124 Analj/tical Notices of Books. 



Art. XII. Analytical Notices of Books. 



An Introduction to Entomology : or Elements of the Natural 

 History of Insects. By William Kiuby, M.A. F.R. 8f L.S. 

 ««t/ William Spence, Esq. F.L.S. Vols. iii. a«f/ iv. 8vo. 

 pp. 732 and 634. Plates xxv. 



To furnish a satisfactory analysis of any production on Natural 

 History in a few lines, barely exceeding in number that of its 

 sheets, must be at all times a task of extreme difficulty. It is 

 one which in fact could never be attempted with any prospect of 

 success unless where the work under examination was chiefly 

 theoretical. By reproducing the conclusions arrived at by the 

 author, and exhibiting some of the more convincing arguments 

 adduced in support of them, a tolerably correct idea might in 

 such a case be given. Where however the work, like the one 

 before us, is almost entirely free from theory, and is devoted 

 with very trifling exceptions to the exposition of facts, the 

 attempt to analyse it becomes completely hopeless. The " In- 

 troduction to Entomology" is indeed itself an analysis of the 

 numerous volumes devoted to the history of Insects which have 

 preceded it ; all that is valuable in their contents being con- 

 densed in its pages within the smallest compass consistent with 

 perspicuity. The information derived from these sources may 

 consequently be regarded as beyond the reach of a still farther 

 abridgement. On the other hand the novel facts with Avhich it 

 abounds, and the new views on many most important points 

 which are illustrated in its course, are almost equally beyond our 

 power to analyse : they are too numerous for the space we could 

 aflbrd to them, and too interesting to be condemned to the cur- 

 sory notice to which we must be confined. Were we indeed to 

 set aside the whole of the materials derived from the works of 

 previous authors, and to advert solely to those novelties for which 

 we are indebted to Messrs. Kirby and Spence, a review conducted 

 on our usual principle of retaining all the impoitant facts pre- 

 sented to us, would become by far too extensive. Each of the 



