Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/61

Rh of nearly three-quarters of a million, and a certainty of not less than half a million London Cats. In an interesting, but to the zoologist melancholy article on "Wild beasts' skins in commerce," it is stated, as generally believed, "that the last of the Quaggas was killed years ago." This is probably a fact, but the writer, quite recently when in South Africa, was told by a very high authority that strange reports had been received on this subject from the Western Coast region. Is it too late to restore the Beaver to our streams? Mr. Cornish thinks not, and their presence need not be much dreaded. "Shallow streams they dam; and to make this dam they cut down trees and do mischief. But on deep, slow streams, such as the Thames, they make burrows in the bank and 'lodges,' but do not attempt to build dams, because the water is deep enough for their wants. All they need is enough willow-bark to feed on. If anyone would turn out a few Beavers on the Thames, and let them have the run of an osier-bed, they would probably increase and multiply."

There are sixteen illustrations. That of "Rob Roy's Cattle" is an artistic success.

is really the first volume of a most important publication, being nothing less than the commencement of a descriptive and analytical catalogue of the Moths of the World. The method is so clear and simple, and the wealth of illustration so ample, that any ordinary student cannot fail to identify, both generically and specifically, such species as he may desire to know, and in a classificatory sense understand; while to the entomologist the result of an exhaustive study, based on the comparison of nearly all available material, is a boon. Of course Sir George Hampson cannot expect that his proposed classification will be universally followed; that is a proposition which, however reasonable, is still an open question with most lepidopterists, but it is probable that the great use that must be made of these