SYSTEMS OF EXTOMOLOGY. 45 



Class XIT. RiiYNGOTA. ilfowiA composed of a beak or articulated sheath. 

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



In the Edinburgh Encyclopa'dia, edited by Dr. Brewster, several 

 valuable ])apers have appeared from the pen of that excellent and dis- 

 tinguished naturahst, Dr. W. E. Leach, the present Zoologist to the 

 British Museum. The well-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 

 me in adopting his system in the present work, as there is no doubt 

 that when it is duly studied it will be imiversally followed ; yet I must 

 confess much still remains incomplete, and many errors no doubt 

 will require future correction. An obserAation of Mr. Kirby I sl)all 

 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 elaboratein 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 certain tv' distinfnush 

 the sjiecies from the variety, and unite each sex to its Icgitima^s part- 

 ner. But so much knowledge, even with respect to a single o-enus 

 where the species are numerous, is not to be expected from one jnan. 

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

 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 han:'.s, 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 the system of Dr. Leach, or at least the numerous- 

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

 every entomologist; since the Doctor in his Zoological Mkcellavy,\ol.-3, 

 in an account of two species of tlie Fabrician genus Geotrupes, has 

 made the following obser%ation : " 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- 

 Jogists of the Linnajan school, who, by dilating the characters either of 

 their 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 o])iniou from themselves." 



In the present work, the gencja of Linnt arc given, ^ot with a -^n&h 



