104 
REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
British Coleopiera delineated ; consisting of Figures of all the Genera of British 
Beetles, drawn in outline by W. Spry, M.E.S. Edited by W. E. Shuckard. 
Parts 1 & 2. London : Crofts. 1839. 
Dr. Leach remarks that 44 no person can pretend to the distinction of a good na¬ 
turalist, who has altogether excluded from his attention the subject of Entomology.’" 
That branch of natural science has, however, notwithstanding the many inducements 
which it offers to the lovers of nature, been much neglected in this country. We 
are at a loss to find a sufficient reason for this neglect. Our talented friend the 
Editor of the Phrenological Journal may amuse himself by styling the study of 
insects 44 comparatively contemptiblebut if it opens to the view so many of 
Nature’s most peculiar forms, conjoined with habits which in variety and interest 
will yield to those of no other branch of the animal kingdom, we nevertheless 
contend (whilst freely admitting that Phrenology is of greater importance to Man 
as a moral and intellectual being, and that other sciences are better calculated to 
aid him in the produce of wealth) that as a source of pure intellectual pleasure, of 
delightful investigation, and of rational relaxation, the despised 44 creeping 
things ” very well deserve the attention of the 44 lords of creation.” Plolding 
these views, we cannot but be highly gratified that there is every appearance that 
Entomology will at no very distant period take a rank in Britain equal to that 
allotted to it on the Continent. Introductory as well as other works, from the 
pens of some of our best entomologists, are fast issuing from the press—a plain 
evidence of increasing attention being paid to the science. Mr. Westwood’s in¬ 
teresting Text-Book is before the public, and that gentleman is now engaged in 
writing his Introduction to Modern Classification (the first part of which was 
reviewed Yol. III., p. 387, of The Naturalist). Mr. Hope has latterly favoured 
us with two volumes of his Coleopterisf s Manual; and monographs on the Chal- 
cididce by Mr. Walker, and on certain Hymenoptera by Mr. Halliday, have 
just appeared. We can only as a passing remark regret that the two 
authors last mentioned have written their works in Latin—fair evidences 
of the difficulty of ridding ourselves of an old , though it be a bad habit! 
Mr. Curtis, on the completion of his invaluable British Entomology , promises to 
supply the desideratum of a Synopsis of British Insects , which will place in the 
hands of the student descriptions of all the species hitherto discovered. Mr. 
Stephens has also announced as 44 just ready,” for several months back, a Manual 
of British Beetles'; and now Mr. Shuckard is about following up his Essay on 
the Indigenous Fossorial Hymenoptera with Elements of British Entomology , 
the work of which the title is prefixed to the present article. Truly the names 
of Westwood, Curtis, Hope, Stephens, Walker, Halliday, and Shuckard, all 
busily engaged in enlightening the public on Entomology, present a goodly array, 
