336 Mr. J. Walton on the genus Apion. 



Birch Wood, Mickleham, and other places, always upon the Lotus 

 corniculatuSj in July. 



46. A. afer, Schonh. (1833). 



— validirostre, Schonh. 



-^ puncticolle {WdX^vh. MSS.), Steph. Manual (1839). 



I possess eight foreign examples of this species, sent to me 

 by Schonherr, Germar and Chevrolat all under the first name ; I 

 have closely examined and compared these with a long series of 

 eighty- three specimens of Ap. puncticolle, and no doubt exists in 

 my mind that they are identically the same ; M. Chevrolat and 

 Mr. Waterhouse agree with me in this opinion. It is an insect 

 that is subject to sexual and individual variation, and the va- 

 rieties in a long series gradually pass one into another, so that no 

 separation can be made. 



According to Germar, Ap. validirostre of Schonherr is the male 

 of this species. 



I met with a great number of this insect the beginning of 

 July amongst grass on hedge-sides near Turner's Wood, H amp- 

 stead. 



47. A. scutellare, Kirb., Germ., Schonh., Steph. 



— Kirbii (Leach MSS.), Germ., Steph. 



I sent specimens of this insect under the name of Ap. Kirbii 

 to Schonherr, who referred them to Ap. scutellare of his work. 

 Kirby originally characterized it with the latter name, and I re- 

 gret that in strict accordance with the law of priority it cannot 

 be changed. The late Dr. Leach placed in the national cabinet 

 (at what period I have no means of determining) three insects 

 under the name oiAp. Kirbii, which undoubtedly belong to Ap. 

 scutellare. Germar has described* an insect with the name Ap. 

 Kirbiij and added this note : " According to the description of 

 Ap. scutellare, Mon. 78, we should distinguish this insect as 

 being it, if Dr. Leach had not sent the same as a new species 

 under the above name ; but should this have been done through 

 mistake, this description will at least serve as an addition to that 

 ofKirby.^' 



I have found this insect very plentiful on the furze {Ulex 

 eicropaus) near Lyndhurst, and in Windsor Forest in June, and 

 also at Shirley Common in October. On the furze. Ascot Heath, 

 in great abundance in July and August, Mr. S. Stevens. 



48. A. obscurum, Marsh., Kirb., Steph. 



Two examples of this species were found amongst a parcel of 

 insects given to Mr. Marsham by A. B. Lambert, Esq., one of 



* Germ. Mag. iii. App. p. 50, 1818. 



