Page:Madras journal of literature and science vol 1 new series 1856-57.djvu/71

Rh tact and judgment he will arrive at a result, which under such circumstances must carry much weight with it. I shall illustrate this case by an example: If for instance after collecting for five years in Ceylon generally, and in the Colombo District more especially, I find at the latter place an insect—say the Chlœnius 5-maculatus described below for the first time, am I not entitled to consider it as very scarce? If on consulting my library I discover nothing which can possibly refer to it (finding that not a single Chlœnius is marked as occurring in Ceylon), are not the chances greatly in favor of its being an undescribed species? If again, I collect beetles as small and inconspicuous as the Trichopteryx described below, and consider at the same time that, although they are in certain localities of common occurrence, no professional Coleopterologist has ever collected before me in this Island; if, moreover, my library offers nothing that could possibly refer to them individually (there being hardly an Asiatic species mentioned), am I under these circumstances not justified in considering them as undescribed? Decidedly I am. Circumstances like these would indeed be altogether conclusive, if there was not a chance of the beetle occurring in some neighbouring country, and it having thence found its way into the normal collections of Europe. The possibility of such being the case, of course enhances the difficulties of the case very materially, but I do not see why they should not, to a certain degree, be overcome by the same or similar means as those cited for overcoming them in one particular country.

I think I have said enough to show, that the disadvantages encountered by the entomologist here, or in other places similarly situated, in conscientiously attempting to publish new species may (his principal assistance being perseverance, a good library and tact—entomological instinct I am almost tempted to call it)—be overcome, I am far from saying entirely—but so far as to expose him from want of resources in the execution of his plan, to no more mistakes than are incident to entomologists under more favourable circumstances, from neglecting them. But I am not satisfied with obtaining the simple grant of permission to describe on the spot a part of what he collects—I claim more for the entomologist abroad. I wish to show that he should naturally be expected—nay desired—