THE INSECT WORLD.*

THERE are many indications that an interest in the Natural Sciences is making great and rapid progress in the popular mind,

and few phenomena of our time have a more hopeful signification. The reality of this progress is sufficiently vouched for by the marked increase in the number of works on popular science which are pub- lished from year to year. Little, in fact, would be left to desire, if the competence of those who minister to the growing want for something like a genuine and substantial knowledge of nature were only equal to their fecundity. We are, however, constrained to admit that—in this country, at any rate—if the supply to meet

the popular demand be sufficient in quantity, its quality certainly- falls short of what we might not unreasonably expect. For reasons which must be obvious to every one who cares to reflect upon the subject, our best popular works on scientific matters-

have been written by men who were profoundly versed in the particular department of which they treated. That such a pro-

found knowledge is requisite for the production of a popular manual of the best type, far more than in the case of a purely technical treatise for the use of savants, is unfortunately not recognized to the extent that it ought to be. In M. Figuier, at

any rate, though essentially and avowedly a popular writer, we in vain for any symptoms of a recognition of this truth.

Indeed this might have been predicated without any injustice simply from a perusal of a list of his extant publications, which includes voluminous treatises on such distinct subjects as geology,

botany, and marine zoology, to which he has now added the work at present before us. It is not too much to say that a due estima- tion of the above fact would a priori warrant us expecting that

the works of M. Figuier would contrast very unfavourably as regards accuracy of details or lucidity of style with the popular writings of such men as Herschel or Huxley.

The Insect World professes to be a general account of insects, their structure, habits, and classification, presented in a popular- dress, and illustrated by numerous figures. The introduction of

the work is occupied by a general account of the anatomy and physiology of insects,-both of which subjects are handled in a very loose and unsatisfactory manner. The avoidance of technical terms, which is unquestionably desirable, within certain limits, in a popular work, is here carried to a most unnecessary extent, and there are not a few palpable sins of commission as well. We are informed, for instance, that the legs of insects are composed of four parts, a correct statement of the case being afterwards made- as regards the Lepidoptera. The labial and maxillary palpi, again, are not in any sense "nervous filaments." Nor, if we were to admit that the antennte are organs of hearing, and that the mem- brane at their base is the homologue of the tympanum, should we

be inclined to agree in the statement that "this membrane, then, will be an auditory nerve." The subject of metamorphosis is very inadequately treated, and the standard terms hobo-, hemi-, and a-metabolic are not mentioned. In this connection the following- passage deserves to be quoted as it stands :— "At a certain period it [the insect] ceases to eat, retires to some hidden spot, and after changing its skin for the last time, enters the stage of its existence and becomes a chrysalis. In this state it resembles a mummy enveloped in bandages, or a child in its swaddling- clothes. It is generally incapable of either moving or nourishing itself. During this period of its life the insect eats voraciously and often changes its skin."

Amongst other important ()Missions in this portion of the work, nothing is said about parthenogenesis in insects, and there is no allusion to the homologies of the parts of the mouth in the different orders.

Passing on from the introduction, we find that the remainder of the work is occupied with a general account of the orders of insects, the most remarkable members of each order being usually either figured or shortly noticed in the text. This part is to so great an extent a mere re'chauffe of the writings of Reaumur, De Geer, and others, that there is no necessity for our dwelling long upon it.

• The hued World; being a Popular Account of the Orders of Insects. From the French of Louis Figuler. Illustrated by 564 woodcuts. London: Chapman and Hall. 1568,

Our author's treatment of the different orders varies, some receiving a very scant notice, others being discussed at greater length. We shall not, however, do more than allude to one or two special points. The first of these hardly appears to require a comment, since it consists simply in the omission of one entire order, viz., Strepsiptera, from the original work. We should add that this omission has been repaired by the English editor. Running through the Hemiptera, we should be truly glad of an explanation of what is meant by the statement that the antennm of the Brachycera "terminate in a point, which appears to be rather a development than an appendage." As members of the same order, the Aphides receive a fair amount of attention, and the particulars of their life-history are not badly given ; but, though their apparently asexual reproduction is noticed, there is no men- tion of any of the current theories on the subject beyond the merest allusion to Balbiaui's belief that they are in reality hermaphrodite. The Lepidoptera are copiously illustrated, and there is a very fair account of the rearing of the

silkworm proper, and of the different species of Attacus, with a good historical risume of the whole subject of " sericiculture." In the Hymenoptera, too, the habits of bees are described in a manner well calculated to fix the attention of non-scientific

readers. The last chapter of the work is devoted to the Coleoptera, the treatment of an order so vast being necessarily very cursory. Under the head of the Lampyrkhe we notice that the author unhesitatingly supports the theory that phosphorescence is "pro- duced by the slow combustion of a peculiar secretion," and throws upon chemistry the onus of the statement that "the luminous

action is more powerful in oxygen, and wanting in inert gases" (sic). The theory that phosphorescence is a peculiar manifestation of nerve-force, consonant as it is to the most recent developments of science, and supported by observers as eminent as Quatrefages and Kolliker, is not favoured with even a passing allusion.

After all, the worst fault in the book, in our eyes, worse than even its numerous errors, is to be found in the inflated and melo- dramatic style of the writer. The method of treatment adopted is essentially French, using that epithet in its worst signification. In justification of this rather strong statement we will quote one or two short passages, merely as specimens, contenting ourselves with asking what possible effect for good, either upon the scientific or upon the unscientific mind, can accrue from the use of language so theatrical and so essentially untrue ? The following samples will suffice. Speaking of the writings of Mdlle. de Merian, M. Figuier remarks :—" The short life of insects is shown here in its entirety, with its continual struggles, its infinite artifices, its rapid end, and all the episodes of its existence, for which life, as in the case of the moral man, is but a long and painful struggle." Or take the following, concerning the worker-bees, which are touchingly described as "unfruitful females, which, with a self-denial very rare in nature, seem to have no other vocation than to sacrifice themselves to the welfare of the larvm." Or this, "it is said that the art of embalming was practised for the first time by the Egyptians. It is an error : the first inventors of this art were bees."

Leaving the author, and coming to the translator and editor, we still find ourselves compelled to express an unfavourable opinion. No doubt the difficulties of the translation were great, and have been in many places creditably surmounted ; but this is not sufficient. Not only is the French idiom often unpleasantly recognizable, but even a very superficial examination reveals the existence of numerous inaccuracies of nomenclature, defects of composition, and obscurities in the sense which are unpardonable in a work having any scientific pretensions. Very likely some of these should be properly ascribed to the author, but they should certainly have been corrected in a translation ; and there are many to which this explanation cannot be applied. We can hardly be expected to excuse such passages as the following :—" The organization of these eyes is analogous to the eyes of fishes ;" "this alimentary canal is always situated in the median line of the body, the nervous ganglia." (To which we may add, that a ganglion is not a collection of nerves, as explained by the editor in a note.) What can we say when we are informed that the larva of a cer- tain dipterous insect lodges "in the interior of the nasal orifices," and has been known "to gangrene the eyelids ;" that cockroaches "perpetuate everywhere, just like weeds ;" or that the elytra of Drylus fiavescens are "of a testaceous yellow "? Amongst many minor mistakes, which we trust will be corrected in a future edition, we select the following :—The Genevan naturalist Trembley is given as "Tremblay ;" " Altica " is more than once put for Haltica ; " Tineina " is employed to denote an individual Tinea, whilst the name of the family is afterwards changed to " Teneiva Galium mollugo is spelt" Gallium mullugo ;" " calix " is put for calyx ; " bioxido " for binoxide, "legumes" for legu- minous plants, &c. When we find such mistakes as "pediculus humanus corporis," and still worse, " spem altera domi," we are forced to adopt a very uncomplimentary estimate of the classical knowledge of either M. Figuier or his translator.

Finally, a word on the externals of the book. On this point we are glad to be able to speak in terms of praise. The binding is good, the type is large and clear, the illustrations are remarkably well executed, and the tout ensemble is all that could be desired. As far as the publishers are concerned, everything has been done to ensure success, and we can only hope that they will not be disappointed.