SYSTEMS or ENTOMOLOGY. 45 



Class XIT. RiiYNGOTA. ilfow^^ composed of a beak or articulated sheath. 

 Class XIII. Antliata. Mouth composed of a sucker, not articulated. 

 In the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, edited by Dr. Brewster, several 

 .valuable papers have appeared from the pen of that excellent and dis- 

 tinguished naturalist, Ur. W. E. Leach, the present Zoologist to the 

 British Museum. The Avell-known abilities of this gentleman, his 

 sound judgement, his great caution, and extensive correspondence with 

 ,the most distinguished naturalists of Europe, will, I trust, fully justify 

 -:nie in adopting his system in the present work, as there is no doidjt 

 that when it is duly studied it will be universally followed : yet I must 

 confess much still remains incomplete, and many errors no doubt 

 will require future correction. An observation of Mr. Kirby I shall 

 here quote, as it is valuable, and should be strongly impressed upon 

 the mind of every naturalist, and must fully convince every liberal- 

 minded entomologist how far the system proposed by Dr. Leach is 

 consonant to the views of one of the. first of entomologists. 



*' An account of any genus, perfect and elaborate in all its parts, 

 must be the work of him who is versed in the history and ceconomy of 

 every individual that belongs to it; he, and he only can go upon sure 

 grounds, for no other person can in all cases with certainty distinguish 

 the species from the variety, and unite each sex to its legitimate part- 

 ner. But so nuich knowledge,, even with respect to a single genus 

 • where the species are numerous, is not to be expected from one man : 

 nor should the naturalist attempt, like the spider, to weave his web 

 from materials derived solely from within himself; but rather let him 

 copy the industrious bee, and draw genuine treasures from those flowers 

 of science which have been reared by other hands, and combining these 

 with his own discoveries let him endeavour to concentrate all in one 

 harmonious system, with parts curiously formed, arranged, and adapt- 

 ed to each other, and to the whole; and calculated to preserve the 

 sweets of true wisdom pure and unsophisticated." 



It would appear that tlie system of Dr. Leach, or at least the numerous 

 genera into which it is divided, has not met with the approbation of 

 every entomologist; since the Doctor in his Zoological Miacellauj/yvol. 3, 

 in an accoimt of two species of the Fabrician genus Geotrupes, has 

 made the following observation : " I am a warm advocate for generic 

 divisions (founded on the consideration of every character), being fully 

 satisfied that such exist in nature, and, when distinguished with judge- 

 ment, tend materially to the advancement of science. Those entomo- 

 loo-ists of the Linna'an school, who, by dilating the characters either of 

 tlieir genera or species so as to admit of almost any thing, bend na- 

 ture to the artificial system of their master, would do well to consider 

 whether they do not show greater veneration for it than for nature, 

 and not upbraid those who hold a different opinion from themselves." 

 lu the present work, the genera of Linne are given, not with a wish 



