PREFACE. 



It is not without some degree of hesitation that I am at length induced to bring 

 together my notes on the Coleoptera of the Madeiran Group in a sufficiently 

 connected form for the press ; and in offering them to the scientific Avorld, I 

 would wish briefly to state for what pui-pose they were originally commenced. 



Having been advised in October of 1847 to leave England for the benefit of 

 my health, I employed a seven months' residence at Funchal in collectiug such 

 insects (and desultory information concerning them) as came beneath my notice, 

 but without any ulterior design than that of a mere temporary amusement, and 

 to relieve the monotony of a winter's exile in a distant land. 



In November of the following year, however, another migration being recom- 

 mended to me, I decided on " making a vu-tue of necessity," and tm-ning my 

 second banishment to a more practical account than the first one ; and con- 

 sequently started with the full intention of accumulating matter for publication, 

 — which I was bold to hope would at any rate so far expand, ia importance 

 and extent, as to furnish a series of papers, at a future time, for some of the 

 Natural History journals of the day. 



But having been rewarded, in this my second expedition, with more success 

 than I had had reason to anticipate (owing in a large measm'c to my health 

 having permitted me, not only to use greater diligence, but also to visit many 

 remote rocks, and to ascend into regions, hitherto forbidden), and having 

 convinced myself that I had obtained the major part of the species which were 



