FAUNA AND FLORA OF NORFOLK : COLEOPTERA. 
429 
Although there can he hut little doubt that the real worker in 
Entomology is born and not made, a consideration <>f the rich 
and varied field for research which our county presents induces me 
to make some observations introductory to the study of the 
Coleoptera. To take, then, the case of a resident naturalist 
proposing to himself a serious study of the Beetles of his particular 
district, — he will, in the first place, possess himself of a copy of 
the late E. C. Ityo’s ‘British Beetles,’* an illustrated work from 
which ho may gather much general information on the subject, and 
a knowledge of the distinctive appearance of the members of the 
different main groups into which the Coleoptera are divided. 
Having made himself acquainted with the contents of this book he 
will be in a position to undertake the collection and preservation 
of material; and the next step will be to find out the names by 
which his captures are known to entomologists. The latter may 
be effected in different ways, but wo will assume that he intends to 
adopt tho more profitable course and determine his insects for 
himself. In order to do this he must have some book or books 
containing descriptions of all tho species of Beetles usually regarded 
as British ; and the student of to-day is fortunate in tho existence 
of at least two such works ; namely ‘ A Handbook of the 
Coleoptera of Great Britain and Ireland,’ by II. E. Cox, in two 
volumes (London: Janson, 1874); and ‘The Coleoptera of the 
British Islands,’ by the Kev. Canon Fowler, in five volumes 
(London: Lovell, Reeve, and Co., 1887 — 91). The former work 
is a careful compilation of short descriptions of all the British 
species known at the date of its publication, conveniently arranged 
according to the analytical method, but all references to habitat 
and locality are omitted. In the latter work the defect last 
mentioned is amply remedied, the descriptions are original and 
preceded by analytical tables, classification is discussed at some 
length, and much information is given as to the geographical 
distribution of the various genera. The determination of species 
from written descriptions is, to the mind of the writer, the most 
enjoyable part of an enjoyable study ; but it is essential that the 
student should first acquire a knowledge of the general forms of 
* ‘ British Beetles : an introduction to the Study of our Indigenous 
Coleoptera’ (London: Lovell, Reeve, and Co.). A sccoud edition by the 
kev. Canon Fowler has recently been published. 
VOL. V. G G 
