Classification. 1943 



mens of a new Bryaxis to the British fauna, — the Bryaxis haemoptera 

 of Aube. It is a very interesting and beautiful little species, somewhat 

 allied at first sight to haematica, though, on examination, totally dis- 

 tinct, and belonging to the division of Aube's arrangement where the 

 middle fovea of the thorax is as large as the lateral ones. 



But I will now conclude my observations on the Coleoptera of this 

 remarkable district, though, were space at my disposal, I could go on 

 to enumerate many species both of rarity and interest, such as Hydro- 

 porus confluens and memnonius, Meligethes Dulcamara?, Ptinus im- 

 perialis, Gymnaetron Graminis, Phyllobius viridicollis, Apion vernale 

 and ebeninum, Chrysomela distinguenda, Cafius Fucicola, &c, which 

 occurred for the most part singly and in localities widely separated 

 from each other. I might indeed recount a series of captures, con- 

 taining amongst them Eubria palustris, Aphanisticus pusillus, An- 

 thonomus pomorum, Oxystoma Genistae, Mylaechus brunneus, Cassida 

 Vibex and sanguinolenta, Thyamis Holsatica, &c, made during a 

 visit to my friend J. C. Dale, Esq., of Glanville's Wootton, — but I will 

 make no remarks upon them, first, because that district has been suffi- 

 ciently well explored already by Mr. Dale himself, and secondly, be- 

 cause Glanville's Wootton is in the north of the county, whereas this 

 paper professes to be an account of the Coleoptera only of the south. 



I can only add, that if this communication be deemed of sufficient 

 interest to induce entomologists to visit next year the district of which 

 it treats, or if it be of any service to them whatever in pointing out, 

 while there, the exact habitats of those species which I have enume- 

 rated, my object w r ill be fully answered, and I shall consider myself 

 repaid. 



T. V. Wollaston. 



Jesus College, Cambridge, 

 September 1, 1847. 



An Essay on Classification. By H. N. Turner, Jun., Esq. 



The science of Natural History is by many considered to be one 

 of pure observation, and by some perhaps not a little undervalued on 

 that account, as being less calculated to call forth the higher powers 

 of intellect than other branches of knowledge comparatively more ab- 

 stract in their nature. It must be admitted that Natural History, as 

 pursued by a very considerable majority of its votaries, does consist 



