Excerpt from Monographia Pselaphidarum Et Scydmænidarum Britanniæ, or an Essay on the British Species of the Genera Pselaphus, of Herbst, and Scydmænus, of Latreille: In Which Those Genera Are Subdivided, and All the Species Hitherto Discovered in Great Britain Are Accurately Described and Arranged, With an Indication of the Situations in Which They Are Usually Found

In submitting the present work to the publick, the author hopes he is rendering a service not altogether unacceptable to the Entomologist of Great Britain; since the only distinct notice which has hitherto appeared in this country, of the minute, but interesting, tribes in question, is to be found in the Zoological Miscellany, a work far too voluminous and expensive for ama teurs in general. The third volume of Dr. Leach's continuation of that work contains an enumera tion of the British Pselaphidce; but this is with out figures. Reichenbach has, indeed, published a tract on the Family (hionographia Pselaphida rum) in which this deficiency is satisfactorily supplied; but his work is not easily to be obtained. Besides which, there are several species found in Great Britain, which he has not noticed: and the Scydmcenidoe (a tribe which, though differing from the Pselaphidw' in the number of the joints of the palpi and tarsi, are yet closely allied to them) he altogether omits. The author hopes that these remarks will be sufficient to shew that the Pselaphidw and Scydmwnidw, have not been hi therto sufficiently illustrated. He was led to in vestigate them rather by accident than by choice;but should it be objected that some more inter esting tribe might have been selected, he may remark that however minute, these little beings are not without characters highly interesting to the admirer of nature their remarkable palpi the symmetry and neatness of their form - their polished a1mour, and singularity of appearance, me all sufficiently calculated to please and to interest.

The author has gerat pleasure in offering his most grateful thanks to those gentlemen who have most liberally and kindly opened to him their cabinets, and allowed him to describe the species which were new to him. He is especially indebted to Rev. W. Kirby, J. E. Stephens, Esq. Rev. J. Burrell, N. A.vigors, Esq. Rev. T. Skrimshire, A. H. Haworth, Esq. T. Brightwell, Esq. J. Spar shall, Esq. Mr. G. Samouelle, and Mr. R. Wigham.

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