592 Retrospective Criticism. 



because the sight must be supposed to pass through the long ocular foot- 

 stalks; rather than from dis, twice, and opsisy or " assisted inspection," as 

 J. D. has rendered it. Respecting the derivation of Elenchus, there must 

 be some mistake ; for Curtis, speaking of the pseudelytra, or short lateral 

 appendages of the thorax, says, " viewed above, they look like pendants 

 for the ears; whence the generic name :" he has not, however, given the 

 Greek root. The word Mormolyce (not Marmolyce, as misspelt), it has 

 been suggested to me, has reference rather to the shape of a violin, of 

 which a'slight idea is given by the form of the insect ; but your editorial 

 supposition of its allusion to a hideous spectre appears equally probable. 

 The derivation given of Chiasognathus does not exactly express Mr. 

 Stephens's intention ; since he mforms me that he alluded to the peculiar 

 manner in which the jaws cross over each, the Greek word chiazb referrmg 



to the letter X. ■ -, r, 



The engraver, in introducing the antennee near the eyes, m the figure 

 of Diopsis, cut out the two fine spines which arm the centre of the 

 ocular footstalks (and which were represented in the proof which I saw), 

 probably supposing that the antennee had been misplaced in their former 

 situation. The more highly magnified figure, which I now enclose, 

 (fig. 103.), of one of these footstalks, exhibits this spine, as well as the 

 103 .,*''■'" peculiar situation and structure of the 



antennae. 



I omitted to mention that the first 



notices and figure of Elenchus Walkeri 



appeared in this Magazine (Vol. III. 



p. 332.), where it is mentioned by Mr. 

 Dale as a " very minute Stjlops ? " Curtis mentions only one speci- 

 men, captured by Mr. Dale * ; but that gentleman (in Vol. IV. p. 266. 

 of this Magazine) makes further mention of a " Stylops ? or n. g. ? 

 Walkeri?" taken in the preceding June, without reference to his previous 

 notice : adding, " I cannot find any bee about likely to produce a Stylops 

 now ; it might come from some Fespa, and then would probably be a 

 Xenos ? " ; with the farther addition (p. 267.), " The Stylops is certainly 

 a new genus, and the only one in the order which I have taken this year." 

 I also omitted to mention, that the Paussidas, as well as the Diopses, are 

 inhabitants of the tropical climates of the Old World, being found in 

 India, Sierra Leone, Senegal, &c., and that several species of Stylops are 

 found in England. 



For " stirpes," p. 326. line 4., read " stipes," the footstalks, or basal 

 portion, of the mentum or chin< — J. O. Westwood. The Grove^ Hammer .wtithy 

 May 24. 1832. 



* I would here request permission very earnestly to suggest to this 

 most indefatigable gentleman, that the manner in which some of his most 

 valuable captures are announced is sadly tantalising to those who, like 

 myself, have no means of obtaining further information upon the subjects 

 which he mentions : for instance, in the passages quoted above, doubts 

 may be entertained whether both statements refer to the same insect. Is 

 it a Stylops, a Xenos, or an Elenchus ? surely the inspection of the 

 antennae would instantly have shown whether it belonged to Xenos, as 

 Mr. Dale appears at one time to have considered. In like manner, what 

 is the fact to be learned in the indecisive statement contained in No. 19. 

 [Vol. IV. p. 267.] : — "I once had a specimen of J96mbyx menthastri, and 

 six of Ophion vinulae, hatched from the pupae of JJombyx vinulus ; which 

 is certainly a curious fact." Again, many of the most interesting announce- 

 ments in his paper, in No. 25. [Vol. V.p. 249 — 252.], are very perplexing, 

 and marked with interrogations. 



