Bibliographical Notices. 199 



Having applied himself for many years past, almost exclusively, to 

 the study of our native Geodephaga, it is not surprising that Mr. 

 Dawson should have found himself compelled, not only to create 

 many changes in the general classification (so as to embody, as far as 

 seemed desirable, the more recent views of the continental entomo- 

 logists), but also to sweep away a vast number of " species " (so 

 called) which had been proposed at a time when differences were less 

 philosophically inquired into than now, and when almost every mo- 

 dification which savoured in any degree of permanency was at once 

 considered as specific. 



Regarding the arrangement put forth, it appears to be that which 

 is now universally acknowledged throughout Europe, and which was 

 first adopted in this country by Mr. Westwood, — from whose inva- 

 luable ' Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects ' the 

 characters have been mainly borrowed. Mr. Dawson has however 

 transposed the third and fourth subfamilies of Mr. Westwood (in 

 accordance with the system at present received), by which means the 

 Trechi (of the Harpalides) are brought into direct contact with the 

 Bembidiades, — a step which is certainly desirable, on account of the 

 gradual maimer in which these groups merge into each other both in 

 structure and habits. 



The genera also have been treated according to the law which the 

 implicit followers of Erichson invariably endorse ; by which means a 

 large array of names which have been long familiar to the ears of 

 British naturalists have been entirely cancelled. Thus, for instance, 

 the Anchomeni are made to embrace Platynus, Anchomenus proper 

 and Agonum; Vterostichus includes Pcecilus, Abax, Pterostichus 

 proper, Platysma, Adelosia, Steropus, Omasevs, Argutor and Platy- 

 derus ; and the Bembidia are composed out of Cillenum, Tachys, 

 Ocys, Philocthus, Peryphus, Notaphus, Leja, Lopha, Bembidium 

 proper and Tachypus, — as formerly understood. 



There can be no doubt whatever that the major part of these 

 amalgamations have become, in the advanced state of the science, 

 absolutely necessary, — the numerous species which have been brought 

 to light since the days of Bonelli, Megerle, Ziegler, and Leach having 

 so far supplied connecting links between groups once apparently 

 isolated, as to render it impossible that the latter should be any 

 longer upheld. Yet we may question whether Mr. Dawson has not 

 carried this principle somewhat too far ; and, whilst endeavouring to 

 simplify, whether he has not rejected more than (especially in a local 

 fauna) i3 altogether desirable. In the details of their oral organs the 

 whole of the Carabida display so great a similarity inter se, or rather 

 shade-off into each other by such imperceptible gradations between 

 their extremes, that the tendency which various clusters of them pos- 

 sess to assume modifications of form which attain their maximum 

 only in successive centres of radiation, must oftentimes be regarded 

 as generic, if we would not lose sight altogether of the natural col- 

 lective masses into which the numerous species (however gradually) 

 do unquestionably distribute themselves. It is possible indeed that, 

 as our knowledge advances and new discoveries take place, we shall 



