BOOK NOTICES. 



149 



recognised, and a complete description of each species follows. The 



• dichotomous' system will never prove a success in such a branch of 

 science as the Coleoptera, though in dealing with some genera it is 

 very useful. 



The author has given great attention to those two most important 

 subjects — habitats and localities. Since the distribution of species 

 has at last begun to receive the attention it demands, all scientific 

 entomologists have come to regard specimens without localities as 

 only a degree removed from specimens \rithout legs : and no work 

 which did not pay due regard to distribution could in these days 

 expect or deser\"e a favourable reception. For our own part, we 

 should not have been sorr}- if a slight liint as to the extra-British 

 distribution of each species hatl also i^een gi^-en — as is done, for 

 example, in Hooker's ' Student's Flora' : but no dotibt the author was 

 frightened of swelling the bulk of his volumes, while it is also 

 doubtful how far sufficient materials are at hand to dve such an 

 addition a ver\- high value. The stud}- of the distribution of species 

 has thrown such great light upon some of the greatest problems of 

 science that it is really impossible to oveiTate its importance or 

 exaggerate its interest. 



Mr. Fowler has given, it is clear, very close attention to the 

 (:[uestion of classihcation — a most vexed one — in this particular 

 l)ranch of entomology. It is not probable that any system tinally 

 acceptable to the scientific world can be put forward with our present 

 materials. Our author seems to have acted with great judgment 

 l.'Oth in this matter of classification and also in that of nomen- 



• ■lature, accepting such changes as were clearly improvements or 

 corrections, and rejecting all such as had less cogent recommenda- 

 tions. 



The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and those who come 

 fresh to the study of the Coleoptera will perhaps be the best judges 

 of the value of Mr. Fowler's book as an aid to their work : but they 

 must not find fault with it if they are often puzzled and mistaken in 

 the identification of their specimens. The book does not call itself 

 ' the Study of the Coleoptera made ILasy : or a Simple Guide to 

 Xaming Beetles " — no book bearing such a title ever will, or ever 

 can, be published. We hope these volumes will encourage ver}^ many 

 to take up a most delightful and most neglected study, but let them 

 obtain their first general ideas, if possible, from sight of a good 

 collection, or, at any rate, get their first captures named by a com- 

 petent entomologist. Then they may find themselves in a position 

 to use with profit this much needed and admirable work upon the 

 British Coleoptera. — W. C. Hey. 



May 18S7. 



