P R E F A C E . P R E F A C E .
I'egiilar numeration of these plates, which was caused by the original periodical
appearance of the work, whence it happens that we are referred to P a rt I I.
plate 1. (as it mav be), and not to a consecutive series of numbers upon the
plates, which were, indeed, entirely without a nmnber, and appeared promiscuously.
A German edition of this work was commenced at Leipzic in 1801, edited
h r J . G . Grubner, but I am not certain whether the entire work was republished
or only one of the parts.
Of the Entomology of China little more is known at the present time than
Donovan was acquainted with. I t is true we continue to receive numerous
ho.xes of insects fi'om China, chiefly purchased in the shops of Canton, but,
like every thing Chinese, there is such an absolute monotony in these arrivals,
that it is almost impossible to discover in a quantity of these boxes a single
species which is not contained in all the rest. I t is evident that a considerable
employment is produced by the rearing of the Atlas moth and some other
species, and in the collection of the other insects which we receive in such
abundance. The Chinese boxes are made of a soft wood, about 16 inches by
11 in size, and of a sufficient depth to admit a tall needle; a layer of butterflies
and moths stuck close to the point of the needle is placed at the bottom
of the box, with another layer of beetles, flies, &o. closely packed together and
stuck high up on the needles, the points of which are passed through the wings
of the butterflies forming the under layer.
Donovan well observed that “ the Chinese, like their neighbours the
Japanese, are well acquainted with the natural productions of their empire,
and Zoology and Botany, in particular, are favourite studies amongst them.”
That the Chinese also pay considerable attention to Entomology is evident,
not only from the fact of the employment of silk having had its origin in that
country, but also from the numerous beautiful drawings of insects upon rice
paper, brought to Europe in great quantities. Many of these figures are, however,
evidently fictitious, although some are occasionally found accurately correct
and most elaborately pencilled.
The few but interesting hints which Sir George Staunton (who accompanied
the embassy of the Earl Macartney to China) has given on the
practical Entomology of China in the account of his Travels, which was
published shortly before the appearance of the first edition of this work, were
embodied by Donovan in his pages, and from whence we may be induced
to hope that at some future time, some of the insects, as well as plants, of that
vast empire may become no less objects of utility and importance than of
curiosity ; the Chinese cochineal insect,* and that from which the wax of the
E a st is procured, are two species that deserve particular attention. The
medical precepts of the Chinese will certainly find but few votaries in Europe,
but as articles of medicine, amongst others, the Mylabris Cichorii, regarded as
the Cantharides of the ancients and still used as a vesicant by the Chinese,
may be of importance, as it is said to possess more virtues than the Cantharis
vesicatoria of Europe.
From the vast extent of the Chinese empire and our comparative ignorance
of its insect productions, it is almost impossible to speak with any precision
upon the interesting subject of its entomological geography. Many of its
insects bear a great resemblance, and occasionally appear identical with those
♦ Dr. AndBrson fou n d e ig h t species o f Coccus a t Mad ra s. One o f the se , he s a j s , was found on a yo u n g
citio n -tc e e , c itru s sineusis. ju s t lan d e d from C h in a ; it was more deeply in te rs e c ted between th e ab dom ina l
rings th an an y o f those o f th e co a st, a n d he the re fore named it C . Diacopcis. Collection, o f L e tte r s f r o m
M °idras, J a n u a r y 2 8 , 1788. T h e C a c tu s Cochiuillifer h a d been found previous to th e ap p e a ran c e o f th e
first edition by M r. K in c a id a t C a n to n ; its Chine se n am e is P a o wang. T h is h ad b e en tra n sm itte d to th e
N o p a lty o f th e H o n . E a s t In d ia C ompany a t M ad ra s , a n d promised to be o f fu tu re a d v an tag e to th e com-
mercial c o n c e rn s o f G r e a t Brita in.