Abstract
THE author's solid contributions to more than one branch of science may well protect him from criticism of extreme severity, but it is our duty to remark that this is not an adequate account of the drone-fly. The subject is a particularly good one. The drone-fly is very common, large for a dipterous insect, and distinguished by many interesting peculiarities of structure and habit. But the author has not realised how much work goes to the production of an exact and thorough monograph. Such a monograph demands minute investigation of the anatomy of every stage, comparison with some few allies at least, and much patient observation of the living insect. Mr. Buckton has not worked out the anatomy of the drone-fly in any stage, as the vague figures testify. Some important and very peculiar features of the larva are passed over without mention. There is no effective comparison with other insects. The habits of the larva and the fly have been attended to, and the account of the mode of life of the fly contains the only valuable facts in the book. There is much matter concerning insects in general, but this is not always either trustworthy or pertinent. Some times facts and theories are cited, not from the original memoirs, but from any author who happened to be at hand. Weismann on Corethra is quoted from Balfour,Johnston on Culex from Riley, Müller on mosaic vision from Mallock. The danger of this practice is illustrated by the last case, where Mr. Buckton shows that he is not fully possessed of the theory of mosaic vision. It may be useful to remark that the larvæ and egg-chains mentioned on page 19 probably belong to the very familiar Chironomus. The drone-fly has been studied by our author as a hobby, and he has no doubt got much,pleasure out of it; but a more serious attack should be made upon it before long.
The Natural History of “Eristalis tenax,” or the Dronefly.
By G. B. Buckton Pp. iv + 92. With illustrations. (London: Macmillan and Co., 1895.)
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M., L. The Natural History of “Eristalis tenax,” or the Dronefly. Nature 53, 172 (1895). https://doi.org/10.1038/053172b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/053172b0