NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 221 



nate. By this means, the question of groups having heen reduced to a few 

 which are most closely coincident, doubts which cannot be dispelled by the 

 best synopses, are either confirmed or dissipated at once. This subject I 

 think eminently worthy M. Ghienee's consideration, and that of all systema- 

 tists who may succeed him. I would beg him to think upon it in connection 

 with his subsequent works, and at least tell students why he values less a 

 solid and self-satisfying reputation, built on essential and successful impetus 

 given to his favorite branch of study in all parts of the civilized world, than that 

 ephemeral position of being the temporary authority for the little entomologi- 

 cal world ; and if in addition to synopses of all bis groups, under the next 

 most general in value, he would add to his works delineations of the dis- 

 tinctive parts of structure in every genus, instead of colored representations of 

 a few moths, his works would possess an enduring and permanent value, so 

 long as entomology as a study engages the attention of the student of nature. 



Homiptera of the North Pacific Exploring Expedition under Com'rs Kodgers 



and Ringgold. 



BY P, R. UHLER. 



The Hemipterous insects, brought home by the Expedition, furnish several 

 new and remarkable species, and much praise is due the indefatigable botanist 

 of this Expedition, Mr. Charles Wright, for displaying such zeal in bringing 

 together so many interesting objects. The insect fauna of many of the countries 

 touched at, particularly that of Japan, being almost entirely unknown, renders 

 every addition of species from those localities exceedingly desirable, and it 

 would be matter of deep interest to have an opportunity of examining full 

 series of them. 



Considering the importance of the species procured, it is much to be regretted 

 that extensive facilities were not afforded for bringing together a general col- 

 lection ; but, under the existence of contingent circumstances, this was not 

 possible. 



The absence of any extensive collection of exotic Hemiplera in this country 

 renders it impossible to decide with precision upon a few of the species here 

 included ; but should they hereafter be found to have been previously charac- 

 terized, the proper acknowledgments will be made. As there seems to be no 

 settled opinion in the minds of Entomologists respecting certain groups, par- 

 ticularly with such families as Halydce, Pentatomidce, Rliaphigastridce, &c, and 

 still further on, with Mictidce, Nematopidce, Acanthocoridce, &c, and having met 

 with a genus (Pachycephalus) which violates the characters of the families 

 given, I thought it better to place the included species in two large groups 

 (Pentatomoidea, Coreoidea), corresponding with the genera Pentatoma and Coreus, 

 of Fabricius. 



SCUTELLERID-iE. 



Callidea, Burm. 



C. Stollii, Wolff, Icones Cimicum, 48, tab. 5, fig 45. Hong Kong. 



Eccorysses, Amyot et Serv. 



E. superbus 9- Deep orange ; head bluish-black, lateral lobes and the 

 middle one at tip sanguineous, transversely wrinkled, rostrum and antenno 

 black, pubescent, eyes and ocelli brownish ; thorax deep orange, obsoletely 

 punctured, a lunulate, black depression just behind the head densely, coarsely 

 punctured, exterior and anterior edges black, spot upon the disk, one upon 

 each humerus, and a connecting band upon the basal margin also black ; be- 

 hind each anterior angle is an oblong, rounded, shallow impression, blackish ; 

 corium black, punctured ; wings dark-fuliginous ; scutellum finely punctured, 

 with a band at base, an irregular one dilated and projecting medially forward. 

 I860.] 



