Ixiii 



Coleoptera, — a task that has to be accoraplishecl in discussing sub- 

 jects connected with the relations of Faunas, and with general views 

 of the vital phenomena of the globe. The corapilers have lightened 

 the task of the future worker in this department by giving the total 

 numbers of the species at the foot of each genus and family : we are 

 thus enabled to learn without trouble that the number of described 

 Carabidge is now 8516, of Staphylinidae 4130, and so forth. Now 

 that Coleopterists see the possibility of a general catalogue, — a luxury 

 of which they have been deprived since Dejean's last and very 

 imperfect list became obsolete, many years ago, — it is to be hoped 

 that they will all do their best to aid the authors, by contributing the 

 synonymical notes they may have been enabled to make, in their 

 several departments of study. By such extensive co-operation alone 

 can the defects noticeable in this most meritorious work be in future 

 avoided. 



Another work of high rank, published in 1868, is the eighth volume 

 of the renowned 'Genera des Cpleopteres,' by Professor Lacordaire, 

 containing the first half of the Longicorns. The reputation which the 

 'Genera' has justly acquired among Entomologists is due, perhaps 

 chiefly, to the marvellous simplicity and clearness of the author's 

 treatment of his most intricate subject. A perfect " Systema Co- 

 leopterorum " could hardly have been expected from one man, in the 

 present state of our knowledge of this order of insects, the number of 

 described species having increased so rapidly that it bids fair to 

 equal that of the whole vegetable kingdom, and the old systems of 

 classification having collapsed without giving place to anything 

 founded on a surer basis. Professor Lacordaire has, however, suc- 

 ceeded in the great task he has imposed upon himself, and which he 

 has carried on for the past fifteen years. His perspicuous method of 

 arranging and characterizing the various groups, and the clearness 

 with which he expresses his meaning, enable the worker to find his 

 way to a knowledge of the genera with certainty, and, at the same 

 time, with pleasure. 



The difiiculties which Professor Lacordaire has had to encounter 

 in the course of his work have naturally increased as time rolled on, 

 the number of new genera and new partial classifications rapidly 

 accumulating from year to year, and rendering his study of the con- 

 cluding families so much more arduous than those occupying his 

 earlier volumes. If we may judge by expressions contained in the 

 present volume, these difficulties have reached a climax in the 



