Zoological Society. 475 



' Flora Vectensis,' the essential {)eculiarity of which lies, as we have 

 already stated, in its valuahle original and elaborate descriptions of the 

 species noticed by its author. 



Cautioning botanists to bear in mind that the real date of the book 

 is not that of its publication — and that it is posthumous ; and recom- 

 mending those uho may use it to distinguish carefully between the 

 work of the author and the additions (clearly marked with inverted 

 commas) of the editors, — we most strongly recommend the work to 

 our readers. 



Sylloge Fierce EurojjcPce seu plantarum vascularium Europce indige- 

 narum enumeratio, udjectis synoiujmis yravioribus et indicata 

 sinyularum distributione yeoyraphica. Auctore C. F. Nyman. 

 Oerebroae, 1854-55. Royal 8vo, pp. 442. xxiv. 



This is a work which was wanted as affording a mode of easily 

 ascertaining the extent to which any species of plant is known, upon 

 published authority, to be distributed throughout Europe. It cannot 

 fail of being much employed for that purpose, having been drawn up 

 with great care. A list of the works used in its compilation is ap- 

 pended, by means of which the author's accuracy may be tested in 

 doubtful cases. Of course a work of this nature must have occupied 

 a considerable time in its preparation, and therefore we cannot hope to 

 find that it is quite up to the present state of our knowledge. Judging 

 from a somewhat careful examination, it is far more complete in that 

 respect than we ex])ected. 



The chief objection to it is found in the system upon which it is 

 arranged. Being the work of a Swede, probably a pupil of Fries, it 

 is not wonderfid that he should think the system proposed by that 

 eminent man the proper one to adopt. As that classification is not 

 in common use, some little inconvenience results. This is met by the 

 addition of a copious index to the genera and subgenera. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



February 12, 1856.— Dr. Gray, F.R.S., in the Chair. 



Descriptions of some Coleopterous Insects in the Col- 

 lixtion of the british museum, hitherto apparently 

 unnoticed. By Adam White. 



The number of " new species" of Coleopterous Insects in the 

 Museum collection is in relative proportion to the great richness of 

 the other branches. In this paper, some species belonging to the 

 families Prwnid(c,L(iini(tdce, and Cetoitiudcew'xW be given, as there is 

 every likelihood, from the way in which these gnat groups have been 

 investigated l)y Messrs. Serville, Bui'ineister, Schauin, Gory, and 

 other entomologists, that the species arc as yet unrecorded in scientific 



