In 1802, several works appeared in this country, and two in Paris, highly interesting, especially to the natural systematist. We may first notice Histoire Naturelle des Fourmies, et recueil des Memoires, et des Observations sur les ?lbeilles, les Araignes, les Francheurs et autrcs insectes. Par P. A. Latreille, &c. Paris, octavo.
The Rev. William Kirby this year produced that ex cellent work, entitled, Monographia apum &c. in two octavo volumes. Our author proceeds to point out his reasons for taking up this subject, and under the head of Introductory Remarks, gives us a minute ac count of the rise and progress of this department of en tomology, with remarks on the various works treating on this subject, with definitions of the terms used in de scribing the genera and species by different authors; and after pointing out the confusion which reigned throughout the order Hymenoptera, gives us a new set of terms, with comments on terminology in general. The characters of the order Hymenoptera, with the ge neric characters and divisions of families, are next given, intermixed with the economy of each family and subdi vision. Under the head of Addenda, we have some in teresting remarks on other hymenopterous genera; and at the end of the first volume, a series of plates explain ing the various parts of the mouth, &c. peculiar to each family and subdivision. The second volume treats of the species, with occasional remarks on the peculiar economy of each. The descriptions are laboured, and extremely accurate. It is certainly the most scientific work which has appeared in any branch of natural his tory in this country. In the work of Latreille, which we have mentioned above, we find the same divisions as those instituted by Mr Kirby; they differ merely in terms, Latreille considering each of Mr Kirby's subdi visions as a distinct genus. We wish we had room to give a complete account of this interesting publication, but we have already far exceeded our limits in this de partment of the article, and shall therefore lay before the reader as much of that valuable work as we can find room for, under the proper head, in our descriptions of the species.
Thomas Marsham, esq. the oldest of the British en tomologists, this year published the first volume of his long intended work on entomology. This volume treats
of the coleoptera, and is entitled, Entornologia Britannica. To the genera of Linne, he adds, Ciste la, Corticaria, Niti dula, Boletaria, Opatrum, Cryptocephalus, Auchenia, Cri oceris, Tillus, Scaphidium, Ciente, Pyrochroa, Parnus, Heterocerus, Blaps, Lytta, Ips, and Hydrophilus ; the two last, however, are to be found in the MSS. of Linne. We cannot approve of this author having changed the names of some of the genera, and using them in a dif ferent sense from other authors, and in sometimes un necessarily giving up one name, and imposing a new one ; thus we have Boletaria for Mycetophagus, and Corticaria for Lyctus, Ips, and Collidium. In his descrip tions he is very accurate ; and although he has not adopted all the Fabrician genera, yet in many instances his families are composed of the same materials. We anticipate the completion of his work with great plea sure, as the abilities of the author are universally ac knowledged, and his collection and manuscripts ex tremely valuable.
The sixth volume of the Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, which appeared this year, contains several valuable entomological tracts, viz. " A Disserta tion on two natural genera, hitherto confounded under the name of Mantis; by Anthony Augustus Henry Lich tenstein, Al. D. &c."—" Observations on Aphides, chiefly intended to show that they are the principal causes of the blight in plants, and the sole cause of the honey-dew; by W. Curtis."—" Observations on the Curculio Trifo lii, or clover-weevil, a small insect which infests the heads of the cultivated clover, and destroys the seed, in a letter to T. Marsham, Esq. by William Marwick, Esq.; with additional remarks by Mr Marsham."—" Far ther remarks on the Curculio Trifolii, in a letter to William Marwick, by Martin Christian Gottleib Lehmann."—" Descriptions of some singular coleopte rous insects ; by Charles Schreibers."—" Observations on several species of the genus Apis, known by the name of humble bees, and called Bombinitrices by Linne ; by P. Huber." This last paper is extremely valuable ; and, with the others, will be mentioned when we are treating of the genera and species.