Ay ey THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE _ 4 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. VOL. I. eee Ta 4AN LOWDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY BY RICHARD TAYLOR, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. SOLD BY LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN AND LONGMAN, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND J. B, BATLLIFRE, 219 REGENT STREET, AND RUE DE L’ECOLE DE MEDECINE A‘ PARIS. 1836. Observe.—The Entomological Society does not hold itself responsi- ble for any of the facts or opinions staied in the Memoirs published in this Work. CONTENTS. PART I. INTRODUCTION . : I, Observations on a mote amend in Ttaty of exclidign i Com- mon House-fly from Apartments. By Wittram Spencer, Esq., F.R.S., &c., Honorary Member of the Entomological Society . : II. Remarks on the Passage in Herade tas referred to in Mr. Suewer’ s Paper, read at the April Meeting. By W. B. Srence, ies M.E.S. France, For. Sec. Ent. Soc. i III. Descriptions of some hitherto nacherieter ved exotic Coleone a, chiefly from New Holland. By the Rev. F. W. Horr, M.A., F.R.S., L.S., &c. : IV. Explanation of the sgadenes appearance “of ithe Ww oe spinnin Blight of the Apple, Hawthorn, &c. By R. H. Lewis, Esq., M.E.S. V. Description of the Larva and Pupa of Raphidia Ophiopsis. By G. R. Waternouse, Esq., Curator of the Entomological Society VI. Descriptions of the Larve and Pupz of various species of Co- leopterous Insects. By G. R. Waternouse, Esq., Curator of the En- tomological Society . VII. Description of a atlas G@ileopierus ithzetis forming file es of a new Subgenus allied to Z’omicus, with some Observations upon the Affinities of the Xylophaga. By J. O. Wesrwoop, F.L.S., &c. . VIII. Remarks on a species of Calandra, occurring in the Stones of Tamarinds. By Witttam ies Jun., Esq., F.L.S., Memb. Ent. Soc., &e. EXE aaa | ee -@ Decanter e the N a of a greg cea species of Butterfly from Mexico. By J.O. Westwoop, F.L.S., &c. ‘ Abd X. Descriptions of several Sesion of Australian Dhaest By GeorceE Roser? Gray, Esq., M.E.S. France and London. tikes XI. Descriptions o some new Genera of British Homoptera. By R. H. Lewis, Esq., M.E.S. XIT. A few Observations upon the Habits ‘of ‘Ale Indigenous Aew- leate Hymenoptera, suggested by M. de St. Fargeau’s Paper upon the Genus Goryies, in the first Number of the ‘ Annales de la Société En- tomologique de France.’ By W. E. Suuckarp, Esq., M.E.S, ~I 34 vi CONTENTS. Page. XIII. On the Habits of some Indian Insects. By W. W. Saunpprs, LOS o Ep LOS DER see an as Reet AN GMR g SURGE Me") Serpe t 60 Journal of Proceedings . . . eal Prospectus of Prize Essays on the Rijeen cf Nesione Tsects and Remedies for their destruction. By-Laws. List of Members to the 6th of October, 1834, inclusive. PARE Il: XIV. Description of a new Species of Longicorn Beetle from the East Indies. By G. R. MAR RRRORSE: Esq., late Curator of the Ento- mological Society . .- 67 XV. Description of a new Grerulienidcens Beetle Biss AN a River. By the Rev. F. W. Hops, F.R.S., &c., President . . . 68 XVI. Observations on the osculant Coenen Genus Arcturus 33 Latreille ; with the Description of a British Species. By J. O. West- WO lel Dysky AEG 15 69 XVII. On the patent identity af oe Ranenereoon ae Haworth, with Psyche plumifera of Ochsenheimer. By J. F. Stz- puEns, F.L.S., Z.S., V.-Pres. Ent.Soc., &c. . . See, Wet (Ao) XVIII. Notiee ef the Habits of Olineeans Aico By J.O. Westwoop, F.L.S.,&e. . . . » 8 XIX. (hee manone on certain Sneeihs af the Gecne rome ‘By Cnartes C. Basineton, M.A., F.L.S.,&e. - . . 80 XX. Thysanure gence or ee inte of ah Sreres af Spring-tailed Insects (Podura and Lepisma, Linn.,) as have been ob- served in Ireland; by R. Tempreton, Esq., R.A., Corr. Member of the Natural History Society of Belfast : with Introductory Observations upon the Order, by J.O. Wesrwoop, F.L.S., &. . . WelsisatOo XXI. Description d’un nouveau Gane. de Guneeliniiee: Par M. A. Curvrotat, Membre de la Soc. Ent. de France, &e. . . . . 98 XXII. Descriptions of new Species of Indian Ants. By Lieut.- Colonel W. H. Syxss, F.R.S., &c. . . 99 XXIII. Monograph on Meneta: a Gents ‘of Goleesterous Tesecte: By the Rev. F. W. Hors, F.R.S., &... . - Sie iaeh be OS XXIV. Note upon the Butch Genera ann Aeentrops, and Zancle. By J.O. Westwoop, F.L.S., &e. .. . . Ly, XXV. Observations on the Revaees of anaes ans sath Suggestions for a Preventative against the same. By the Rev. F. W. Hope; RBS. Sex: |: eames deg XXVI. Description of a new Secatsy of Auetelen, Moth. By G.R. Gray, Esq., M.E.SS. France and London* . . . .\..... 121 CONTENTS, vil Page. XXVII. Observations on Insects producing Silk, and on the possi- bility of rearing Silk se in England. By the Rey. F. W. Hors, F.R.S., &c. ANY 128 XXVIII. Remarks on some Mechanical Peguliaritien buted ina Spider’s Web observed at Wandsworth, Surrey. By W. W. Saunpmrs, Esq., F.L.S., &c. . ow as wailed X XIX. Gtearuaoee upon he Habits af Conte Wider By Lieut.- Colonel W. H. Sykes, F.R.S., &c. Seo Ue oe - 150 Journal of Proceedings. XV PART III. XXX. Observations on Succinic Insects. By the Rev. F. W. Hopes, F.R.S., Pres. Ent. Soc., &c. : Relish XXXI. Desenpaen of a New Hace saecies of eneeoen Beetle. By J. O. Westwoop, F.L.S., &c. . 148 XXXII. Descriptions of some new series af Coleoptera ous iacoue lately received from Monte Video. By S.S. Saunpers, Esq., M.E.S. . 149 XXXIII. On the Earwig. By J.O. Westwoop, F.L.S., &c. 157 XXXIV. Observations on the Economy of the Strepsiptera, with the Description of Stylops Spenci, a new British Species recently dis- covered. By W.B. Pickerine, Esq., M.E.S. Eo alee any ie 165 XXXV. Observations upon the cial By J.O. Westwoop, F.L.S., &c. d 169 XXXVI. Deena ah a new Sieneqiecans eect Spain Gi: covered in the Island of Mauritius. By J. O. Westrwoop, F.L.S., &e. . 173 XXXVII. Remarks on the Destruction of Cocct. By A. Ivana Esq., A.L.S., &c. 174 XXXVIIL. Observations: on ieratinlis i orninens ‘of wariiiouss fe ing an attempt at its Subdivision into several Species. By Cuarues C. BAaGroN, M.A., F.L.S., &c. Ad A 175 XXXIX. Notice relative to 4épus escent and ieitier aupiaarine Coleopterous Insects. By W. Spence, Esq., F.R.S., Hon. Mem. E.S., &e. AWE Bs ae, XL. Some Neonat of the tend one e the nea te Lieut.- Col. W. H. Sykes, F.R.S., &e. With a Description of ie Species, by J, O. Westwoop, ELS., &e. : 181 XLI. Descriptions of some tedecenited oul Green By Rosert Tempceton, Esq., R.A., &e. . is HG XLII. Notes upon the Habits of various Brash Tee By J.O. Westwoop, F.L.S., &c. 198 XLII. A Description of the cae wind of the Binlencpiera with a view to give a fuller and more certain Development to the Alary System of Jurine. By W.E.Suuckarp . © Vill CONTENTS. Page. XLIV. Monograph on the Coleopterous Genus Diphucephala, be- : longing to the Lamellicornes. By G.R. Waternouse, Esq., ae and Curator to the Zoological Society of London . . . . 215 XLV. On the Predaceous Habits of the Common Wasp, Wewpe vulgaris, Linn. By G.Newrort, Esq. . . . . atone . 228 XLVI. Description of a new Hemipterous Insect fan the Atlantic Ocean. By Rozexrr Tempteton, Esq., RA. &e.. . . . - . 230 XLVII. Case of Maternal Attendance on the Larva by an “Tnsect of the Tribe of Terebrantia, belonging to the Genus Perga, observed at Hobarton, Tasmania. By R.H. ee Esq., M.E.S., in a Letter addressed to the SecRETARY . . , 232 XLVIII. Anatomical Gperatens., upon ie Tawa of iGaiine sycophanta. By Dr. Hermann Burmeister, Fellow of the Natural History Society of Berlin, For. M.E.S.,&e.. . . . . 2aD XLIX. Observations upon the Cain Weevil contained in a “Teton addressed to the Rev. F. W. Horz,F.R.S., Pres. E.S., &e. By Witi1am Mimcsy Hs PL StiCs ie iescte Shi c ote ol. fe ee ae ee ee ee E voumalvel Proceedings’. Wt 1.) 42% = 0 te Ny, hore) ae eee eT istiof Members > (5c. Sr fk ee eee et ae es ea Re Catalogue of Library es Pe a SARE 8 Se eaceovig Explanation of Plates. (fuhh. sot | se iebhe ee Basie Nie oiled ty ova cv Errata and Addenda . . . . 3 evi Address of the Secretary on the qecent pioenecs one present state of Entomology. INTRODUCTION. THE advantages attending the division of labour reach their maximum when not only individuals devote themselves chiefly to one object, but associate together for the purpose of pro- moting and extending it. ‘Thus the division of science into its several branches, and the formation of separate societies for the particular cultivation of each respectively, has been eminently productive of benefit to all, though, perhaps, the system might have worked better had the whole arranged themselves under a supreme head, and become rather the affi- liated members of one parent society, than have erected them- selves into independent bodies. Be that, however, as it may, the advance of any science towards perfection must depend, not only on the number and talents of its cultivators, but also, in no trifling degree, on their acting in concert. To a thorough conviction of this truth the Entomological Society of London owes its existence. Many of our most able and active cultivators of Entomology were desirous of esta- blishing a more familiar intercourse between their fellow- labourers than had hitherto subsisted in this country, in the hope that by facilitating the mutual communication of facts, and the temperate discussion of disputed points, whether theoretical or practical, the progress of Entomology as a Science would be accelerated, and its utility materially pro- moted. No mode appeared so likely to answer this end as the formation of a Society for the purpose of holding pe- riodical meetings, at which, memoirs on entomological sub- a2 1V INTRODUCTION. jects might be received and read; experiments for the de- struction of noxious insects, and improvements in the do- mestication of those useful to man suggested ; oral commu- nications made, and new objects exhibited ; and of forming a collection of insects, and a library of reference for the use of the Members. How far they have succeeded in their object will be best seen by the List of the Society, in which are included the names of many of the most distinguished natu- ralists of the present day, with that of the venerable Father of British Entomology at their head. This is not the place to discuss the merits of the several communications now laid before the world, but we may be allowed to say, that a volume which can boast of so much original and interesting matter as, we fearlessly assert, will be found in the present, could hardly require any reasons to be assigned in vindication of its appearance, had not one of the most distinguished of our Members, after bearing honour- able testimony to the utility of the Society, and ‘the radi- cal healthiness of its constitution,’ expressed, both in his re- cently published ‘ Preliminary Discourse’ and elsewhere, his dissent from the policy of publishing Transactions ‘at our own charges’ at all, considering that a Council ‘so unwise as to plunge the Society into that expense’ must ‘ either in- volve it in debt, or render it necessary to increase the sub- scription.’ That the dignity of a scientific body is best con- sulted by publishing its memoirs in a separate volume devoted solely to the Transactions of the Society, and bearing its name, can hardly be questioned; and a Society which does not consult its own dignity must not look to have it very highly appreciated by the world. We mean no disrespect to any of the scientific journals of the present day; they are all more or less useful, and some of them eminently so, and ex- cellent papers not unfrequently find their way into their pages; but so also do, occasionally, communications of a very dif- ferent character. But it may be asked, can sterling merit be degraded by association with baser matter? Certainly not: ‘the world, however, is apt to lay no small stress on asso- ciations ; in short, the noscitur d socio is applicable to me- INTRODUCTION. Vv moirs as well as to men, and if either desire to get into good society they must take care to avoid whatever is less highly valued in the more refined circles, whether of fashion, litera- ture, or science. Our friend’s chief objection, however, to the publication of Transactions ‘at our own charges’ is that the Society cannot afford the expense, an objection which we confidently trust the Treasurer’s statement of its affairs at the ensuing anniver- sary will satisfactorily answer ; in the mean time we may add, that the success of the Transactions must depend on their popularity, and that again on their merit, and this last on the exertions of our Members, of which we have now the grati- fication of laying, as we think, a fair specimen before the world. Let us hope, therefore, that our friend will soon see cause to change his opinion and dismiss his fears, and as the best ground for doing so, that he will lend his aid towards ensuring the popularity of the Transactions of the Entomolo- gical Society by contributing largely to their contents. Little more need be added; the volume is now before the public, and the contributors to its contents await its ver- dict without fear, because they are certain it will be guided by justice. Let it, however, be kept in mind, that the great and ultimate object of the founders of the Society is to pro- mote the study of Entomology, both with a view to its prac- tical utility in the common affairs of life, and the still more important influence which, when properly pursued, it is cal- culated to exert over the moral and religious feelings of its cultivators. ven within the short period that has elapsed since its formation, an application has been received on behalf of the sugar- planters of the island of Grenada, calling on the Society to take into consideration the ravages which the Cane-fly has of late years committed in that colony, and to endeavour to suggest some means of annihilating, or at least of mitigating the evils of that destructive insect. A Committee was appointed accordingly, who, having given the subject their most deliberate attention, delivered in a report, which is already on its way to the colony; and we have good reason to hope that even in this early instance the Entomological vi INTRODUCTION. Society will prove not to have been founded in vain. As to the influence of Entomology, when rationally pursued, over the mind and heart, none but ‘the fool’ who has said what “none but a fool could have said,’ can deny its power. If the artificial spider in which ‘a thousand movements scarce one purpose gain,’ excite our admiration at the talent that could devise, and the delicate hand that could execute the mechanism by which it describes its few and circumscribed motions, what should we think of that Artificer who, in the ten millionth part of its bulk, can establish organs of motion and vitality incalculably more perfect, incalculably more delicate? The mere collector, who uses his eyes to any tolerable purpose, can hardly miss the inference; but the scientific entomologist, who studies internal structure no less than external form, must be dead indeed to feeling if these wonders of the little world do not warm his heart to the full glow of adoration, and lead him to exclaim, in words like those applied by the poet to inconceivably mightier masses indeed, but not, therefore, mightier evidences of in- finite wisdom and power, ‘These are thy glorious works, Parent of good! Almighty Vs ..? POSTSCRIPT. Ir was not till some time after the foregoing Introduction was written, that the ninth Number of the Entomological Maga- zine came into our hands. We trust our readers will believe, from their general tenor, that no unkindly spirit dictated one line of the preceding pages; and we preface our further ob- servations, unwillingly extorted by the work just alluded to, by the declaration, that no such feelings actuate us even now. We do feel, however, that we should be liable to the imputa- tion of an abandonment of our duty, if we were to suffer some remarks and unfounded assertions contained in the INTRODUCTION. Vil number of the Entomological Magazine for October 1834, to pass unnoticed. We shall make no comment on the sweeping observation at page 332, that all our entomologists, with only four ex- ceptions, are fools, but content ourselves with thanking the editors, in the name of the rest, for the compliment. The assertion, however, in the next paragraph, that the Society is ‘ going down,’ requires severer animadversion. This, it seems, is made on the circumstance that the meeting in September was attended by only twelve Members, and it is repeated at page 434, in the following paragraph: ‘The attendance of ‘members at these sittings has greatly decreased: at the ‘ July sitting about twenty members were present; at the ‘ August sitting, about fifteen; at the September sitting, ‘ about twelve.’ Now, whatever the editors of this journal may please to insinuate, these attendances, considering the time of year, cannot be called bad; and as to their having ‘greatly decreased’ since the opening, it would have been very extraordinary if they had not, when a large proportion of the Members had left London, as always happens in the summer months. But look at the meetings of other societies at the same period, —the Zoological, for instance, —the number of members of that body who attended the scientific meetings in September did not amount on either occasion to twelve, although the proportion of members in the two societies is nearly as twenty-five to one. Is the Zoological Society also ‘ going down’? We have already stated that the Council considered it essen- tial to the credit of the Society that it should publish its own Transactions, and have given the reasons for their coming to that resolution. If any doubt could have been entertained of their wisdom in so doing, as far as the character of the Trans- actions might be affected by association, it is effectually re- moved by the conduct of the editors of the Entomological Magazine themselves, in having admitted that farrago of nonsense which, under the title of Colloquia Entomologica, stands at the head of their present number. So miserable an attempt at wit, and so ridiculous a parade of learning vill INTRODUCTION. throws even Isla’s Domine himself into the back-ground*. Why do they not practise the motto they have adopted,— yynhs ceautoy ? The following passage occurs at p. 333 of the Colloquia! ‘Enr.—I am firmly persuaded, from what I see of the ‘ working members of its Council, that the Entomological ‘ Society will retard, not advance, entomology.’ Very civil! However, spectemur agendo ! As to the hope (p. 332) that ‘the Entomological Society ‘would have been the means of uniting entomologists into ‘one body, and called forth kindlier feelings among us’, we are not conscious of its having failed in that desirable object, nor do we know of any unkindly feelings connected with the Society, except those too palpably entertained by the con- ductors of the Entomological Magazine. And why do they entertain them? We leave them to an- swer that question as they may, and shall merely state the fact, that their wish to publish the Memoirs read before the Entomological Society, in their own journal, was not ac- ceded to hy the Council. We have now ended our unpleasant task, and shall not henceforth think it necessary to bestow any further notice on the Entomological Magazine,—whether it flatter or abuse, praise or condemn us. * ‘Lord! Lord! it was avery Gabilon! (Babylon). More than one full ‘hour were we at it, hand to hand; and to every word I said, he produced, ‘directly, such heaps of proofs and quotations, all in Latin, that it seemed for ‘all the world as if he carried them in the breast-pocket of his large cloak.’ —History of Friar Gerund de Campazas, vol. i. p. 172: London, 1772. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. I. Observations on a Mode practised in Italy of excluding the Common House-fly from Apartments. By WiuLr1AM Spence, Hsq., F.RS., &§c., Honorary Member of the Entomological Society. [Read April 7, 1834.] Tue habits, manners and instincts of insects, their anatomy and physiology, and their useful or noxious properties, will doubtless attract a large share of the attention of the members of the Entomo- logical Society, without inducing them to underrate, as has some- times been done, the importance of the systematic department of the science, on which all accurate information respecting its objects must be founded. Knowledge as to the structure, habits and ceconomy of insects ought, indeed, to be the grand and ultimate aim of entomo- logy; but this knowledge can be neither acquired nor diffused with- out systematic classification, which is the dictionary that must enable us duly to read the great book of nature, and to which, therefore, so long as that dictionary still remains so incomplete, even the largest portion of the entomologist’s labours may be justly given, while, at the same time, no fact, however trifling, relating to the habits and ceconomy of the objects of his study is suffered to be lost, the two great branches of the science, system and the natural history of in- sects (taken in its largest sense), being made to go hand in hand, and mutually to support each other. To one department of the natural history of insects, which has VOL. I. B 2 Mr. Spence on the Italian Mode been hitherto much neglected, I should beg particularly to direct the attention of the Society,—I mean what may be called the metaphysics of entomology, or an investigation of the limits which bound their instincts on the one hand, and that small portion of mind and reason which few will deny them, on the other. And here what is chiefly to be desired are facts, the want of a sufficient collection of which has hitherto been the chief cause of the vague and inconclusive way in which this highly interesting subject has been often treated; as by Dr. Darwin, for example, whose theory of the supposed instinctive actions of animals being really referrible to their reason solely, is mainly built on statements as to changes of the instinct of a species having taken place, when in reality species altogether distinct were confounded together. These facts can be scarcely too numerous or minute if accurately stated; and to show that they may be drawn from sources not hi- therto often considered within the range of the objects of a scientific Society, I shall here beg to lay before you a few observations on a very humble and undignified topic,—a mode practised in Italy of excluding the common house-fly from their summer apartments,— which, though it may perhaps at first view seem a subject more ap- propriate to the pages of a magazine of domestic ceconomy, will not, I trust, when its close connexion with the interesting questions just alluded to, and more especially the curious and unexpected light which it throws on a passage of the father of history, are considered, be deemed wholly unworthy to occupy a share of the attention of the Society. In this country the common house-flies (Musca domestica), towards the close of the summer and the commencement of the autumnal months often become a great nuisance, both from their numbers and the pertinacious curiosity with which every individual of the race seems resolved, for its own satisfaction, to taste, see and touch every object around it, even perching upon and exploring the ‘ human face divine,”’ as if in mockery of our boasted supremacy, and to humble us by the conviction that the equanimity of the philosopher as well as the comfort of the suffering invalid is often at the mercy of a fly. But it is to more southern and hotter climes that we must direct our view if we would form a correct idea of the real pest which these little restless intruders become in the warm months, when they literally almost fill the apartments. Every traveller in the South of Europe during the hot months will confirm the assertion of Arthur Young, that ‘‘they are the first torments in Spain, Italy, and the olive districts of France. It is not that they bite, sting, or hurt, but they buzz, teaze and worry: your mouth, eyes, ears and nose are of Exclusion of the House-fly. 3 full of them; they swarm on every eatable, and if they are not in- cessantly driven away by a person who has nothing else to do, to eat a meal is impossible*.”” And it is evident from various incidental notices in the journals of travellers, that they are to the full as great a plague in the hot climates of other portions of the globe. To omit other instances which it would be tedious to cite, Mr. Stewart, in his recent valuable work on North America, speaks on three several occasions of the annoyance which he suffered from flies, which he seems to have found a worse torment than the mosquitoest. Such being the serious and extensive drawback on the comfort of existence caused by the house-fly in the hot months over a large por- tion of the globe, it will be believed that my curiosity was strongly excited on being told, when at Florence last spring, by a gentleman who has long resided in the neighbourhood of that city, that for two or three years past he had so entirely succeeded in excluding these intruders from his apartments, though allowing the windows to be wide open for the admission of air, that while the sitting- and dining- _ rooms of his neighbeurs swarmed with them, in his a strict search would be necessary to detect even two or three; his plan thus super- seding all the former modes of removing this plague by poisoning the flies by sweetened infusions of green tea, quassia, &e., which were liable to this great and fatal objection, that unless the windows were closed, or covered with gauze (which necessarily excludes the free entrance of the air), fresh hosts of tormentors were constantly entering to replace those destroyed. If my curiosity was excited by this statement, my surprise was not lessened by being told, in explanation of the apparent impossi- bility of thus excluding flies from a room with unclosed windows, that, in point of fact, the openings of the windows were covered with a net, but with a net made of white or light coloured thread, and with meshes an inch or more in diameter ; so that there was actually no physical obstacle whatever to the entrance of the flies, every separate mesh being not merely large enough to admit one fly, but several, even with expanded wings, to pass through at the same mo- ment, and that, consequently, both as to the free admission of air, and of the flies if they had chosen, there was practically no greater impediment than if the windows were entirely open, the flies being excluded simply from some inexplicable dread of venturing across this thread-work. My friend did not profess to have discovered this plan of excluding flies: he first saw it adopted in the monastery of Camaldoli (or La * Travels in France, vol. i. p. 298. ¢ Vol. i. pp. 29, 195, 405. B2 a Mr. Spence on the Malian Mode Verna, I forget which,) near Florence, the monks of which assured him of its efficacy, and afterwards by an artist at Rome, who warmly expatiated on the important advantage which it conferred on him of being able to work in his studio with open windows, and yet free from the personal annoyance of flies, and the equally great one of their settling on his newly painted pictures. Furnished with these hints, my friend, whose practical good sense and habit of observation turns every new fact to profit, lost no time in having thread-nets made, and adapting them to his windows (which, as in Italy generally, are what we call French windows, opening interiorly, so as when thrown back to leave the whole space free), with the completely satisfactory result already mentioned, and this with the least possible expense, trouble, or inconvenience, the cost of a thread-net being a mere trifle, and all that is necessary being to fix it as soon as the flies begin to be troublesome, across the outside opening of the window, where it neither intercepts the air nor view, and where it is suffered to remain until the approach of winter, and the consequent disappearance of the flies. It is not even necessary to be at the expense of an actual net, for if small nails be fixed all round the window-frame at the distance of about an inch from each other, and threads be then stretched across both verti- cally and horizontally, the apparatus will be equally effectual. Here, however, it is necessary to state a remarkable fact which my friend discovered in the course of his observations, namely, that for this plan of excluding flies to succeed, it is essential that the light enter the room on one side of it only, for if there be a thorough light either from an opposite or side window, the flies pass through the net without scruple. This circumstance, though not at all ma- terially lessening the value of the practice, as rooms are usually (or may be) lighted from one side only, must yet be borne in mind in investigating the subject. Before we proceed to speculate on any extraordinary fact, it is essential to be certain of its accuracy, and not only did the result of numerous minute inquiries which I made of my informant, who, though no entomologist, is a very careful observer, convince me of the correctness of his statements, but they have been since amply confirmed in all points by other intelligent friends resident in Italy, who inform me that they have repeatedly seen this mode of ex- cluding flies adopted with perfect success. One of them added that it is not even necessary to have a net, or threads arranged both ver- tically and horizontally so as to resemble one, but that if threads be stretched in a horizontal direction only, across the openings of the windows, at the distance of about an inch from each other, this of Exclusion of the House-fly. 5 is sufficient to keep out the flies. This gentleman also confirmed my previous impression, from all the inquiries I had made, that this mode of excluding flies has not been long practised in Italy and is still little known there, while as far as I could learn it is entirely unknown in France. Such being the facts connected with this subject, the next point to be considered, and that which will chiefly interest the entomolo- gist, is as to the causes of so unexpected a result; in other words, What is it that gives to these thread-nets so terrific an aspect in the imagination of the house-fly, as to deter it as if spell-bound from ever venturing to penetrate through their meshes, though so much wider than its size demands? and to this query I confess that I have no satisfactory answer to offer. The most plausible supposition stated has been, that the flies take the thread-nets for spiders’ nets or webs, and as they are led by their instinct to avoid the latter, they equally avoid the former. Several objections, however, may be urged against this explanation. In the first place, judging from the numbers of flies which are constantly caught in spiders’ nets and webs, it may be doubted whether they are endowed with any peculiar instinct leading them to avoid these snares. In the second place, supposing the existence of such an in- stinct, this feeling should lead the common house-fly chiefly to avoid the horizontal webs of the house-spider (Aranea domestica, Linn.), to which the thread-nets have noresemblance. And, thirdly, supposing its instinct to be equally directed against the concentric-circled nets of the garden-spider (Keira Diadema) to which the thread-nets have a greater, though still but a remote similarity, it is unaccountable how the having a thorough light in the room should dispel the apprehen- sion of the fly, since this very circumstance would make the thread- nets more closely to resemble these spiders’ concentric nets, which are usually fixed in open places with a free admission of light on each side. But in truth it is premature to speculate as to the motives of the actions of the flies until the facts have been with this view more care- fully observed by professed entomologists, and it is chiefly in the hope that some of the members of the Entomological Society wiil direct their attention to the subject in the course of the ensuing autumn, that I have thrown together these hasty and imperfect no- tices. The points to which it is most important to advert would seem to be, the thickness and colour of the threads, whether those of a dark are as effectual as those of a light colour, and the result of substituting for them thick cord or worsted; the size of the meshes, 6 Mr. Spence on the Italian Mode, &€. and the ascertaining the extreme width at which they cease to have effect; how far mere horizontal threads are as effectual as a net- ~ work of both vertical and horizontal ones, &c.: and by observations on these points and various others which will suggest themselves, and especially by carefully watching the motions of the flies on the outside of the windows, as to their approaching or avoiding the net, and their different conduct when a thorough light is admitted, there can be little doubt that some approach may be made to a solution of the question, whether their movements in this case are influenced by pure instinct or by reason and calculation, and thus some valuable additions be made to the metaphysics of entomology, that branch of the science which, as I began by observing, has been hitherto so much neglected, but is in itself so highly interesting. Another point, too, to which it seems desirable to pay attention is as to the precise species of flies which have this dread of passing through a net. It seems probable, from the facts stated, that not merely the common house-fly (Musca domestica), which chiefly swarms in our apartments, but the other species of the same genus which in smaller number intermingle with them, as well as Stomoxys calci- trans, which from its attacks on our legs is often a greater pest, and, indeed, the dipterous tribes in general, are all equally deterred from traversing this imaginary boundary. But before this supposition can be fully adopted, more exact observations than have yet been made require to be instituted, and it would also be desirable to have similar experiments made as to the house-flies of America and other hot countries, in which it is probable that in the same way as our common sparrow (Fringilla domestica, Linn.) is replaced in Italy by another species (F’. cisalpina, Temm.), which to an ordinary observer seems identical with ours, but is really distinct, the prevalent house- fly may be a species nearly allied to Musca domestica, which it re- places, but distinct from it. I shall conclude my remarks with briefly adverting to the con- nexion, alluded to in the introductory paragraphs, which has been unexpectedly found to exist between this subject and a topic of clas- sical criticism. On mentioning the facts above recorded, when I first learnt them at Florence, to my family circle, my eldest son ob- served that he recollected a passage in Herodotus in which a similar statement was made as to gnats, and fetching the volume, he pointed out the chapter in which the father of history distinctly says, that certain Egyptian fishermen defended themselves at night from the gnats by covering their beds with the nets which they had used in the day for fishing, and through which these insects, though they bit through linen or woollen, did not even attempt to bite. But as to Mr. W. B. Spence on a Passage in Herodotus. ii enter fully into this matter would at present occupy too much of the Society’s time, on which I have already trespassed longer than J originally meant, and as, besides, it will be best that he to whom this unexpected coincidence first occurred should himself explain the sub- ject in detail, I shall leave it to him to lay before the Society the passage in question, and such comments as it may suggest, at a fu- ture meeting. II. Remarks on the Passage in Herodotus referred to in Mr. Spencr’s Paper, read at the April Meeting. By W.B.Spence, Hsq., M.E.S. France, For. Sec. Ent. Soc. [Read May 5, 1834. ] I sxc leave to lay before the Society a few remarks on the passage of Herodotus referred to in my father’s late paper, which was brought to my recollection on hearing him mention that flies were kept out of houses at Florence by merely having a net stretched across the windows. The passage in question occurs in the second book of Herodotus, in which, after having given a general description of the customs, manners, and religion of the Egyptians, he goes on to describe the natural history of the country, and forms the 95th chapter, which is as follows : 95. pos 02 robs xdbywmas adbbovous ovras Tad THI EoTs Meunavy= , \ \ , 9 ~ « 4 Nae ¢ « / ? / > Prev. TOUS MEV TH AV THY EAEWY OIXEOVTAS OF TUpyo! wWhsAeOUTs, ES ods ayabulvovres xoimeovTas of yap xovwmes Ord TéY cvemwy OUx clot (eens) G ~ / ~ x \ Me, aay, / > \ ~ TE clot OYod meTeoOas. ToIos Os meph TA AEH OlxzouT! THOE avT) Ta 7 > \ , 2e5 Fi SLE AN SAL F, 2 t W TUPYRY AAAL MEULYNKAVYTAL TAS aYND aUTEWY &upibanor poy EXTYT Aly TH THs mev Hugons ins dypedes, THY OF vUxTa Trade AUTH paras ev TH avamavetas xolTy’ melt Tadtyy ioryos TO auhibAnrrpov, xal emeite ev0Uc, Um attra xabeddes. of OF xa HY mev ev imation everareamevo gs a eVOEL. Ob Ve XmVOTEC, HY Mev EV iMaTIC IE CLLEVIS e xn / A 4 J Ny \ -~ 4 BENS ~ ev0y } oivd0vs, Qik ToUTWY DaxvouTI® ih OF TOD OinTdoU OvdE mEIpwyTc > ly AEX NV. Of the above passage the following is a translation, which I have made as literal as possible; but that there may be no doubt of its general accuracy I have compared it with the various translations of Schweighauser, Larcher, and Beloe, with which in substance it exactly agrees : a) Mr. Ww. B. Spence on a Passage in Herodotus. « But against the gnats, being in great numbers, these are the means they have invented: the towers are of service to those who inhabit the upper parts of the marshes, and ascending into them, they sleep there, for the gnats, on account of the winds, are not able to fly high. But those who live around the marshes have invented other means instead of towers. Every man of them possesses a casting- net, with which during the day he catches fishes, and at night he makes use of it in the bed where he reposes, round which he places the net, and then, having crept under it, he sleeps. But the gnats, if he sleeps wrapped up in a woollen or linen garment, bite through these, but through the net they do not even attempt to bite.” From this passage, then, it is clear that Herodotus affirms the same fact with regard to the Egyptian Conopes (which, both from what he says of their frequenting marshes and biting by night and the re- cieved interpretation of the word, there can be no doubt were one or more species of gnat, musquitoe, or Culer,) as has been observed of the house-fly, namely, that they will not pass through the meshes of a net although the space is sufficiently large to admit them. If Herodotus had mentioned merely a net, one might have supposed that he meant some very thin gauze or other net-like substance, such as the gnat-curtains are made of at the present day; but he says it was a casting-net (@ugiSayersov) used by fishermen, and must have had meshes much wider than sufficient to admit a gnat; nor, I think, can there be even a shadow of doubt on this head, when we consider that he adds that they bite through linen and woollen coverings, and yet do not even attempt to bite through the net ; which circumstance seems to prove that he was struck with this as a curious fact, which he imparts to his readers in his usual concise manner. It will also be seen from the expression used, that the net was not merely laid on the bed as a covering, but sustained by some support, (as a pole or bedstead,) so as to form a kind of tent, into which form the casting- net from its shape could be easily arranged, and under which the fisher- men then crept, and thus slept secure from their formidable as- sailants. This is also the meaning attributed to the passage in Schweighzuser, who says, ‘‘ lecte circumponit rete, deinde subrepens sub illo dormit.” Thus it would seem that the beds so covered agreed in all essential points with the Florentine rooms, of which the open windows had nets stretched across them, the gnats in the one case being asserted by Herodotus to be kept out under nearly the same circumstances as the flies are known to be excluded in the other. But here an objection may arise : May not this coincidence be ac- cidental? Can we be sure that if flies are excluded by nets, gnats Mr. W. B. Spence on a Passage in Herodotus. 9 will be so also? In short, can we warrant the conclusion that the assertion of Herodotus is correct ? And, until the experiment has been fairly made, we cannot be certain that gnats will be excluded from beds as flies are from rooms. But at the same time, judging from analogy, and the great improbability that so unusual a mode of de- fence, and one so unlikely @ priori to be effectual, should have been a mere fiction without a foundation of truth, there seem strong grounds for believing the fact to be as stated by Herodotus ; and that though, as is well known to people who live in hot climates, gnats soon find their way through holes in gauze curtains, yet it is very probable that they may be afraid of venturing through a net, just as this last is sufficient to keep out flies, though we know that they will creep through the linen sides of a meat-safe. And thus the father of hi- story may be found to be as correct in this passage as Geoffroy de St. Hilaire has shown him to be in the history of a bird (Charadrius Egypticus of Hasselquist) taking the gnats out of the mouth of the crocodile, which was deemed a mere fable until fully confirmed by the evidence of this naturalist when in Egypt. (Vide ‘ Déscription de Egypte,’ Histoire Naturelle, tom.i. p. 198—205.) If it shall be proved by experiment, as seems not unlikely, that a person in bed may protect himself against the attacks of gnats merely by stretching a wide-meshed net over the place where he lies, it may be regretted that this simple fact related by Herodotus as known to the Egyptian fishermen 2300 years ago, has been so long over- looked, and remained in reality quite unknown. Adopting this sim- ple mode of protection, a traveller in marshy districts would have only to provide himself with a piece of netting three yards long and a yard wide, not taking up, when rolled, more than a few square inches of his trunk, and throwing this over a slight support of a few pieces of cane or whalebone equally portable, he would be secure from at- tack, though the net were but a few inches above his body, and the width of the meshes would not offer the slightest impediment to re- spiration and the free circulation of the air; whereas it is almost out of the question to use a piece of muslin or gauze in the same manner at a slight elevation above the body, on account of the suffocating heat that would ensue; and if, in order to obviate this, the traveller were to carry with him common gauze curtains, as now in use, sufficiently spacious to inclose the whole bed, the time and trouble required in arranging and applying them would often be such as even to deter him from making use of them, and to make him prefer taking his chance without any defence. If there is thus cause for regret that this fact, which appears so im- portant, should have been so long and so completely overlooked, it 10 Mr. W. B. Spence on a Passage in Herodotus. seems not less to be wondered at that the passage in Herodotus which announces it should have been so little noticed by commentators, not one of whom seems to have been struck with the singularity of his statements, which, whether correct or not, equally required observa- tion. One would think that in reading this passage it must have seemed to them rather strange that a casting-net whose meshes must have been wide enough to admit several gnats at a time should yet be asserted by Herodotus to be a sufficient defence from them, though they bit through either linen or woollen ; and one may be well sur- prised that whilst they have spent pages on passages far less curious, they should pass this over with a mere reference to Juvenal or Horace where these authors allude to the conopeum, or gnat-cur- tain. The fact seems that all these commentators have been led astray by the word conopeum, confounding the casting-net of the Egyptian fishermen with the gnat-curtain of the Romans, which both from the definitions given of it, ‘‘ linum tenuissimis maculis nectum,” (“ thread knitted together in very fine meshes,”) and from the use as banners, to which Horace supposed it applied, “ Interque signa (turpe !) militaria Sol aspicit conopeum,” (Epod. lib. ix. ode 9.) was evidently of a texture resembling our muslin or gauze. If, therefore, they had been duly struck by the passage, they ought either to have shown how it was that a casting-net could exclude gnats as effectually as gauze, or else, that in point of fact the texture of both was the same, the casting-net having, notwithstanding the apparent absurdity of the supposition, meshes so small as to prevent gnats from coming through them, or, on the other hand, the conopeum though applicable for a banner, having meshes as large as a casting- net. But nothing of this kind has been attempted in the way of explanation by Schweighzeuser, Larcher, Baehr, or any of the com- mentators I have consulted, who all seem to regard the conopeum, or gnat-curtain, to be the same as the amphiblestron of Herodotus, when in fact, except in the advantages derived from each, they have no more similarity than the paper bags used for covermg grapes have with a cherry-tree nett. In concluding these imperfect remarks, I hope, in order to put be- yond question the accuracy, or the contrary, of the statement of He- + Ina curious poetical tract, entitled ‘An Epistle from the Fens to Mr. ** * * ** at Rome,” dated May 1, 1727, which my friend the Rev. F. W. Hope, F.R.S., purchased at Mr. Heber’s late sale, and which he has had the goodness to show me since the above was written, the author falls into the same error with all the com- Descriptions of new exotic Coleoptera. ll rodotus, that such of the members of the Entomological Society as may have an opportunity will make experiments as to the efficacy of nets in excluding gnats from beds, noticing particularly whether the result be affected by the circumstance of the room being light or dark, or by the colour of the threads or the size of the meshes; and I trust also that such entomologists as may hereafter travel in Egypt will direct their attention both as to the exact species of gnats which may abound there, and as to the fact whether the fishermen still de- fend themselves from them in the mode pointed out by Herodotus. Ill. Descriptions of some hitherto uncharacterized exotic Coleoptera, chiefly from New Holland. By the Rev. FP. W. Hore, W4., FHS. £.8., Se. {Read December 2, 1833.] Order COLEOPTERA. Family Gyrinipz? Avetororus*, Hope. (Genus novum.) Antenne 1\\-articulate, articulo lmo maximo, 2do minori rotun- dato, 3tio parvo, tenui, hoc et reliquis clavam elongato-oyalem, compressam efformantibus. Caput breve in thoracem ad oculos immersum. Labrum transversum, margine antico fere recto. mentators in referring, in the following lines, to the passage of Herodotus in ques~ tion, which he quotes: “ See with delight the great relief appears, Known by the fame of twice a thousand years ; See the close net of size immense and deep Flows round the bed and guards the dome of sleep. What though the gnats incessant wave their wings, Vain their efforts, and harmless are their stings. Soon as their swarms the adverse bound beset, Checked they retire, nor pass the impervious net.” He here, like the commentators, regards the modern gnat-curtain as precisely identical with the amphiblestron of Herodotus, without giving himself the trouble to point out how his epithets ‘close’ and ‘impervious’ could be applicable to a casting-net. * Zdnros incertus, et roaos locus. 12 The Rev. F. W. Hope’s Descriptions Mandibule valid, cornee, externe convex, apice subacute, in- terne dentibus binis obtusis armatz. Mazville lobo interno acuto, falciformi, ciliis rigidis interne armato ; lobo externo palpiformi, 2-articulato. Palpi mazillares breves, 4-articulati ; articulis tribus prioribus equa- libus; ultimo ovato, truncato. Mentum magnum, corneum, valde emarginatum; dente medio obtuso. Palpi labiales 3-articulati, articulo lmo minimo, 2do paullo majori, 3tioque maximo truncato. Corpus parvum, oblongum, antice posticeque rotundatum. Thorax conicus, antice abrupte truncatus, parte postica latitudinem elytrorum equante; ad latera valde deflexus. Prosternum acutum, inter pedes anticos protensum. Pedes breves; femoribus oyato-dilatatis, tibiarum basin fossula re- cipientibus. Tarsi simplices, 5-articulati, longitudine tibias equantes. Ungues recti. Adelotopus Gyrinoides. Plate I. fig. 1. Ater, nitidus ; marginibus thoracis pedibusque piceis. Long. corp. lin. 23, lat. lin. 1. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat in Nova Hollandia. Caput atrum. Thorax concolor, marginibus lateralibus parum re- flexis piceis. Elytra marginata, abrupte truncata, sparsim punc- tulata; punctis, sub lente, parum distinctis. Corpus infra nigrum, nitidum ; segmentis abdominis postice, pedibusque piceis. This singular insect was sent to me from the Swan River settle- ment in New Holland. It seems to unite in itself the characters of several families. From the tarsi it is referrible to the Pentamera, whilst its general appearance and clavate antennz place it among the Necrophaga. By the subcontractile legs, (for the bent tibie are not entirely concealed within the femora,) it is allied to Byrrhide, but the leading character afforded by the maxille evinces a near affinity with the Entomophaga, amongst which the Gyrinide must be considered the nearest in proximity, Gyrinus bicolor, Fab., some- what approaching this insect in form. Family Byrruip2. Microcuaztes*, Hope. (Genus novum.) Antenne 11-articulat, clavate, articulo Imo magno, 2do paullo mi- * pixoos parvus, et xcairn capillus. of new exotic Coleoptera. 13 nore, quinque proximis longitudine decrescentibus, 8vo paulle latiori cyathiformi, binis proximis lunulatis, ultimo maximo conico ovato. Labrum breve, transversum, antice ciliatum. Mandibule trigonz apice 3-dentatz, sinu interno infra dentes mem- branaceo. Maville \obis binis valde ciliatis, interno breviori. Palpi mavzillares 4-articulati, lmo brevi, 2do duplo longiori, 3tio brevi, ultimo elongato ovato. Mentum transversum antice vix emarginatum. Labium membranaceum, basi dilatatum, apice rotundatum. Palpi labiales 3-articulati, breves, articulo ultimo binis precedentibus conjunctim quali. Corpus orbiculare, setulis obsitum. Pedes breves, compressi, contractiles ; femoribus dilatatis, posticis solummodo versus basin dente obtuso externe armatis. This insect approaches in its antennz and setose body to the genus Nosodendron, but the oral structure is more nearly allied to that of Byrrhus. The 3 basal joints of the tarsi are strongly ciliated, while the 4th is naked, and seems almost incorporated with the 5th joint. The tubercles on the thorax and elytra are formed of short rigid hairs. Microchetes sphericus. Plate I. fig. 2. Totum corpus supra nigrum, fusco tomentosum ; pedibus piceis. Long. corp. lin. 2, lat. lin. 13. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat in Nova Hollandia apud Swan River. Clypeus rotundatus, subtiliter punctulatus. Thorax 4 tuberculis notatus, medio dorsi fere positis. Elytra tuberculis horrentia, tuberculis triplici serie dispositis. Corpus subtus concolor. Family ELarerip&. Macromatocera*, Westwood MSS. (Genus novum.) Antenne corpore paullo longiores, compressz, 12-articulate, arti- culo 1mo crasso, binis proximis minutis equalibus fere rotun- datis, 3tio autem supra basin articuli sequentis extenso, reliquis longitudine zqualibus, depressis, apice singuli interne acute paullo producto, ultimo apice subconico. Mandibule falcatee, apice acute, basi excavate. * wuxoos longus, oearos planus, et F TUS, opeuros planus, et xteus cornu. i4 The Rev. F. W. Hope’s Descriptions Labrum sublunulatum. Maville parve, subquadrate, externe longe pilosz, lobo unico apicali fere trigono tomentoso. Palpi mavillares 4-articulati, breves, articulo 1mo minimo, reliquis zequalibus, apice latioribus, ultimo autem subtrigono truncato. Palpi labiales in scapos duos inserti, 3-articulati, articulis fere equa- libus rotundatis, apicali autem paullo majori. Mentum transverso-quadratum, antice medio parum producto. Labium parvum, subrotundatum. Prosternum acutum, in foveola mesosterni receptum. Pedes longissimi, tarsique tibiis longiores. Macromalocera Ceramboides, Hope. Plate I. fig. 3. Flava, elytris concoloribus lineato-punctatis. Long. corp. lin. 11, lat. lin. 2. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat in Nova Hollandia. Antenne compresse. Caput foveola inter oculos impressa. Thorax marginatus, subconyexus, angulis posticis paullo elongatis, an- tice posticeque capillis aurantiis obsitus. Scutellum atrum. Elytra lineato-punctata, pubescentia. Corpus infra concolor, tarsis subtus auricomatis. Macromalocera cenosa, Hope. .Preecedenti affinis. Corpus supra infraque fuscum ; antennis, sutura, marginibusque elytrorum flavescentibus. Long. lin. 11, lat. lin. 2. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat cum preecedenti. This insect, as well as the former species, was sent to England by Captain Roe from the vicinity of the Swan River. None of the Elateride approach them in the length of the antennz, from which I have chiefly drawn the generic characters ; and I think it is not im- probable that Buprestide, somewhat, approaching this genus, will eventually be found in the same wonderful country. Family TENEBRIONIDS. Scorazus*, Hope. (Genus novum.) Antenne subpectinate, ante oculos sub margine capitis inserte, 11- articulate, articulo Imo crasso, 2do brevi minimo, 3tio binis an- * gcuorass tenebricosus. of new exotic Coleoptera. 15 terioribus fere equanti, septem proximis trigonis, apicibus acute productis, ultimo paullo minore. Maville \obo externo magno, inermi, ciliato, interno parvo. Palpi mazillares 4-articulati, articulo 1mo parvo, 2do duplo longiori, 3tio parvo fere cyathiformi, ultimo securiformi maximo. Prosternum inter pedes anticos acute productum et in carinam meso- stern receptum. Metasternum inter pedes intermedios obtuse productum. Caput fere quadratum, angulis anticis acutis rotundatis. Labrum transversum, antrorsum pilosum. Oculi reniformes, septo antice subdiviso. Pedes mediocres. Tarsi articulo ultimo valde elongato. Scoteus Corallipes. Plate I. fig. 4. Niger, antennis subpectinatis, femoribus tibiisque rubro-corallinis tarsisque atris. Long. corp. lin. 9, lat. lin. 33. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat in Java. Labrum antice pilosum. Caput punctatum, oculisaureo-micantibus. Thorax convexus, punctis numerosis irregulariter sparsis, fossulé media parum distincta, medio dorsi ad scutellum decurrente. Elytra nigra, lineato-punctata. Corpus infra atrum nitidum, femoribus tibiisque rubro-corallinis, tarsisque nigris infra pu- bescentibus. Antenne nigre. Family Curcunionip&. Lopnotus, Schonherr. Loph. nodipennis, Hope. Plate I. fig. 5. Ater, rostro canaliculato postice niveo, elytris unituberculatis, maculaque albida inter tuberculas et apicem posita. Long. corp. lin. 10, lat. lin, 24. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat apud Conception Americ Meridionalis. Caput nigrum, rostro brevi in medio canaliculato, postice capillis albidis obsito. Inter oculos spinz due atrz serie setarum con- structe. Thorax cylindricus, antice constrictus, subtilissime punctatus. Elytra striato-punctata, postice spina elevata acuta utrinque armata. Maculaalba fere trigona utrinque inter spinas et apicem elytrorum extensa. Corpus infra nigrum, maculis argentatis notatum. Pedes nigri, femoribus incrassatis postice- que albo marginatis. This singularly formed insect was brought by Mr. H. Cuming 16 The Rev. F. W. Hope’s Descriptions from Conception: it belongs to the genus Lophotus, Schonherr, to whom I sent it, with another new species, named by me L. tri- fasciatus, also from Valparaiso. In the second volume of Schonherr’s work, one species only is given, viz. L. Eschscholtzii. The Curculio Vitulus, Fab., however, must be considered as the type of the genus, which consequently comprises four distinct species. Family Prionrp2. Prionus, Fabricius. Prionus pilosicollis. Plate II. fig. 1. Piceus ; thorace bidentato, dentibus postice arcuatis, piloso; anten- nis pedibusque rubro-piceis. Long. corp. lin. 124, lat. lin. 6. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat in Nova Hollandia apud Swan River. Antenne compress, rubro-picez,fere longitudine corporis. Caput punctulatum, antice densius pubescens. ‘Thorax capillis elongatis auratis obsitus, utrinque postice dente acuto, retrorsum arcuato armatus. LElytra serie irregulari punctorum excavatorum in- sculpta. Corpus infra aureo-pilosum. Pedes rubro-picei; tibiis externe spinosis, anticis arcuatis. Family Lamimp2x. Decartruria*, Hope. (Genus novum.) Antenne corpore longiores, 10-articulate, articulo 1mo crasso, 2do minimo, reliquis longitudine equalibus, ultimo apice acuto. Caput supra breve, facie transverso-quadrata, oculisque quatuor in- signita, binis supra basin antennarum positis, binisque majoribus lateralibus. Labrum semirotundatum, ciliatum. Mandibule subfalcate, acute, basi incisura notate. Palpi mazillares 4-articulati, articulo 1mo minimo, 2do precedenti duplo longiori, 3tio fere trigono, ultimo elongato conico acuto, tribus primis longitudine «quali. Mazille \obis duobus elongatis apice ciliatis. Mentum breve, transversum. Labium productum, basi angustatum, apice ciliatum. Palpi labiales 3-articulati, articulo 1mo minimo, binis sequentibus fere sequalibus, ultimo apice conico. Decarthria Stephensii, Guilding’s MSS. Plate II. fig. 2. Pallide testacea, antennis variegatis elytrisque nigro maculatis. * dex decem, agbeoy articulus. of new exotic Coleoptera. lj Long. corp. lin. 3, lat. lin. 4. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat in Insula Sancti Vincentii Indiz Occidentalis. Antenne corpore longiores, testacez ; articulis (secundo excepto) apice nigricantibus. Caput flavum. Thorax margine anteriori flavo, disco postice fuscanti. Elytra testacea, basi punctata, humeris medio prominentibus, nigro maculata, macula obscura media magna quadrata, 2da apicali 3tiaque intermedia minori. Corpus infra fusco-testaceum, tibiis anticis emarginatis, inter- mediis unispinosis. This is the smallest Capricorn insect that has come under my no- tice. It appears closely allied to the genus Mesosa of Megerle, from which I have separated it, as the antenne have only ten articulations, whereas the latter has eleven. It was captured in the Island of St. Vincent’s by the Rev. Lansdown Guilding, and named in ho- nour of J. Francis Stephens, Esq. The eyes are similar to those of the genus Tetraopes; and the incrassated legs, with regard to the size of the insect, are remarkable. Srenoverus, Dejean. Stenoderus Roei. Plate II. fig. 3. Niger; thorace antice constricto, elytris rubris, antennis in medio penicillatis. Long. corp. lin. 10, lat. lin. 2. In museo’ Dom. Hope. Habitat in Nova Hollandia apud Swan River. Caput porrectum, nigrum, inter oculos canaliculatum. Mandibule atre, acute. Antenne nigre, articulo basilari longo, apice- que crassiori, tertio fasciculo pilorum ornato. ‘Thorax antice angustatus, constrictus, utrinque subspinosus, supra tubercu- latus. Scutellum atrum, postice rotundatum. Elytra rubra, elevato-quadrilineata. Corpus subtus nigrum, nitidum ; pedi- bus concoloribus. The following species belong to the genus Stenoderus, viz. 1. 2. 3. 4. Stenoderus suturalis, Oliv. East Indies. yee: Fab. Cerambyz, Syst. Eleuth. 2. 275. ceramboides, Kirby. concolor, M’L. Roei, Hope. I have named this last species in honour of Lieut. Roe, R.N., whose arduous services in surveying the coasts of Australia will be more properly appreciated as that country becomes better known. VOU. I. c 18 The Rev. F. W. Hope’s Descriptions 5. Stenoderus pulcher. Flavus; antennis nigris, elytrisque postice cyaneis. Long. lin. 64, lat. lin. 2. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat in Nova Hollandia. Caput porrectum, supra et subtus flavum. Antenne nigra. Thorax obscure flavus. Scutellum concolor, postice rotundatum. Ely- tra basi aurantia, apice ceerulea, nitida, elevato-quadrilineata. Corpus infra cyaneum, nitidum; femoribus quatuor anticis flavis; tibiis tarsisque nigris ; pedibus posticis concoloribus. I perfectly agree with Mr. Kirby that this genus recedes from the Eepturide: it belongs undoubtedly to the Cerambycide, and ap- pears to have some affinity with the South American Rhinotragus of Dalman and Cosmius of Klug; it agrees with both in regard to the produced head, and with the latter in having the antennz some- times penicillated. Tracocerus, Dejean. Tragocerus Spencii. Plate II. fig. 4. Aurantius ; thorace nigro elytrisque nigro-bifasciatis. Long. lin. 16, lat. lin. 44. In museo Dom. Hope. Habitat in Nova Hollandia. Caput antice rufo-piceum, medio pilis flavescentibus ornatum, fo- veolatum, posticeque atrum. Antennz setacez, elytris breviores, rufo-picee. Thorax ater, nitidus, subvillosus, ad latera pilis flavescentibus indutus, marginibusque lateralibus in medio sub- unidentatis. Scutellum atrum. Elytra abdomine longiora, apice angustiora, dehiscentia, truncato-subemarginata; sutura lineis- que quatuor in utroque elevatis longitudinalibus, quarum ex- terior vix distincta, bin sequentes equales e humeris ad apicem extense quartaque interna e latere scutelli decurrens et paullo ante apicem terminata. Elytra parum nitida, fascia media nigra deflexa, secunda postica latiori. ‘Thorax subtus et pectus atra, cinereo-pubescentia. Abdomen antice posticeque rufo-piceum, segmentis tribus internis nigris nitidis. Segmenta basi utrinque albo-maculata, ultimo solummodo excepto rufo. I have considered this very beautiful insect as not unworthy to bear the name of our distinguished countryman and Honorary Mem- ber, William Spence, Esq., F.R.S. &c., whose labours, in con- junction with those of our Honorary President, have tended to give of new exotic Coleoptera. 19 to our favourite science the greatly increased degree of general at- tention with which it is now regarded. I propose dividing Tragocerus into two sections, viz. a. Elytris apice bidentatis. B. Elytris apice rotundatis. These characters, however, it is to be observed, may hereafter be ascertained to be sexual instead of sectional. To the former section belong, 1. bidentatus, Don. 2. Spencii, Hope. 3. flavicomus, Hope. (Sp. nov.) 4. Lepidopterus, Schreibers. To the latter belong, 5. fasciatus, Don. 6. sulphurifer, Hope. Pacnytocrrus*, Hope. (Genus novum.) Antenne crass, elytris breviores, 11-articulatee, articulo 1mo maxi- mo, 2do minimo, tribus sequentibus fere rotundatis, quinque proximis subtrigonis apice interno productis subpubescentibus, ultimo fere ovali, apice subarticulato. Caput quadratum, angulis posticis rotundatis, antice canaliculatum, lineis binis elevatis, clypeo excavato, posticeque foved inter oculos et antennas fortiter impressa. Labrum parvum, transversum, antice subemarginatum. Mandibule breves, interne dentate. Palpi mazillares breves, articulis tribus primis equalibus, ultimo magno, conico, apice truncato. Palpi labiales articulis duobus basalibus zqualibus, tertio magno conico, apice truncato. Mentum breve transversum., Thorax antice posticeque constrictus, transverse rugosus. Prosternum inter pedes anticos paullo productum. Pachylocerus corallinus. Plate II. fig. 5. Rubro-corallinus ; thorace rugoso nigro-maculato, elytris rubris vittisque nigris variegatis. Long. lin. 13, lat. lin. 34. In museo Dom. Smee. Habitat in India Orientali. Antenne rubro-ferruginez, articulo 2do nigro, duobus proximis ® wagcuros Crassus, xtgus COPNU. G2 20 Descriptions of new exotic Coleoptera. apice nigricantibus, reliquis colore pallidiori saturatis. Thorax ruber, rugosus, antice et postice linea nigra elevata marginatus, dorso maculis binis atris oblongis notatus. Scutellum nigrum. Elytra rubra, sutur4, marginibus lateralibus, e medio disci ad apicem nigricantibus, vittisque duabus nigris notata, vitta in- terna basi interruptéa. Corpus subtus atrum, thorace rubro, abdomine nigricante. Pedes rubro-coralline femoribus apice nigris, geniculisque concoloribus. This singular insect inhabits the vicinity of Omlecope Dawar in the East Indies, and was captured on a prickly thorn by Captain Smee, from whose cabinet it is described. Cerambyz crassicornis, Olivier, is the only species allied to it, the locality of which is not given by that author; I have little hesitation, however, in asserting it to be an Indian species. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES. Note.—The line placed near some of the insects indicates their natural length. PLATE I. Fig. 1.