INTRODUCTION. V 



more compact, numerous contractions of parts (as ant, antennae, tho, 

 thorax, &c.) have been employed. 



In drawing up the descriptions, the leading characters have been 

 chiefly attended to, though in some instances, perhaps, more detail 

 than necessary has probably been introduced ; it is, however, hoped 

 that enough is generally stated to enable the species to be recognised. 

 The principal localities are appended to each species, as well as 

 the kinds of places, or food, in or upon which they are found ; ex- 

 cept amongst the Adephaga, of which the species of the first section 

 (Geodephaga) are mostly found beneath stones, clods, roaming about, 

 &c; while those of the second {Hydradephaga), as well as the ma- 

 jority of the Philhydrida, occur in water : the figures after the 

 localities indicate the months in which the insect most abounds ; 

 and those species to which this mark is attached, are to be found 

 at all times, whilst the * denotes some of the most universally dis- 

 tributed and abundant kinds. 



The genera and species included in parentheses are such as 

 appear to have been improperly introduced into the British lists ; 

 and the species of questionable distinction are in most instances 

 recorded as varieties of the one they seem allied to, but with a dis- 

 tinctive name. 



In my " Illustrations " I have described 3646 species of Beetles as 

 distinct, whereas only 3470 occur in the present work (132 of 

 which are in parentheses) ; arising from many of the supposed species 

 having been referred, as varieties or sexes, to their respective types, as 

 above alluded to ; especially amongst the Rhynchophora and the Bra- 

 chelytra : the former in most instances in accordance with the practical 

 observations of Mr. Walton, and the latter from those of the Rev. G. 

 T. Rudd, the results being kindly communicated to me, accompanied 

 with hundreds of typical examples, for the purpose of authentication. 

 To the above gentlemen in particular, therefore, as well as to my 

 other friends who have assisted me in my present undertaking, 1 beg 

 to return my warmest acknowledgments for their obliging favours. 



As to the Nomenclature, I have endeavoured to ascertain and to 

 to employ the oldest names, and in all instances to refer to the author 

 of the same, when known to me : in the following pages, therefore, 

 the MSS names of the species are distinguished by having no figures 

 appended to those of their authors. I have also referred to a figure 

 of each species, where I had the means at hand ; though from want 

 of some of the illustrated works I have unfortunately been compelled 

 to omit a few references to figures that I have seen since the body 

 of the work was printed. 



The following is a revised list of the species of Beetles wanting to 

 complete my collection to the present time ; viz. — 



1 Dromius Sigma. 2 Lebia ephippium. 



1 Lebia turcica. g Scarites Beckwithii. 



a 3 



