No. 9. — 1856-8.] new ceylon coleoptera. 



3 



they should never go to print with matters on which it is an 

 impossibility for the ablest among them to be quite compe- 

 tent. These arguments are unfortunately too true, but still, 

 I think, admit of being mitigated sufficiently to come to final 

 conclusions less disheartening to the entomological student 

 abroad than the above. 



First of all, every entomologist gives preference to a certain 

 order of insects — say Coleoptera — and in this even, in almost 

 all cases, to one or two particular families. In studying for 

 the publication of new species, under the disadvantages just 

 mentioned, he will confine himself to this order, or perhaps 

 family. Now, although as objected above, the information 

 existing on this particular branch, is for the most part frag- 

 mentary, still there are certain families, on which it has 

 received tangible shape, through condensation by old hands : — 

 Burrneister's Lamellicornia, Dejean's Carabidce, Erichson's 

 Staphylindce, Schoenherr's Curculionidce, Boheman's Gassidce, 

 Westwood's Paussidce, etc., as well as the latter author's 

 general work on the families, and Lacordaire's on the general 

 Coleopterorum, diligently consulted, go as guides a long way, 

 and should, although some of them have by the rapid progress 

 of the science grown rather antiquated, guard against a 

 number of mistakes of a systematic nature. 



As to whether a beetle be new or not, I admit that in 

 forming an opinion on this question, the entomologist, situated 

 as above, will have quite as much to be guided by a certain tact 

 (not clearly definable, but understood by scientific men) than 

 by anything else ; and I am forced to concede that under any 

 circumstances almost, it is totally impossible to arrive at an 

 indisputable certainty either the one way or the other. This, 

 however, excludes by no means the possibility of his forming an 

 opinion with so much precision' as to enable him to pronounce 

 in the matter with a very high' degree of confidence and all pro- 

 bability in his favour. In attempting to come to a decision on 

 this difficult point, he will receive a first superficial idea, from 

 careful reflection on certain accidental circumstances, such 

 as size, scarcity, cr other peculiarities of the insect in question. 



