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described either wings, or what is here unscientifically termed sides], which part, he says, is quadrate; whereas it is triangular with the apex acuminated." [My description of the scutellum is perfectly correct.]

Rev. "Hemiptarsènus fulvicóllis W. is an exceedingly common little insect, and has two remarkable characters; first, the variation of the colour of the thorax, two being seldom found alike (bright green is, perhaps, the prevailing colour, which, by the by, makes fulvicóllis a bad name); and, secondly, the beautiful snow-white tips to its antennæ. Neither of these characters are noticed."

Ans. I have never seen but two specimens in which the colour of the thorax offered no variation. It was not necessary, in descriptions like those contained in my paper, to notice every character, but rather such as would enable any person to recognise the insects described. Those which I selected were evidently sufficient, since they enabled the reviewer to do this. J. O. Westwood. The Grove, Hammersmith, May 20. 1833.

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The Trilobites figured in p. 287. of Vol. III. are without letters of reference; and, as an instance of confusion has occurred in consequence, the cut is here repeated, into which the identifying letters are introduced.

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You scarcely can believe, my friends,

Lucan.

How well this phiz has served my ends.

THE Nondescript.- After thanking Mr. Menteath (p. 282.) for his courtesy to me, and for the kind manner in which he speaks of the Wanderings, I beg to inform him, in

museums.

Dis

answer to his queries respecting the Nondescript, that I intentionally enveloped it in mystery, on account of the illiberality of the British Treasury.* I had spent many years in trying to improve the common defective manner in which specimens of natural history are prepared for I succeeded beyond expectation, and was doomed for my discoveries to the uttermost mite. to pay satisfied with the contents of the letter from the Treasury, and annoyed at the long detention of the collection at the custom house, I abandoned the plan, which I had conceived, of giving a full and detailed account to the public, of an entirely new mode, which I had invented, of preparing quadrupeds, birds, insects, and serpents, upon scientific principles. But, in order that the public might have some idea of what I had done, I chose the Nondescript for the frontispiece to the Wanderings; calculating that its appearance would give rise to much investigation by naturalists, especially by those who are connected with museums. visiters are allowed to examine the original for any length of time, and are furnished with a magnifying glass, if required. I feel certain, quite certain, that no museum in the world possesses a similar specimen.

All

Should there be any expression in the Wanderings (but I think there is not) by which the reader may be induced to imagine that I wish to pass off this extraordinary thing, either for the head of a man, os homini sublime," or for

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that of an ape, "simia ! quam similis, turpissima bestia

nobis;" it is my earnest desire that the expression may be considered null and void. My sole object has been, to leave the thing in absolute doubt; and I have no wish whatever that it should pass for any other thing than that which the reader himself may wish it to pass for. Not considering myself anywise pledged to its identity, I leave it entirely to

(COPY.)

* Gentlemen, Treasury Chambers, 18 May, 1821. The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, having had under their consideration your report of the 10th, on the application of Mr. Charles Waterton for the delivery, duty free, of some birds, quadrupeds, reptiles, and insects, collected by him in Guiana, and recently imported from Demerara, I have it in command to acquaint you that my Lords have informed Mr. Waterton that, if he will specify the articles which he intends to give to public institutions, my Lords will not object to their being delivered duty free; but that, with regard to the specimens intended for his own or any private collection, they can only be delivered on payment of the ad valorem duty of 20 per cent; and I am to desire you will give the necessary directions to your officers at Liverpool in conformity thereto.

Commissrs. Customs.

I am, &c. (Signed)

J. R. LUSHINGTON.

the reader's own penetration to say what it is, or what it is not.

And now a word on the Wanderings. Any book which is proved to contain contradictory statements or assertions, or theories which cannot be maintained, ought certainly to receive due castigation, and to have its errors exposed; but unenviable is that man's lot, whose adventures are disbelieved, solely on the score of want of faith in him who reads them. Some there are, who pronounce certain parts of the Wanderings to be exaggerated, because, forsooth, they know full well in their own minds that such things could not be done. Probably, the editor of a weekly journal was possessed by this spirit of presumption, when, forgetful of that polished form of diction which sometimes even tends to disarm an unjust criticism of its venom, he pronounced to the world, that I "lied on a serpent's tail."

If the readers of the Wanderings fancy that they can perceive any thing of a contradictory tendency in the work, or if they can point out any suspicious statement, or any passage not sufficiently clear, I shall always be most willing and ready to answer every query, and every remark, through the medium of Mr. Loudon's Magazine; should it suit that gentleman's convenience to admit my correspondence.

We

Though some of the encounters with wild beasts may appear hairbreadth escapes, and have a very ugly aspect to readers at their own fireside; still, I would fain try to persuade those readers that the encounters presented nothing of a very alarming physiognomy to me in the forest. are told, that death itself is not heeded when the battle rages. "In hot pursuit, the wound which brings him, is not felt," said Corporal Trim. In fact, our feelings soon become habituated to circumstances; and, when honour, fame, or duty, push a determined man forwards, I am of opinion that he never knows what it is to fear. Thus, the soldier marches boldly up to the cannon's mouth. The fox-hunter, in conscious pride, flies over the five-barred gate. Half way down Dover's cliff hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade!" to maintain his needy family. But, would a "pampered menial" storm the smoking breach? would an opera dancer surmount on fiery steed the turnpike gate? would a gouty country squire descend the rock of Ailsa, based by the roaring ocean, in quest of seafowl's eggs? No. Their habits and their ailments would disable or prevent them; and probably nothing could induce them to face the apparent danger. Now, as regards myself, I was well fitted out for adventures. I went expressly to look for wild beasts, and I

should have been sorely mortified if I had failed in my attempts to find them; and, having found them, it would have been impossible for me, under these circumstances, not to have come in personal contact with them.

I know not of any other form of words, by which I may be enabled to persuade the reader that all is true which I have written in the Wanderings. If I knew of any other mode of persuasion, I would willingly adopt it here.-Charles Waterton.

Are Flamingoes ever seen in the long range of Coast, intermediate between the Rhone and the Guadalquivir? (p. 285.) -During the pestilence which raged in Malaga at the beginning of this century, as I was walking on the strand, about a mile to the eastward of the city, twelve flamingoes flew past me almost within gunshot. Charles Waterton. Walton Hall, May 6. 1833.

-

The Question of the Wigeon's breeding in England. (Vol. V. p. 383. 590. 679.) — In my communication of a "safe mode of transporting eggs to be hatched" (Vol. V. p. 383.), I mentioned having found a wigeon's nest, with eggs in, upon a heath. Mr. Waterton remarks (Vol. V. p. 590.), "it is the first time I ever heard of a wigeon building in England; and asks if I reared the young? Now, Sir, to be candid, I was not aware, until Mr. Waterton put the question, but that the wigeon did breed in England; and I thank him for his correction of the error. It must, doubtless, have been a teal, instead of a wigeon. In regard to rearing the young, that was a failure. Had I then known of the vermicelli (Vol. VI. p. 269.), I have little doubt that the young ones might have been reared. — J. C.

Of what Species (in Systematic Ornithology) is the Greenfinch of Pennsylvania? — R. C. Taylor, in his delectable description of an American "ice storm," (p. 97-103.) says, in p. 102., “Flocks of greenfinches continued in the vicinity of the warm springs, near my residence, throughout the winter." [January and February, 1832.] What species of Greenfinch is here spoken of?-E. B. June, 1833.

It is said that a Worm, if cut properly, may be multiplied into many new Worms. When we look at a worm, we are apt to look at it as one creature; but we are, in reality, looking at an aggregate of several creatures, which, for the present, are united, but may, if we please, be disjoined. (Rev. C. S. Bird, in Entomological Magazine, p. 108.)

This seems said of the earth-worms (Lumbrìci): can any correspondent vouch for its verity in relation to them? — J. D.

THE MAGAZINE

OF

NATURAL HISTORY.

SEPTEMBER, 1833.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

ART. I. Some Remarks on Genera and Subgenera, and on the Principles on which they should be established. By the Rev. LEONARD JENYNS, A.M. F.L.S.*

THE vast accumulation of new species which has resulted from modern discoveries in natural history has led, as might have been expected, to a great increase also in the number of

genera.

So long as these genera are constructed upon true philosophical principles, it would be ridiculous to declaim against them on the mere ground that, by enlarging the nomenclature, we render the science more difficult, and less inviting to beginners. As the science extends, the difficulty of studying it in all its details must necessarily increase also; and it clearly cannot remain stationary, so long as new forms continue to pour in upon us, wholly different from those we are already acquainted with.

But it deserves to be considered by naturalists, whether it be not owing to the violation and neglect of these principles, that some real ground has been afforded of late years for complaints of this nature. It appears to be very much the practice of zoologists, in this country, to establish genera upon every slight variation of structure, even when confined to a single organ, without considering the agreement or disagreement of the organs in general; or, at least, without duly estimating the value of those characters, which the supposed variation may afford. The consequence has been, that, in

Read at Cambridge before the Section for Natural History of the British Association, June 26. 1833.

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