INTRODUCTION. XIX 



situations, with their synonyms at the foot of the page, the autho- 

 rity for their insertion being shown by a ( ! ) after the reference (as 

 Scarites subtei-raneus, No. 42, which is printed in Italics to denote 

 tlie species to be extra-european) : while the same character (!) in 

 the body of the page indicates that the author referred to gives 

 England as the habitat of the species (e.g. Lebia turcica, No. 27 ; 

 Carabus turcicus. Fab.), Finally, as in all entomological works, 

 even in those treating upon genera, the real synonyms of the genera 

 are not pointed out, I have endeavoured to remedy that inconve- 

 nience by attaching a j? to such genera as are not strictly synony- 

 mous (as Lamprias of Bonelli includes a portion only of Latreille's 

 LebisB, while it is really synonymous with Echimuthus of Leach*). 

 And I may add, that although occasionally the oldest name may 

 by accident occupy a secondary position, I have attempted in all 

 instances to give it the priority. 



I cannot conclude this Introduction, without returning my most 

 sincere acknowledgements to the several individuals who have so 

 kindly and handsomely assisted me by the presentation of rare 

 insects, or the loan of scarce and valuable publications. To particu- 

 larize might appear invidious ; but as the List of Subscribers con- 

 tains the names of those to whom I have been thus indebted, I 



style, had been taken at large in England." I have recently inspected 

 the late Mr. Swainson's cabinet (in which are fine specimens of the insect 

 in question), which his son, W. Swainson, Esq., tells me is still arranged 

 in the precise state it was left by his father, who never introduced a foreign 

 specimen into his cabinet without attaching a memorandum thereto ; and the 

 insects in question are without. Now as all the above cabinets contained 

 not only examples of Colias Europome, but also of Co. Hyale and Edusa 

 (and I possess specimens of each from the two first cabinets, set in the 

 English style), it is palpable that the former species could not be in- 

 troduced as representatives of C. Hyale ; and the concurrent testimony 

 of the three respectable and unprejudiced individuals above referred to is 

 at least as conclusive as the mere assertions of a writer who, " without 

 note or comment," gives Cantharis longicornis and Noctua subterranea of 

 Fabricius, both of which are natives of South America, as British insects. 

 And as Mr. Plastead was in the constant habit of purchasing specimens 

 of Mr. Latham the dealer (and I speak advisedly upon this point), it is 

 most probable his insects were not British, any more than his specimen of 

 Hipparchia Arcanius, which there is every reason to believe was also ob- 

 tained from the same source. In fine, the mere silence of continental 

 writers regarding Co. Europome is no proof of its not inhabiting Europe ; 

 as till within these few months the Hesperia Artaxerxes of Fabr. was 

 likewise unknown to them, though comparatively common in Britain, 



* And I have also endeavoured to show where a genus or a species has 

 not been described, but only the name published, by including the references 

 to its author or recorder in ( ), as Drypta, (Kirby,) and Polistichus fas- 

 ciolatus, (Ing, Inst. 90.), page 2 : the references in such cases being made 

 to the genera, as indicating the authors who have adopted them, and to 

 tlie species, as showing where their localities, habits, peculiarities of struc- 

 ture, &c. , have been recorded by English writers. 



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