Xll PREFACE. 



volume, Mr. Couch has described (App. xxvi), under the name of 

 Brama pinna-squamata, a new species of bream, taken on the coast 

 of Cornwall, and (App. xxix), under the name of Scomber punctatus, 

 a new species of mackerel, taken in a seine off Looe, on the 6th of 

 July, 1848. These are valuable additions to the Ichthyology of 

 Britain. 



In Insects, as usual, we have had the greatest amount of novelty ; 

 and the most elaborate papers, as was the case last year, relate to 

 Micro-Lepidoptera, and are from the indefatigable pen of Mr. Stain - 

 ton. This gentleman has published a monograph of the European 

 species of Argyresthia (App. i) ; a description of a new British species 

 of the same genus (App. xl) ; a systematic catalogue of Micro- 

 Lepidoptera, from which I have extracted descriptions of twenty- 

 eight new British species (App. lxi). Mr. Sircom has also described 

 three new British Micro-Lepidoptera (App. xlii). Mr. Smith has 

 described, with his accustomed careful accuracy, two new British 

 Nomadae (App. xli), one Ceratina (App. lvii), one Megachile, one 

 Osmia, one Halictus (App. lviii), and four Andrenae (App. lix) ; all 

 of them new to Britain, and all but one new to science. Mr. Bold 

 has described (App. xxiv) a new British Colymbetes. Mr. Walker 

 has described (App. xxxi and xliii) no less than seventy-nine new 

 British species of Aphis. The occurrence of Rhodaria sanguinalis at 

 New Brighton, as recorded by Mr. Doubleday (Zool. 2547) is an in- 

 teresting fact in the Natural History of Britain. 



The Appendix to which I have just alluded was commenced with 

 a view of giving to Monographs, and other papers of a scientific and 

 technical character, that prominence which all careful and elaborate 

 productions deserve, and at the same time of avoiding all clashing 

 between such papers and the more amusing details of the economy 

 of living animals. I believe this arrangement has given general satis- 

 faction, and I purpose continuing it during the ensuing year. 



The subject of nomenclature has received some attention during 



