JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION ones. I t is, far instance, difficult to find in them concrete data on the respiratory rates of various insects which easily could have been tabulated, and there are probably few physiologists who would agree to the statement that tho anaerobic metaholism is "less timeconsuming" than the aerobic one. The discussion of the physiological properties and chemical composition of the blood, on the contrary, is outstanding in its thoroughness and balanced presentation of t,he data, as is the discussion of the internal environment in regulation (chiefly osmaregulation) and metamorphosis (2 chapters, 71 pages). There follows ;I hricf chapter (14 pages) on hemoeytes, perieardial cells, and fat hody. Though not too familiar with this particular fiold, the reviewer feels, and this has been corroborated by a consulted specialist that many worth-while data have heen omitted in this contribution. The next chapter is somewhat longer (40 pages) and represents s very clear description of the circulatiou. The alimentary system and its functions, including the general problem of insert nutrition, is thoroughly covered in 5 chaptern (110 pages). Two brief chapters on excretion and biochemistry of the mu~ele(Ifi and 18 pages, respectively) follow, the latt,er, 0x5-inq to a scarcity of specific information on insects, being primarily a general discussion of intermediate metabolism. The electrophysiology of the nervous Bystem and the mechani~mof reflex activity are well presented in two ehapters (65 pages). Nearly a. hundred pages deal with sensory functions and thme four chapters appealed to the reviewer as enpecinlly well written. Very inntruotive and complete ( 3 chapters, 79 pages) is the account of the flight mechanisms, an i~ the description of insect behavior (4 chapters, 124 pages). The last four chaptem (153 page^) are devoted to the embryonic and postembryonic development,, including regeneration and the role of hormones in molting and metamorphosis. The hook has an extensive bibliography (107 pages with a t least 2500 ent,rien) which serves also as author index and an adequate subject index. Thc type is pleasing to the eye and all figures are well reproduced. There e m he little douht that, on the whale, the hook fulfillfi the aim of the editor to "~ummariae and evaluate the major brendr; in experimental research on insects." H e is frank in sdmit,t,ing that some topics, such a8 luminescenee or the physiology of the reproductive tract, have been omitted, hut he does not explain his reasons for doin%so. The hook will doubtlem bts valuable not only to the profeii~ionalentomologist, hut also t,o comparative physiologists and hiochemists: even psychologists and flight engineera may find parts of it intere~tingand useful rmding. TTIE0T)OR VON BRAND N*T,O~-*L INSTITUTEB O F HE*I.TI' RRTIIERD*.M * R ~ * N D
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CHEMICAL CONTROL OF INSECTS
T. F. West, 1. Eliot Hordy, and I. H. Ford. John Wiley 8 Sons, Inc., New Y a k , 1952 (Frontiers of Science Series. General Editor, Bernard Lovell, Chapman & Hall, Ltd., London, 1951). xi 211 pp. 44 figs. 16 tables. 14.5 X 18.5 cm. $3.25.
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UNFORTIJNATELY, the publication date of this hook is misleading. Origindly published in 1951 (Imndon), the present American 1952 edition has not been changed. The authors &ate in preface that they have surveyed the "main insecticides cmphmising t,he more modern developments"; in these respect,^ t l m Imok is disappoint,ing for it ia out of date. It, is anparent horn
the text that the manuscript ura8 prepared prior t o 1948, with some chapters restricted to 1946 for latest references. These gap8 are large when one considern the striking developments in this field during the past five years. The book is concerned primarily with the destruction of insect,s hy chemical methods, and includes well-designed chapters on the t fumigation, ten typea or insect and the outline of p e ~ control: classes of insecticides, repellents and attraatants, and weed eantrol (because "the elimination of needs as alternative host plants for insect pests is of considerable interest" to the practical entomologist) constitute the remainder of the hook. Reaiatsnco or tolerance of insects to insecticides is not mentioned, akhough first reports of resistance were published prior to 1943 (HCN against Calif. red scale, tartar emetic against eitms thrips) and more instances have appeared since 1947 to the point t,hat this phenomenon is often expected to occur with insecticidal materials. Among the organa-phonphorus insecticides only H E T P and parathion are included, and the systemic insecticides ss such are not mentioned though they were first reported in 1947. I n general, the book is uniformly well written hut highlighted a t the level of the layman (uiz., definition of stereochemical, page 168). There are interesting and reasonably complete acrounts of nicotine, the rotenoids, arsenicals, coal-tar derivatives, pyrethrum, "Lethanes" and "Thanite," and miscellaneous insecticides including sahadilla, fluorine, and sulfur compounds. Fumigants are discussed in two chapters (stored products, soils) but ethylene dibromide is included in neither. Each chemical is considered as t o history, chemistry, methods of application, and the species of insects affected. Modes of action of the insecticides are not considered adequately, despite citation to Metcalf's excellent review of this subject. Specifically, a number of errors both typographical and text,ual are apparent, as for example: page 24, line 7, it is not rlenr s-hether the authors meant "hihernation," "tlestivstion," or "liberation"; page 43, structure for methallyl chloride incorrect,; psge 48, line 18, "Pinner" and not "Penncr"; the structures for nieotine,page50, are not eansistentrit.h the statement onpage 49 that, 8-nieot.ine is the laevorotstory form and +nicotine is the dextromtatory form; page 50, line 15, "mil." is incorrect (see alm p. 123, line 34); page 62, the H a t position 5 is unnecessary in drawing an aromatic ring; page 72, CaHSO, is acid calcium arsenate; page 74, mention is not made of the use of sodium silient,e mlution for removina arsenic-eontainine residues from fruits: pag? 76, line 21, crude oils are classed according to preponderance of paraffinic or nsphthenio character, hut not based upon residue after distillation; page i7, line 23, the iodine number is not commonly used in this manner: page 80, line 17, the interpretation ia correct excopt for the role of the aromatic ring content; page 80, line 22, the experiment,al r o r k on spray oil8 is of a. practical nature; page 96, equation incorrect; page 108, formulas for sodium fluoaluminatc incorrect: page 111, precise name and structure for parathion incorrect; page 119, line 1 reason for effieienry of chloropierin not verified; page 139, line 12, formule. incorrect; psge 139, line l i , "S" refers to "specid" (see page 143); page 143, horneol and isaborneol are stereoisomers; page 145, the discussion of the mode of action of BHC is contrary to the ntatement in line 10 here; page 172, this picture of the mode of action of BHC is no longer tenable.
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FRANCIS A. GUNTHER Ua1vr~sn.rop C * ~ l r o n s , r Cr~snE s X P E ~ M ST*T,ON ~NT R , " E E ~ , D EC. * L , ~ O ~ N , *
