2 Major Parry’s Catalogue 
species by several well known Entomologists have from time to 
time appeared in the Transactions of the Entomological Societies 
of London and of France, and among the descriptions alluded to 
I am happy to say that the interesting group of the Pectinicornia 
has not been neglected. Mr. Wilson Saunders has published, 
with plates, in the 3rd volume of the second series of our Trans- 
actions, the characters of several new and rare species from China, 
collected by Mr. Fortune in his travels through the tea districts 
of that country, previously unexplored in an entomological point 
of view; my friend Professor Westwood, in the same volume, as 
well as in subsequent publications of our Society, has also given 
some excellent figures and descriptions of numerous new and rare 
species; and I myself have also had the pleasure of recently sub- 
mitting to the Society descriptions of several interesting novelties. 
This considerable increase during the last few years to our 
Lucanoid Coleoptera, coming chiefly from India, China and the 
Eastern and Australian Archipelagos, as well as the addition to 
our collections of various other species heretofore considered of 
extreme rarity, or known only by indifferent descriptions or still 
more indifferent figures, has enabled the Entomologist to clear up 
many points with reference to the identity and localities of the 
Lucanoidea, and has further given him the opportunity of forming 
a more just and comprehensive view respecting the ‘very im- 
portant point of species and variety. 
Great confusion has hitherto existed in the synonymy and 
nomenclature of the different families; with the view, therefore, 
to its rectification, a newly revised catalogue would, I feel, prove 
not unacceptable; and by the encouragement and assistance re- 
ceived from many entomological friends, I have been induced to 
undertake the present publication. 1 cannot refrain, whilst upon 
this point, from expressing my best thanks, especially to Count 
Mniszech, James Thomson, Esq., Dr. Gray, Professor Westwood, 
W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., A. R. Wallace, Esq., A. Fry, Esq., and 
J.C. Bowring, Esq., for having most kindly placed at my disposal 
the various species required for examination. 
It would be superfluous here to enumerate all those Ento- 
mologists, who, either by their descriptions of new genera or of 
species, have contributed to our knowledge of this interesting 
group; such descriptions, with the names of the respective 
authors, will be duly notified in their places in the catalogue, 
But I think it desirable to allude to those distinguished authors 
who have more particularly and so conspicuously, by their several 
publications, advanced our knowledge, with reference more 
