BRITISH PERIODICAL WORKS ON ENTOMOLOGY. 31 



has been continued, in monthly numbers, to the present time. 

 In its appearance, however, we are sorry to say, there has been 

 much irregularity, both as to time of publishing and quantity 

 of matter; an irregularity which, having been severely com- 

 mented on elsewhere, we only notice, for the sake of expressing 

 our sincere desire that it may never occur again; as, in that case, 

 the painful task of reprehension must fall on us, in the regular 

 discharge of our duty to the public. Having mentioned the 

 subject, we must express our regret that the article in question 

 should have been written in the spirit in which it was ; for, 

 although we firmly believe the writer was unbiassed by any 

 other motive than a wish to serve the public, yet it is clear 

 that so pointed an attack must be productive, in many breasts, 

 of an unkind feeling, which it should be the object of every 

 scientific man to allay rather than excite. When we consider 

 the very poor encouragement from the public that scientific 

 works generally meet with in this country, it behoves us to 

 make every possible allowance for one who has devoted the 

 whole of his leisure time, and has doubtless sacrificed a con- 

 siderable annual expenditure, to a work which affords no 

 reasonable anticipation of even ultimate remuneration to its 

 author. We wish, and have long wished, that a kindly and 

 brotherly spirit were more cherished among us than has been 

 the case of late ; for we feel certain that mutual co-operation 

 would tend materially to the advancement of the science. Let 

 us all endeavour to forgive the past ; and let us resolve not to 

 be the first to offend in future. 



To return to the work before us : the attempt to describe all 

 the British species of insects, is in itself so bold a one, that 

 every possible encouragement should be given to an author 

 who would venture to undertake it. Mr. Stephens has already 

 described above three thousand Mandibulata, and upwards of 

 one thousand Haustellata ; of a large number of which he has 

 given plates. The specific descriptions are fi-equently not of 

 that clear decided kind which we could wish ; and, we think, 

 bear the marks of too great haste in composition. We conceive 

 it is scarcely a correct mode to make specific distinction depend 

 in one instance on colour, and in the next on form ; yet we 

 find this mode of description frequently adopted: thus the 

 leading words of the specific descriptions in the page open 

 before us are : Sp. 4. Elongatns ; 5. Obscure piceo-fuscus ; 



