Illustrations of British Entomology. 



55 



SieplienSy James Francis^ F.L.S. &c. : Illustrations of British Entomology; 

 or, a Synopsis of Indigenous Insects ; containing their Generic and 

 Specific Distinctions, with an Account of their Metamorphoses, Times 

 of Appearance, Localities, Food, and Economy, as far as practicable. 

 Embellished with coloured Figures of the rarer and most interesting 

 Species. London. In 8vo Numbers, monthly. 3s. 6d. Nos. I. to XII. 

 This work was commenced in 1827, and twelve numbers are published. 

 The object of the author is " concisely to describe, in systematic order, and 

 with reference to their natural affinities, such species of insects as have 

 hitherto been discovered to inhabit the United Islands of Great Britain and 

 Ireland. To these descriptions — which I trust will be sufficiently explicit 

 to enable the entomologist clearly £lnd satisfactorily to identify any of the 

 insects he possesses, or may hereafter obtain — will be appended such facts, 

 relative to the economy or locality of the respective species, as have either 

 been communicated by others o.r observed by myself, accompanied with 

 occasional entomological remarks. The average lengths, or the usual ex- 

 pansions, of the several species, are also introduced at the end of the specific 

 characters; and for the purpose of enabling the student readily to obtain, 

 at one view, a knowledge of the contents of any order or inferior section, 

 their more obvious characters are laid down, in a tabular form, at the head 

 of each superior group. Their peculiar distinctions are afterwards detailed 

 in EngHsh, drawn out, as far as possible, from external differences ; and, 

 unless mentioned to the contrary, the descriptions, &«., are made from, and 

 collated with, specimens in my own collection." 



The author seems to have fulfilled his intentions, and we only regret 

 that he and Mr. Curtis have not accented the systematic names, given their 

 derivations, and also the literal English of the spe- 

 cific names, as we have elsewhere recommended. 

 We have only room at present to state, that 



No. XI I. for April contains^ of Coleoptera, Platyderus 

 {platys broad dere^ a neck) ruficollis; Coleoptera 

 Harpalidas. Not uncommon in the neighbourhood of 

 London. — Argutor {argutor, to make a shrill noise). 

 Eleven species, of which the most uncommon is the A. 

 vernalis, \ery abundant near London, inhabiting every 

 gravel-pit and stony lane. — Pogomus ( joogow, a beard). 

 Thirty species, all of which inhabit the sea-side. P. 

 chalceus (^g. 25.) is found both on the eastern coasts, 

 and also on the shores of the Thames and Med way. 

 — Pae'cilus (poikilos, spotted). Five species. Of P. vir- 

 gaureae (Jig. 24.), the male (ab) has the wings above 

 of a beautifully resplendent fiery copper colour, the anterior immaculate 

 ^vith a black border; the wings of the female (c) are beautifully spotted. 



