Mr. Westwood on a new Species of Longicorn Beetle. 117 
XI.— Description of a new Species of Longicorn Beetle. 
By J. O. Westwoop, M.A., F.L.S., &e. 
In the present state of entomological science, the publication of 
technical descriptions of isolated species of insects has become in 
the highest degree inconvenient, not only to the student, whose time 
is greatly absorbed by the necessity to hunt out such descriptions in 
the many channels of communication now open for their reception, 
but also to the authors thereof, as, in many instances, such descrip- 
tions are overlooked, and become dead letters in the science. No 
greater benefit, therefore, could be afforded to both these classes 
than were the editors of scientific periodicals and the councils of the 
different publishing societies to refuse publication to such descrip- 
tions. At the same time it is equally evident that the descrip- 
tions of isolated species may be made the vehicles of the most im- 
portant scientific researches: look, for instance, at the memoirs of 
Léon Dufour, in which so many detached species are made the 
objects of the most valuable anatomical and physiological observa- 
tions; or take as an example many of Mr. Kirby’s descriptions of 
isolated species, each of which was made the centre of inquiries as to 
the natural relations and systematic position of the group to which 
the species is referable. 
The great facilities, indeed, afforded at the present day to the 
authors of such descriptions for their publication in the many 
periodicals devoted either to zoology in general or to entomology in 
particular have become the bane of the science. The editors of 
these publications in too many instances are only too glad to accept 
any kind of descriptions to fill their pages, and hence they too fre- 
quently omit to exercise the power which their position invests them 
with, but of which science at the same time imposes upon them the 
stern use. It is, therefore, with much pleasure that I have learned 
that the editor of this Journal has come to the determination of 
refusing admission to descriptions unaccompanied by critical remarks 
as to the relationship of the genera and species intended for publi- 
cation; and I trust that such a decision, together with the strong 
opinion on the subject which has been expressed in so many quarters, 
may have the effect of putting a stop to that torrent of ill-digested, 
ill-deseribed species which it is as difficult in many instances to 
determine as to be satisfied with even when determined. 
England indeed has, with a few bright exceptions, been peculiarly 
unfortunate in her entomological descriptive works. Marsham’s 
‘Coleoptera Britannica’ and Haworth’s ‘ Lepidoptera Britannica ’ 
