100 



idle, and that several Museum * Catalogues ' on various branches of 

 Entomology have appeared, and papers on Physiological Entomology 

 have been read by Mr. Lubbock before the Linnean and Royal 

 Societies. 



The Entomological Societies on the Continent all appear to be 

 flourishing. Belgium and Holland have now each their Entomological 

 Society, and the old rivalry between Austria and Prussia is continued 

 in the scientific emulation of the Entomological Societies of their 

 respective capitals. Yet though Berlin seems to flourish, Stettin is 

 not extinct, and the ' Zeilung ' and ' Linnaea ' still continue to make 

 their appearance. 



One of the beneficial results of the improving prospects of the 

 Central Italian State will, I would fain hope, be a more thorough 

 investigation of the Entomology of that country. Entomologists are 

 still almost unknown south ofthe Alps and Pyrenees, yet much no 

 doubt of exceeding interest, much to aid us in our attempts at 

 classification, will yet be found even in Europe, when the less known 

 parts are more thoroughly explored. 



The subject of Entomology, when we endeavour to reflect on the 

 various forms which occur in the whole globe, even in individual groups 

 of comparatively small extent, is so vast that when from this attempt 

 to grasp comprehensively a single group we turn to the entire order, 

 and then to the whole insect race, we may well feel overwhelmed at 

 the magnitude of the subject, and at the colossal proportions our 

 Science must sooner or later assume. But we attack the giant piece- 

 meal, and the strongest must succumb to the assaults of ever-increasing 

 numbers. 



