a Famihj of Coleopterous Insects. 633 



which are not named. In the Genera Crustaceorwn ^c. we 

 learn, however, that Latreille received the P. microcephalus 

 " ex dono generosissimi amici Domini Alex. MacLeay." As, 

 however, it is not probable that Mr. MacLeay would have for- 

 warded this species to Latreille, unless the specimen forwarded 

 were a duplicate in his collection, it appears to follow, either 

 that Mr. MacLeay must have obtained other specimens of the 

 insect from abroad, or that he had procured the original Lin- 

 nean specimen from its then possessor, as well as that belonging 

 to Mr. Drury, and had forwarded one of them to Latreille. 

 Should this latter supposition be correct, it affords an additional 

 instance of the want of that true spirit of veneration towards 

 the scientific relics of Linnaeus which every disciple of that 

 great master ought to entertain, and which (although it was 

 sufficiently strong to induce our late President, in consequence 

 of his predilection for botanical studies, to preserve the botanical 

 treasures of Linnaeus untouched and in their original and entire 

 condition, and sacred for the interest of science,) it is greatly to 

 be regretted did not also operate with him to prevent the incor- 

 poration of the Linnean cabinet of insects with his own private 

 collection. Had this, however, been the only cause of regret, the 

 mischief might easily have been remedied ; but the entomologist 

 has also to regret that the original Linnean specimens, and, as 

 in this instance before us, even species, were in many instances 

 allowed to be changed, probably for the purpose of renovating 

 the collection, whereby the authenticity of the cabinet has un- 

 fortunately been diminished to so great a degree, that amongst 

 the minute insects it is now almost unsafe, without the greatest 

 possible caution, to rely on the collection as a standard of re- 

 ference. It is not, however, too late to remedy much of the 

 mischief which has been thus occasioned ; and I state these cir- 

 cumstances in the hope of inducing the influential members of 



4 M 2 the 



