COLEOPTERIST S MANUAL. 307 



tions of our own island. It would cany us into too wide a field to spe- 

 culate upon the advantages to be derived from such an extension of 

 scientific research ; but we cannot but observe, that now that the prin- 

 ciples of natural classification attract so much of the attention of the 

 student of Zoology, the absurdity of limiting our views to the produc- 

 tions of a given spot has become more and more evident. Hence it is 

 that we find Mr. MacLeay himself remarking, that " if the natural sys- 

 tem is ever discovered, it will assuredly be in the insect world, where, 

 owing to the multitudes of species, the linkings of the great chain of 

 nature will necessarily be most evident." Whilst, however, we admit 

 this in respect to the natural relations existing among the insect tribes 

 themselves, there are other, and certainly not less important, views of 

 the subject to be obtained by the investigation of the species of particu- 

 lar districts. A knowledge of the geographical distribution of insects, 

 — their internal and external anatomy, — and, above all, their relation 

 with nature in general, — may be acquired or improved by the exami- 

 nation even of local collections, properly studied. Who, for instance, 

 is not aware of the eminent service rendered to Botany by Mr. Robt. 

 Brown's work on the Flora of New Holland ? W,e make these re- 

 marks, being aware how many there are who either suppose that when 

 they have amassed a large collection of animals, they have done all that 

 is necessary for science ; or who think, and even constantly assert in 

 print, that the discovery of the natural system is, or ought to be, the 

 ne plus ultra — the " ultimus finis" ('Annul. Javan. Pref.') of their 

 observations. 



We are glad to perceive, en passant, that the writer of the works 

 now under notice has not confined his attention to the latter kind of 

 investigations. This will appear evident from the following passage, 

 written in answer to the objection that the lamellicorn beetles (genus 

 Scarabceus, Linn.) ought not to be placed at the head of the beetle 

 tribes. 1 " There are sufficient reasons why the lamellicorns should pre- 

 cede Cicindela or Carabus. It is not merely the simple structure of 

 the stomach, it is not their vast bulk or strength (on which little stress 

 can be laid), but it is in the important functions they perform, it is in 

 relation to the economical purposes of the human race, that they ought 

 to take precedence. They are of greater utility to man than nearly all 

 other groups, in checking the over-luxuriance of tropical vegetation ; 

 in reducing to powder the mightiest monarchs of the forest ; in purify- 

 ing the air by burying all that is noxious and disgusting, and, at the 

 same time they give fertility to the land, by carrying to the roots of 

 vegetation the richest of manures. As to numbers, both of genera and 

 species, they greatly surpass the Cicindelidce or even the Carabidce ; 

 and in the number of individuals of species, they appear amongst the most 

 prolific of insects." — (Pt. ii. Pref. p. viii). Without adopting the au- 

 thor's opinion, that the lamellicorns are to be placed at the head of the 

 insect tribes, we cannot but admit that these observations are founded 



1 This was their position in the writings of Linnaeus and Fabricius, but 

 the French authors placed the Cicindela and Carabi at the head of the Co- 

 leoptera from their more perfectly organized mouths. 



