REVIEWS. 203 
Botany,’ owing to the difficulty of procuring recent specimens of some of 
the rarer species, will, in this work, be rectified. 
4 ‘The object of the Publisher will be to present to the observer of nature 
a book in which he may find with ease a delineation and description of 
every fern he is likely to meet with within the four seas. He hopes that, 
in so doing, he may induce many to study the natural history of these 
elegant plants, who have hitherto shrunk from the apparent difficulty at¬ 
tending its investigation ; and, at the same time, to furnish with a com¬ 
plete, yet concise compendium on the subject, the more advanced student of 
these most graceful of Nature’s vegetable productions.” 
We refrain from making any comments at present; but when the volume* 
which is to consist of eight parts, is complete, we shall bring it again before 
our readers’ notice, merely saying, as to the colouring and drawing 
of the plates, that the engravings of the six ferns that accompany this 
part—viz., Polypodium (Ctenopteris) vulgare, P. (Gymnocarpium) Phegop- 
teris, P. (G.) dryopteris, P. (G.) calcareum, Woodsia ilvensis, and W. 
hyperborea (Alpina)—are really beautiful; and that, if future numbers keep 
up to the promise of this first one, we shall have no hesitation in giving 
the advice which we now tender—viz., that no one who cares for the 
graceful ferns but should subscribe at once to these numbers. 
Insecta Maderensia ; being an Account of the Insects of the Islands of 
the Madeiran Group, By T. Vernon Wollaston, M.A., F.L.S. Lon¬ 
don: John Van Voorst. 1854. Large 4to. With Thirteen Coloured 
Plates. Price 22s. 
“ Men,” says Gilbert White, the well-known naturalist, of Selborne, 
u that undertake only one district, are much more likely to advance na¬ 
tural knowledge, than those that grasp at more than they can possibly be 
acquainted with. Every kingdom, every province, should have its own 
monographer.” With these sentiments we, in common with the gene¬ 
rality of men of science, entirely agree; and we, therefore, feel much 
pleasure in noticing the volume which now lies before us, being a “ History 
of the Coleoptera of Madeira.” 
Mr. T. V. Wollaston, having been advised by his physicians, in October, 
1847, to leave England for the benefit of his health, employed a seven 
months’ residence in Funchal in collecting such insects (and desultory 
information concerning them) as came beneath his notice ; but without any 
ulterior design than that of a mere temporary amusement, and to relieve 
