450 TRANSACTIONS OF THE LINN.EAX SOCIETY. 



his effort in the right direction, wriggle his leg about for some 

 seconds before he could release an adhering portion of the 

 -pulv'dlus. 



If we might suppose the supply of fluid at the end of each 

 hair to vary according to occasion, it would furnish an addi- 

 tional explanation of the adhesion and disengagement of 

 these extraordinary organs, as well as of their remarkable 

 freedom from dust and impurities while the insect is healthy ; 

 but we must not proceed further with conjecture. 



Page 607. On the Paussidce, a family of Coleopterous 

 Insects. Bij Mr. J. O. Westwood, F.L.S.—Thxs, is a most 

 diffuse paper ; it is extended over seventy quarto pages : had 

 the essence of it been compressed into two or three pages of 

 this Magazine, it would have been useful as describing a few 

 new species, and in its place as being likely to be read by 

 technical entomologists. Mr. Westwood writes at great length 

 on the views of other authors, as to the affinities of Paussas, 

 none of which he seems to approve, but forgets the necessity 

 of adding something better or more definite of his own; 

 indeed, he appears to have been misled by Donovan into the 

 notion of connecting Paiissus and Cerapterus ; and his family, 

 Paussidce, in consequence, much resembles a " Refuge for 

 the Destitute," in which all manner of outlaws are collected 

 together; the characters, '^ antennce articuUs, 2 — 10," and 

 " Lahrum magnum'" for the family, with '' Lab rum minutum" 

 for one of its genera, will give the reader some idea of the 

 limits to which Mr. Westwood's family, Paussidce, is re- 

 stricted. We must say another word on this paper, a word 

 applicable alike to all the writings by the same author, viz., 

 that we disapprove of the language of dictation which Mr. 

 Westwood employs : he never addresses his reader but as his 

 " student," and is continually referring his " student" to what 

 he has said in other places : now, the paper in question will 

 stand no chance of being read by any individual who is not 

 a tolerable entomologist; and no man likes to be called a 

 student : it is not at all inviting to the readers of scientific 

 works. Modesty is a jewel of inestimable value, and one 

 which almost invariably accompanies real merit. Let us refer 

 to the writings of Newton ; or, more recently, and more in our 

 own way, to those of the late illustrious Latreille. What 

 depth of research ! what capacity, what strength of mind ! 



