Primitive Insects of South Australia

Abstract

UNDER this title Mr. H. Womersley, entomologist at the South Australian Museum, in Adelaide, contributes a useful handbook (dated 1939) on the lower insects, or Apterygota, of the country named. Recognizing the need for a wider diffusion of accurate knowledge of the fauna and flora of this region, a committee, under the South Australian Branch of the British Science Guild, has undertaken the issuing of a series of handbooks. The absence of suitable reference manuals has been a real handicap to the progress of Australian biology, and those which have already been planned, or issued, are prepared gratuitously by South Australian biologists and geologists: they are printed and published by the State Government and are available for sale at low prices. Some fifteen of these handbooks have now been issued and others are in course of preparation. Mr. Womersley's work is the first of the series to deal with the Insecta and comprises accounts of the orders Thysanura, Collem-bola and Protura. Well printed and arranged, its numerous clear and mostly original illustrations form a special feature that greatly enhances the value of this handbook. Increase in knowledge of these primitive insects has been rapid: thus in 1932 no Protura had been recorded from Australia, whereas eight species are now known. In 1926 only about forty species of Collembola were recorded from Australia, but now Mr. Womersley accounts for more than two hundred species. The handbook is set up by the Government Printer, Adelaide, and is good value for its price, 7s. Qd.