DESCRIPTIONS OF CKYPTOCEPHALI. 249 



think of publishing, I considered that about 100 species, (which is 

 20 more than Mr. Stephens' gives in his Systematic Catalogue), 

 would be as many as I should get. I have now, however, made 

 drawings of 173 species, which occupy 22 plates; besides which, I 

 have several still by me to figure, which have occurred since, so that 

 with these, and some others 1 am in search of, I shall not be surprised 

 if I reach 200 species : whether, however, I am in the end enabled to 

 publish, is a mystery, as my expenses for each copy will be consider- 

 ably above the price fixed, £1. Is. Standish, who coloured Curtis's 

 Entomology, estimates the colouring of the plates alone, that is, the 

 173 species, to amount to 16s. 6d. per copy; and I have many other 

 items to add. — Do you think that out of your numerous correspon- 

 dents you could induce any of them to send me the Hce I am most in 

 want of, (that is supposing such fell in their way) ? Whether they are 

 from British examples of the animals, birds, &c., or from continental 

 ones, is of no moment, as the same species will have the same kinds 

 of parasite all over Europe. The specimens might be sent in a letter 

 very easily. VV hat I want most are the Uce of the hare, otter, hedge- 

 hog, squirrel, pine marten, mole, shrew, dormouse, fox, seal, rat, mouse, 

 bat, red deer, roebuck, — bustard, black stork, crane, roller, golden 

 oriole, Cornish chough, bee-eater, little bittern, quail, pratincole, ger 

 falcon, merlin, eagle owl, little owl, scops owl, northern diver, great 

 auk, little auk, avocett, stilt plover, little bustard : — most of these are 

 so rare that there is little hopes of obtaining them, still specimens 

 might occur, upon which, if any friend would search, he might be able 

 to do me an essential service, as after so long a time spent upon the 

 subject, I am extremely anxious to render my work (whether publish- 

 ed by myself or a bookseller), as perfect as possible. I have received 

 very great assistance from Mr. Selby, Sir Wm. Jardine, Rev. L. Je- 

 nyns, Mr. Thompson of Belfast, "Mr. Tweedy of Truro, — ^but still 

 you will see that it is exceedingly difficult to get the materials for 

 such a monograph as I meditate. Many of the above lice might be 

 found, I am sure, by searching dried skins of the animals ; as I have 

 detected several upon birds in oiu: museum, which had remained under 

 the leathers for many years. Professor Burmeister of Halle informed 

 me a few days since in a letter, that he is also engaged upon a thick 

 4to vol. on the Epizoica. — Henry Denny. — Philosophical Hall, 

 Leeds, Jan. 21th 1840. 



SHORT COMMUNICATIONS. 



Descriptions of eight new Cryptocephali, captured near St. 

 John's Bluff, E. Florida, hy Edward Doubleday, Esq. 



Sp. 1. Cryp.bivius. Antennae fuscsB, basi ferrugineae : caput ferrugineum, 

 macula suboculari albida : prothorax albidus, lineis 4 longitudinalibus, 

 puncto laterali, marginibusque nigerrimis : elytra dorso ferruginea, la- 



