58 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



that the Instrumenta ciharia vary too much in the 

 same genus, to be assumed as a constant and cer-r 

 tain criterion. 



I know no reason why that liberty should be 

 denied to the entomologist, which is allowed to 

 the botanist, of forming new genera as occasion 

 shall demand, provided this be done upon good 

 grounds, and with due caution and judgment. 



banc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim. 



That inundation of non-descript species which^ 

 since the time of Linneus, has overflowed the 

 European Cabinets, renders it a work of charity 

 to spare the entomologist the Herculean labour of 

 going over the definitions of perhaps several hun- 

 dred species before he can determine one. This 

 can only be effected by the formation of new 

 genera and families ; and here, I think, a middle 

 course ought to be steered between Linneus and 

 Fabricius. The former having confessedly too few 

 genera, and the latter having multiplied them be- 

 yond necessity, and mistaken the characteristics 

 of families for the indications of genus. But, in 

 the construction of genera, from what parts are 

 we to draw our characters ? With Fabricius, are 

 we to confine ourselves to the Instrumenta cibaria 

 €t antennce ? Or with Linneus and his followers, 

 are we to take them indifferently from any part 

 that will furnish them ? 



In botany, to draw the characters of classes and 

 genera from the fructification alone is highly pro-r 



per^ 



