Bibliography. 387 
dable array of scientific names and terms which it sists 
Pr Aad 
m mean and contracted minds have made themselves sins at the 
expense of naturalists, and have sought to bring the writings of the latter into 
contempt, because of the scientific language and names they were obliged to em- 
ploy. Entomology, or the science that treats of insects, abounds in such names 
more than any other branch of natural history ; for the different kinds of insects 
received any common names, cither in our own or in other modern tongues ; and 
hence most of those that have been described in works of natural history, are 
known only by the scientific names. The latter have the advantage over ot 
names in being intelligible to all well-educated persons in all parts of the world; 
while the common names of animals and plants in our own and other modern 
languages are very limited in. their application, and moreover are often misapplied. 
For example, the name weevil is given, in this country, to at least six different kinds 
of insects, two of which are moths, two are flies, and two are beetles. Moreover, 
made known, this doubt would at once be removed. To give to each of these 
weevils a short, appropriate, significant, and purely English name, would be v 
difficult, if not impossible; and there would be great danger of overburdening the 
memory with such a number of names ; but by means of the ingenious and simple 
method of nomenclature invented by Linnzus, these weevils are all arranged un- 
der three hundred and fifty five generical or sir-names, requiring in addition only 
asmall number of different words like christian names, to indicate the various 
species or kinds,” 
To give an analysis of the work is scarcely practicable., From the 
nature of the case it cannot be expected to be perfect, for the study of 
this branch of science has been little prosecuted in this country ; and 
the united and long-continued labors of many persons are needed to 
explore so wide a range. But we confidently recommend Dr. Harris’s 
work as a most comprehensive synopsis of what has hitherto been done 
in this department by others, enriched with large contributions resulting 
rom his personal labors. ‘The style of the treatise is characterized by 
simplicity and good sense. ; 
To the mere scientific entomologist, the book will be very accepta- 
ble on account of the many new species which it describes, and the 
many valuable facts and suggestions with which it is interspersed. We 
hope it will give an impulse to the study of insects among us, and in- 
duce many more to assist in reaping the large harvest which lies before 
American entomologists. 
We wish that the author had given figures of the insects which he 
has described ; for as every one knows, an animal is recognized, és- 
pecially by the unscientific, much more readily by a drawing than by 
a description. But from a hint in the prefatory letter, we are led to 
