Notices of New Books. 4981 



" All entomologists agree in declaring the plates in this work to 

 contain the best Entomological figures extant — they are 768 in 

 number, embracing all the orders, and representing a species in each 

 of the more important genera. The letterpress is short in quantity 

 and very deficient in quality, and, in fact, had better be considered 

 as not there : the tyro would be led into numberless errors by resting 

 his faith upon it" 



I think those who are acquainted with Mr. Curtis will say that he is 

 a consummate artist and engraver : his figures are exquisite : some ex- 

 planation of them was required, and he gave, respecting each, what 

 information he possessed. I. admit it would have been far better to 

 have made * British Entomology' a partnership work, after the fashion 

 of English Botany,' in which the author, Sir J. E. Smith, and the artist, 

 Mr. Sowerby, confine themselves strictly to their respective depart- 

 ment, but I cannot go further than this : I cannot think it desirable to 

 notice in this harsh manner works that are the performance of the last, 

 rather than of the present generation of men : neither can I forget that 

 these very volumes contain descriptions of Diptera by Mr. Haliday, 

 which, in philosophical treatment and minute accuracy, immeasurably 

 transcend any descriptions in our language. 



III. The entire notice of Westwood and Humphrey's 'British 

 Moths:' the italics are not in the original. 



" The letterpress is inferior to Stephens, and the plates far inferior 

 to Wood : the important distinguishing feature is the figures of the 

 larvae; these are copied from various foreign works, and where the 

 foreign author had mistaken or confused two larvae the error is repeated. 

 Tlie latter part of the second volume is probably a good sample of 

 how badly a scientific book may be written, by an unscrupulous 

 author, with little knowledge of the subject, copying wholesale from 

 previous authors, who were themselves not trustworthy. We trust 

 the day when such books can be written on Entomology is now past ; 

 an inquiring spirit is abroad, which will not accept such trash, even 

 though in the form of quartos, half-bound in morocco." 



Mr. Stainton is fully aware that the Council of the Royal Society 

 has unanimously awarded one of the two royal medals this year to 

 Mr. Westwood for his various entomological labours ; and I believe 

 that the work above criticised was held to be the chef-d'oeuvre of 

 our most industrious fellow-labourer. Those entomologists whose 

 lives shall be prolonged for another quarter of a century will be able 

 to pronounce dispassionately on the merits of Mr. Westwood's labours. 

 It is a curious speculation whether the Council of the Royal Society 

 or Mr. Stainton is in the wrong: one or the other has certainly 



