124< Bibliographical Notices. Now the suggestion I would venture to make is, that the phae-nomenon may be attributed to all and each of the forces above mentioned ; and that the discrepancy of opinion between so many experienced and trustworthy observers may arise from their researches having been conducted at different seasons of the year, in different states of temperature, on different soils or kinds of rock (some of which retain or impart more heat than others), at different heights above the sea-level, after the fall of a greater or less quantity of glacier snow, at different degrees of solar heat or radiation, or under many other different conditions. Some of the theories are self-evident, and have been admitted to a certain extent by their opponents. Perhaps the structure of the material in various climates and at different heights may be better known when the science of photography has been further applied to it, as I cannot help thinking that the interesting and kaleidoscopic forms of snow (taken by Mrs. Glaisher), which were exhibited at the last soiree given by the Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society, may throw some light on this vexed and diffi-cult question. It seems to me that the modi operandi of nature for the same purpose are various, and that the inanimate and animated crea-tion are governed by similar or analogous laws. An illustration of this occurs to me in the case of certain marine mollusks and annelids which perforate limestone and other rocks. This ope-ration has been attributed by naturalists to many and different causes : viz. to mechanical action, to a solvent power, to con-tinual maceration of the material, as well as to the action of siliceous bodies which are occasionally found in some of these mollusks. The modern and better opinion, however, seems to be, that all or more than one of these various methods are used by the same species, and perhaps by the same animal, in effect-ing its object, according to the nature of the material acted on, the age of the individual, and other circumstances. London, 13th July 1855. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Catalogue of British Hymenoptera in the Collection of the British Museum. Parti. Apidce — Bees. By Frederick Smith, M.E.S. London : Printed by Order of the Trustees, 1855. 12mo. Amongst the many anomalies presented by the state of Entomology in this country, the little attention paid to the interesting family of the Bees is certainly none of the least. It is indeed singular that the majority of our entomologists should confine themselves so rehgiously to the study of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, the habits of which are
Catalogue of British Hymenoptera in the collection of the British Museum. Part I. Apidæ—Bees. By Frederick Smith, M.E.S. London: Printed by Order of the Trustees, 1855. 12mo
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