158 
I take the opportunity of a spare page to mention a work now 
in course of publication in France, especially worthy of the attention 
of English Coleopterists, the title of which is as follows :— 
Histoire Naturelle des Coleopteres de France. Par M. E. Mulsant. 8vo. 
1839—1844, with Plates. 
Livraison 1. Longicornes (1839), pp, 304, 3 pi. 
,, 2, Lamellicornes (1842), pp. 623, 3 pi. 
,, 3. Palpicornes (1844), pp. 196, 1 pi. 
This work is one of the most carefully executed productions 
hitherto published in France upon the insect tribes. Unlike the 
majority of entomologists, the author has not confined himself to 
giving very detailed descriptions of the insects in their perfect state, 
and to the difficult unravelment of their synonymy, but has investi¬ 
gated their structure with great minuteness and precision, and has 
especially studied their preparatory state, sexual distinctions, and 
specific variations, whereby he has considerably reduced the number 
of supposed species. Such a woi*k, from an author residing far from 
the French metropolis, and accordingly free from those incitements 
to increase the number of species (which it is to be feared is one of 
the results of rivalry in Natural History), and exercising his talents 
upon the insects of his locality, may be well conceived to be a 
production of real zeal for the science—a true labour of love. The 
plates are drawn and engraved with great delicacy, although it may 
be objected that the anatomical details are too small. It will be 
sufficient, in order to afford an idea of this work, to give the 
following abstract of the last livraison. After an introduction 
of 23 pages, the author divides the Palpicornes into two groups 
—the Hydrophilides and Geophilides :— 
1 . HYDROPHILIDES. 
Fam. 1. Spercheens. 1 G. Spercheus. 1 Sp. 
Fam. 2. Helophoriens. 2 G. Helophorus, 8 Sp. 3 G. Bydrochus. 
5 Sp. 4 G. Ochthehius, 11 Sp. (including the £mcoceri,) 
5 G. Hydrana, 7 Sp. 
Fam. 3. Hydrophiliens. 6 G. LxmneUus. 4 Sp. 7 QcBeroms, 4 Sp. 8 G. 
Hydrophilxis. 1 Sp. 9 G. Hydrous, 2 Sp. 10 G. HydroUus. 
3 Sp. 11 G. Laccohius, 1 Sp. 12 G. Helophilus^-a,^, 1 Sp. 
{H. Uvidits.) 13 G. Philhydrus. 2 Sp. 14 G. CylUdium, 
Erichs. 1 Sp. 
2 , GEOPHILIDES. 
Fam. unica. Spheridiens. 1 G. Cyclonotum. 1 Sp. 2 G. Sphmridmm. 
2Sp. 3G. Cercyon. 15 Sp. 4 G. Pelosoma, n. g. 1 n. Sp. 
5 G. Megasternumy n. g, 1 Sp. C. boletophagum, Stcph. 6 G. 
Cryptopleururriy n. g. 1 Sp. Sph. atomarium^ P. 
