The Rev. F. W. Hope on Succinic Insects. 135 



places it beyond a doubt that the amber-tree was a Pinus. What 

 the si^ecies of the true amber-tree really was cannot be known, but 

 the above writer informs us the Pinus Balsamea approaches nearest 

 to it in appearance, and he then states his opinion that the tree no 

 longer exists. 



With regard to the insects in amber I state them to be altogether 

 exti-a- European ; many of them belong to tropical and temperate 

 climes, while some approach South American and Indian forms : I 

 know of no existing species, however, to which they are analogous ; 

 they are therefore probably extinct. I arrived at this conclusion 

 solely from the examination of a variety of specimens belonging to 

 the collections of Germany and England, and was therefore greatly 

 jjleased on finding afterwards that Jussieu, Germar and De Jean main- 

 tain the same opinion in their writings. From Mr. Konig of the 

 British Museum I obtained the intelligence that Dr. Leach and 

 Mr. MacLeay were of the same opinion. We have then the united 

 testimony of some of the first entomologists of Europe, whose collec- 

 tions are proverbially rich, whose acquaintance with insects and 

 whose capability of judging on this point cannot be doubted. Here 

 we have the entomologist and botanist arriving at the same con- 

 clusion in their respective researches : first, that the substances in- 

 closed in amber (whether animal or vegetable) agree with no exist- 

 ing species ; and secondly, the species of jjlants jjroducing amber 

 are no longer in existence, or if they do exist at present they have 

 escaped the notice of some of the most laborious and accurate natu- 

 ralists of Europe. We may therefore conclude with the geologist 

 that amber is of very remote antiquit)^ and that which is contained 

 in it is coeval with the envelope. 



Before I place before you the Synoptical Tabular Arrangement of 

 the genera and species of amber-insects, I ought to state that in 

 some instances * amphibia and shells have been inclosed in them by 

 art ; an example of which may be seen in the British Museum, where 

 a toad has been inserted, but so badly managed that few can doubt 

 the attempt at imposition : others have introduced shells, with ap- 

 parent success ; the attempt has also been made with insects, but has 

 generally failed. I am ready to allow that in some instances decep- 

 tions have so far succeeded as to make their originality doubtful to 

 the inexperienced entomologist ; but even allowing this it will not 

 affect the antiquity of the major part, which are evidently natural. 



* Brydone states tliat in Sicilian amber lizards are occasionally found, and 

 Mr. Kbnig informs me also that there is in the British Musemn the tail of a lizarc! 

 inclosed in amber which is evidently not artificial. 



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