THE ZOOLOGY OF SOUTH AFRICA. 41 



knowledge of all the species existing in nature, groups hav- 

 ing good structural characters equivalent to sub-genera, have 

 been sunk to the level of sub-sections of sections of sub-ge- 

 nera. We are disposed to agree with Mr. MacLeay in advoca- 

 ting uniformity in the rank of the gradational series of nature ; 

 but we contend that Mr. MacLeay has acted in violation of his 

 own principles in every page of his work. As to the disad- 

 vantages resulting from giving names resembling those of ge- 

 nera to so many groups of sectional character, we have only 

 to cast our eyes over the work to be convinced of the difficulty 

 of following the author. There is no general synopsis given of 

 the sections and sub-sections, (which we have been compell- 

 ed to construct, in order to gain a clearer notion of the author's 

 meaning), and as we have the specific name used indiscrimi- 

 nately in conjunction with its generic, sub-generic, sectional, 

 or sub-sectional name, the confusion of ideas thereby origi- 

 nating is completely unavoidable and most perplexing. Thus 

 the Agenius Horsfieldii (p. 14) is called Trichinus Horsfieldii 

 in the plate, and [Trichinus] Campulipus Horsfieldii in the 

 text : and throughout the figures we have either the generic 

 or sub-generic name alone used. And thus in speaking of 

 the Jumnos Ruckeri we may call it Cetoninus Ruckeri, Co- 

 ryphe Ruckeri, Rhomborhina Ruckeri, or Jumnos Ruckeri, 

 its legitimate name being Cetoninus Coryphe Rhomborhina 

 Jumnos Ruckeri. Surely this kind of nomenclature cannot 

 be adopted. 



Of the species we have but little space to remark further 

 that Mr. MacLeay is not sufficiently acquainted with what 

 has already been done. This will be evident when we state 

 that four at least out of the six species figured as novelties 

 have been previously described. Trichius Horsfieldii is Age- 

 nia Jlavipennis, Gory ; Cetonia leonina is scarcely a variety 

 of Get. compressa, Goldfuss ; Ischnostoma pica is Cet. albo- 

 marginata, Herbst : Macrominus spinitarsis is Cet. variabi- 

 lis, Gory ; and Ischnostoma spatulipes is probably the male 

 of Cet. pimeloides, Hope : the specimen of the last-named 

 insect, which we have under examination, thus labelled by 

 M. Gory himself, (as indeed are the majority of the Cetonia 

 above mentioned, which have enabled us to give these cor- 

 rections), having one of the posterior calcaria spatulate, but 

 with the clypeus truncate. 



We have given a greater extent to our notice of this me- 

 moir, not only because it occupies more than two-thirds of 

 the part before us, but also because it will render it unneces- 

 sary to enter into any farther notice of the principles adopted 

 by Mr. MacLeay in the other parts of his work. 



Vol. III.— No. 25. n. s. e 



