CH. iXIIl.] HINTS FOR STUDENTS. 303 



carabus, Linnaeus enumerated fifty-nine species, 

 while Count Dejean has described, from his own 

 collection, nearly 2,500. The genus staphylinus 

 contains, in the Systema Natures, twenty-six spe- 

 cies. Mr. Stephens mentions, in his catalogue, 750 

 as inhabiting this country alone, and Count Dejean 

 789, from various parts of the world. Linnaeus, 

 again, mentions only seventy-seven species as form- 

 ing his genus ichneumon ; while the number now 

 known far exceeds 3,000. 



The best means for the young student to obtain 

 an idea of classification is by studying a series of 

 plates illustrative of the Linnaean genera, such as 

 those given by Rcemer (Genera Insectorum Linnaei 

 et Fabricii Iconibus illustrata), and also in Mr. 

 Samouelle's Compendium of Entomology. If each 

 figure is attentively examined, as regards its general 

 form and appearance, at the same time impressing 

 the name on the memory, the student cannot fail in 

 his object. When he considers himself somewhat 

 familiarized with the subject, he may next peruse a 

 well-arranged cabinet, so as to make himself master 

 of the modern system. For this purpose a cabinet 

 of British insects, arranged on the system laid down 

 by Mr. Stephens, would furnish an excellent study, 

 as being the one generally adopted by British col- 

 lectors. If he should be further desirous of extend- 

 ing his knowledge to exotic forms, he will find the 

 system of Latreiile the most simple and practical, 

 while in the maze of many of those systems which 

 are usually termed natural, the beginner, at least, 

 would find himself inextricably involved, and would 

 almost be induced to abandon the subject in despair. 



The young student very generally, and very nat- 

 urally, supposes that insects are arranged in too 

 many divisions and subdivisions, and thinks that a 

 smaller number of genera might be sufficient. But 

 when we consider that the knowledge of species 

 has been so greatly increased since the time of Lin- 



