionidae (2) The Biology of Dragonflies (Odonata or Paraneuroptera)

Abstract

(1) THE imposing series of monographs on the fauna of India, published under the authority of the Secretary of State, has been enriched by these two volumes now contributed on important groups of beetles by Dr. Marshall and Mr. Arrow respectively. The Curculionidae, or weevils, are dominant insects in most parts of the world, often forcing themselves on the attention of mankind by the damage that they cause to vegetation. In the volume now issued Dr. Mar shall gives a general introduction on the family with respect to structure, life-history, and habit, and deals systematically with the two extensive sub-families Brachyderinae and Otiorrhynchinse. In the introductory section there are clear descrip tions with figures of those modifications of the jaws and body-skeleton that are of classificatory importance, and a brief account of larval and pupal structure, with illustrations of the early stages in three genera. Dr. Marshall comments on our lack of knowledge about the life-histories of the vast majority of these beetles; nevertheless, he has brought together much interesting informa tion about the habits of various Indian species. It is not generally known, for example, that a white excretory substance which builds the cocoon of certain Larini in the pupal stage “forms an article of commerce in the East, being largely used both medicinally and as a food.” The systematic part of the work contains careful diagnoses of 342 species, illustrated by means of a hundred excellent figures.

(1) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Coleoptera. Rhynchophora: Curculionidae.

By Dr. Guy A. K. Marshall. Pp. xv + 367. Coleoptera, Lamellicornia, Part ii. (Rutelinae, Desmonycinae, and Euchirinae ). By G. J. Arrow. Pp. xiii + 387 + plates v. (London: Taylor and Francis, 1916–17.) Price 15s. each vol.

(2) The Biology of Dragonflies (Odonata or Paraneuroptera).

By R. J. Tillyard. ("Cambridge Zoological Series.") Pp. xii + 396. (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1917.) Price 15s. net.