ADVERTISEMENT. 
It has been observed in a former address, that Entomology considered as a science, in its 
present state, affords tbe most ample scope for critical enquiry, and as an object of beautiful 
elucidation and splendid embellishment, stands unrivalled. Such was the language of the 
author in the course of his introductory observations to this comprehensive illustration of 
general Entomology, and the verity of his assertion, he is induced to conceive, will be appa- 
rent, in some measure, on a cursory inspection of those volumes of the Work which have 
been since submitted to the public judgment. Aware that a remark of this nature, although 
advanced in a casual manner, and as relating only to that science in an enlarged point of 
view, was calculated to excite no inconsiderable share of expectation in the mind of many, 
the author has been anxious in the progress of his undertaking to gratify that expectation, 
and, as he trusts, not altogether without success. He is at least persuaded in his own mind 
that every advantage within his power has been embraced to render the publication as respect- 
able in the style of execution as the merits and utility of the design deserves. 
At the commencement of this Work one volume was professedly undertaken to afford the 
English naturalist a more competent idea of the Entomology of China than had been hitherto 
produced, at a moment when the public curiosity was awakened to that subject by the appear- 
ance of Sir George Staunton’s account of the Embassy of Earl Macartney to that country. 
This was succeeded by a second volume, which related exclusively to the insects of India, 
and the islands in the contiguous seas; a fertile region to the Entomologist: and one so inti- 
mately connected, by its political interests, with the British empire, as to be in a peculiar 
manner entitled to consideration. The present volume, which we regard as the third of the 
intended series, is appropriated solely to the Entomology of New Holland, New Zealand, 
Otaheite, and other adjacent islands, comprising with the two preceding a general epitome of 
the insects of Asia, and under this title the three volumes above-mentioned, will in future 
be discriminated. 
The design of the latter volume claims more explicit observation in this place. There 
is, perhaps, no extent of country in the world, that can hoast of a more copious or diversified 
assemblage of interesting objects in every department of natural history than New Holland, 
and its contiguous islands; none that appears more highly worthy of regard: it bursts 
upon our view at the first glance like a new creation: the naturalist contemplates its various 
productions with astonishment, and is almost inclined to imagine its stores of novelty inex- 
haustible. It would be irrelevant to our subject to digress, at any considerable length, upon 
this interesting topic, but so far as relates to the Entomological productions of those parts the 
reflection is applicable, these are both curious and beautiful, and are besides distinct, in a 
very material degree, from any other of the insect tribe that have been hitherto discovered 
in other countries. 
Entomology, though embracing only an inconsiderable portion of that attention bestowed 
upon the science of natural history, by those distinguished individuals who were the first to 
