220 Mr. J. Walton on the genus Trachypliloeus. 



3. Trachyphlceus scahriculm, Linn., Fab., Mus. Banks., Herbst, 

 Marsh., Stepb., Kirb. MSS. 



— setarius (?) Schonh. 



— scaber, Schonh. Syn. Ins. Suppl. vii. p. 117. 



— maculatus (var. /3.), Schonh. in litt. olim. 



— digitalis, Steph. secund. ejus Mus. 



— occultus, Chevr. in litt. 



According to the description of Linnaeus, and to an insect in 

 the Banksian cabinet, named Cure, scahriculus of Linn, by Fa- 

 bricius, it appears that this insect is correctly referred to Linnseus 

 by British authors. 



There is considerable difficulty in reconciling the notices of 

 Tr. scahriculus and Tr. scaber by Schonherr with those of Germar 

 and of himself, and I fear I am in some measure responsible for 

 the discrepancies. In October 1840 I sent to M. Schonherr, 

 among many other insects, three specimens of this as Tr. scaber, 

 Mus. Linn., and as Tr. scabriculus, Mus. Banks., and the same 

 of Marsh, and of Steph. : T was led into this error by there being 

 three insects in the Linnsean cabinet, so placed as to induce a 

 belief that they were all alike, whereas I subsequently discovered 

 that only one had attached to it the name of ^ scaber/ and that it 

 differed from the others which were really Tr. scabriculus ; this I 

 greatly regret, as it appears to have induced M. Schonherr on my 

 authority to refer this insect incorrectly to Tr. scaber of Linn., 

 by which much confusion in the synonymy has been created. I 

 sent specimens to Germar as Tr. scabriculus of Fab., Mus. Banks., 

 Marsh., Kirb. and Steph. : he remarked, " Your specimens seem 

 to me to be the true Cure, scabriculus of Linn., and were new to 

 my collection. ^^ 



Recent and immature varieties not unfrequently occur of 

 smaller size, with the body rufous or ferruginous ; the elytra va- 

 riegated with cinereous and fuscous scales and densely clothed 

 with erect white scales ; these varieties, without a long series of 

 specimens and a very close comparative examination, are very 

 liable to be considered as distinct species : of this variety I sent 

 specimens to Schonherr as a new species which he named Tr. ma- 

 culatus, but he subsequently referred it to this insect as a variety*. 

 I likewise sent similar specimens as Tr. maculatus of Schonh. to 

 Germar, who observed, '' I believe it to be Tr. setarius of Schonh. 

 and scabriculus of Herbst f;'^ he also sent me a foreign specimen 

 which clearly belongs to this variety, as do specimens forwarded 

 to me by Chevrolat as Tr. occultus. 



Tr. scabriculus is chiefly distinguished by having the thorax 

 greatly dilated and rounded at the sides, and having in front a 



* Syn. Ins. vii. p. 117. t ^b. ii. p. 492. 



