12 
REVIEWS* 
tion be added the history of its habits and transformations, the task may be 
much simplified, provided always that the inquirer be previously aware, 
from independent sources, whether his own observation or the knowledge 
of the result of the observation of others, that such and such a distinctly 
named species accurately accords in its habits and transformations with the 
anonymous insect described by the original observer. If he does not know 
this, it is clear to demonstration that, in spite of these elaborate observa¬ 
tions and “ histories,” he is not one whit nearer the identification of the 
species than he was before. It is equally clear that a repetition of all 
these observations, by himself or others, is the only means of acquiring 
this knowledge; that is to say, that for the purpose of identification of 
species these anonymous observations are useless till repeated, i.e ., by 
themselves they are of no use at all; when repeated, and so found exactly 
applicable to an insect whose name is known, they serve both as confirma¬ 
tion of the accuracy of the later investigations, and as monuments of the 
skill and perseverance of the former observer. Indeed, it may often 
happen that the first observations may be more minute and accurate than 
the later ones, and so may serve as guides to more perfect research. We 
cannot dispense with them; we may gladly raise them far above the mere 
collectors of specimens; but we think Mr. Stainton’s zeal has carried him 
rather beyond the limits of logical argument. We believe his advice would 
be, and we should heartily second it—Let each entomologist try to be 
both collector and observer; for in the union of both is the surest pros¬ 
pect of scientific eminence. 
The present volume contains the first part of the two genera, Nepticula 
and Cemiostoma, with figures aud descriptions of twenty-one British 
species of the former, and three of the latter. We have no intention 
of entering into minutiae on the occasion; we will only point out the mode 
of treatment adopted by Mr. Stainton, which is almost exhaustive. We 
have copious observations on the general character of the genus, in the 
larva, pupa, and imago; the habits of the larva and imago; the number 
of species; a synopsis of all the species at present known, and of the larvae 
hitherto observed, which are classed according to the natural order of the 
plants on which they feed; then follows a history of the study of the 
genus, which concludes the general observations. Then, taking the genus 
species by species, we have information as to how the larva and imago are 
noticeable; the mode of life in all its preparatory states; a description of 
the imago and of the larva; geographical distribution; the synonymy; 
remarks on the synonymy; and, finally, observations of authors on the 
insect. When to all this are added admirable figures, of the imago and 
