10 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '92 



south of Pennsylvania, & in the geographical distribution of 

 insects, we are led to believe that 30 degrees of latitude pro- 

 duces a total change in the insect species of countries, thus 

 remote from each other. It would be proper to observe, how- 

 ever, that we have other insects which seem to be also inhab- 

 itants of S. America & I may here particularize those two 

 species of Philcurus mentioned in our last letters. 



Another cause of doubt to my mind, arises from the inspec- 

 tion of a figure of the dispct) on plate 236 of the Encyclop. 

 Methodique ; this figure represents that insect to be more 

 than double the size of our specimens, & of an entirely differ- 

 ent form as respects proportional length, being much wider 

 and more robust than our insect. If I could implicitely rely 

 upon the accuracy of all the figures engraved in that work, I 

 should have no hesitation in pronouncing upon the subject, & 

 declaring our Brcntus to be a distinct species ; but, unfortu- 

 nately those engravings, are, in many instances, very indiffer- 

 ent, & some of them convey false images of the species which 

 they are intended to elucidate. The desc". which Fabr. gives 

 of the dispar does not state the size of the insect (a defect which 

 in a great degree reigns throughout his works) & is besides 

 very brief ; & as I have no other figure than that above re- 

 ferred to, nor a more copious description than that of Fabr. to 

 which I can refer, I must stiil draw upon your familiar ac- 

 quaintance with the writings of the German authors, as well 

 as upon your own knowledge for further information respect- 

 ing the specific identity or discrepance of the North & South 

 American Insects which have been regarded as the dispar. I 

 will only further remark on the characters of our specimens 

 that the portion of the Fabrician description of ' ' elytris acu- 

 minatis" which he attributes to the dispar, certainly does not 

 accord with our insect 



# ; ^ %. ^ ^ ;; 



I am perfectly convinced of the justice of ) r our reasoning 

 respecting Lytta civerca & that it would be improper to separ- 

 ate it from the genus. 



I have sent you the numbers of the Journal of the Acad. 

 Nat. Sciences regularly as they were published ; did they all 



