IV PREFACE. 



favourite order, the Hymenoptera, and has called the 

 attention of our readers to the singular physiological law 

 which has been stated to occur in the common wasp. 



Mr. Janson's usual critical acumen has been devoted to 

 the enumeration of the new British Coleoptera which 

 have occurred in the past season, and has enriched our 

 pages with positive and comparative descriptions of several 

 novelties of more than ordinary interest. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Wollaston we received, just 

 in time for press, some interesting observations by Dr. 

 Schaum, of Berlin, on the nomenclature of the British 

 Carabklce. Unfortunately, the striving for infinite perfec- 

 tion is so intense amongst many of our German contempo- 

 raries, that they discard useful stepping-stones in the vain 

 attempt to arrive at some firmer and more solid foundation 

 which shall endure for ever ! 



A German writer will gravely tell you that he prefers B.'s 

 name for a species to A.'s, because, though not so old, the 

 description is better. No doubt in a few years' time C. 

 might write a description which would eclipse B.'s, and, if 

 there is any ground for his previous decision, he must repeat 

 the process and adopt the name which C. may have applied 

 to the species. Let this rule be generally adopted and con- 

 stantly acted on, and in the progress of science every one of 



