18 NOTES UPON THE GENERA SITONAj &C. 



Isle of Oxney, in Kent, a spot which abounds with insects, 

 particularly Hymenoptera. A. cEstimim. This species has 

 the anterior trochanters, in both sexes, dark or piceous : an 

 uniform and good character, to assist in separating it from its 

 congeners. A. rujicrus seems also a very good species ; it 

 may be instantly known by its black anterior coxae and tro- 

 chanters, broad head, prominent eyes, and coarse sculpture : 

 the only insect it is likely to be mistaken for is the female of 

 A. difforme. A. xaripes is a good and distinct species ; it is 

 easily recognised by the lower half of the intermediate and 

 hinder tibiae being black, and by its long and very much 

 curved rostrum. 



A filirostre. The female of this species has a broad testa- 

 ceous ring at the apex of the anterior femora, which seems to be 

 a sexual distinction, as I could not discover it in the males. 

 There is a female specimen in Mr. Kirby's collection, with this 

 testaceous ring, which seems to have escaped his eye. I first 

 noticed it in a specimen of Mr. Ingall's, as a singular charac- 

 ter in a black insect. A. ebeninum. I have taken this insect 

 in great plenty from the LoUis major, in several wet or damp 

 localities, growing amongst rushes, near old clay pits or old 

 stone quarries ; I have no doubt it feeds upon this plant, having 

 frequently taken it alone upon it. A. Ononis. This insect is 

 very local in Yorkshire. I swept the Ononis arvense in a great 

 number of places before I met with the insect ; it was very 

 plentiful when I found out its locality. A. puncticolUs is a 

 distinct new species, in the cabinets of the Entomological Club 

 and Mr. Waterhouse. 



Every species of this boundless science is of itself a study. 

 A knowledge of the habit of insects, when acquired, is of 

 great value, and depends on close attention to every possible 

 variety of size, form, colour, &c. It is somewhat modified by 

 individual variations of form ; and with me I confess it is a 

 work of time to become familiar with it ; but it is there I am 

 convinced; and, when known, it is surprising how quickly species 

 are recognised. In my opinion, the sculpture of every species 

 has a general character peculiar to itself, yet frequently subject 

 to individual and important variations in the arrangement of 

 the punctures, striae, furrows, &c. He who insists on mathe- 

 matical precision in the sculpture of every individual of a 

 species, as if every insect was stamped with a die, or cast in a 



