THE

ENTOMOLOGIST'S ANNUAL

FOR

MDCCCLXI

"It is a strange thing that, in sea voyages, where there is nothing to be seen but
sky and sea, men should make diaries; but in land-travel, wherein so much is to be
observed, for the most part they omit it-let diaries, therefore, be brought in use."

P

LONDON:

JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW.

MDCCCLXI

LONDON:

PRINTED BY C. ROWORTH AND SONS,

BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAR.

PREFACE.

THIS year we omit the list of British Entomologists-it occupies too much space to be repeated each year.

The census of these islands is taken decennially-should it not suffice, if the Census Entomologicus be taken triennially?

In the present volume we bring Dr. Hagen's paper on the British Phryganida to a close. Mr. M'Lachlan has already turned his attention to the study of that group of insects, and has written a few pages on the best mode of prosecuting that study; we trust that he will soon have followers in this pursuit.

Dr. Hagen's notions of the evil propensities of a Psocus are very different to our own; certainly we do not like to see them on our setting-boards, for, if they are too frequent there, disastrous results are sure to follow-either antennæ are tenderly devoured, or a pathway is created between the base of the wing and the body of the insect, and, on attempting to remove it, we lift up the thorax and abdomen, leaving the wings prostrate on the setting-board.

Mr. Smith's observations on the Hymenoptera need no recommendation from us.

Much attention having been recently paid to the Hemiptera in this country, we have, in order to foster a taste for the study of those insects, compiled a Catalogue of the British