BY JOHN WALTON. 19 



mould, will never be at a loss for arguments to multiply new 

 species, and to support bad ones. It is natural to suppose — 

 and it is supported by analogy — that insects are liable to slight 

 variations of sculpture, which should not be considered as 

 specific, but only an individual difference. The sculpture is 

 so variable in its nature in different species, that I have long 

 been of this opinion, that it is exceedingly difficult, if not 

 impossible, for language, however copious, to give to the 

 mind a correct idea of the same ; consequently, I think 

 it is of use, and of great assistance, to refer to other de- 

 scribed species, as a collateral aid to understand the sculpture 

 of others. 



In the following list of insects, I have only given a few foreign 

 synonyms, and such only of the British as were necessary to 

 identify as much as possible the insects themselves : my 

 reasons for not giving more of both are, that I believe the 

 principal part of them are yet in a very incorrect state ; it 

 would, therefore, only have increased the obscurity. 



Having very considerably reduced the number of species in 

 the preceding genera, I expect the attention of entomologists 

 will be drawn to the subject, and my conclusions investigated : 

 this is what I desire; and I shall be glad to render any 

 gentleman all the assistance I can, in the communication 

 of specimens, by which he may confirm or refute such 

 species as may be doubted. I have stated what I believe to 

 be the truth, and if in error, it is but a common infirmity of 

 human judgment, from which the most skilful cannot claim 

 exemption. 



I remain, my dear Sir, yours truly, 



John Walton. 



P.S. — Annexed is a List of the Species, with the synonyms; 

 those marked with an asterisk I have found in Yorkshire. 



SiTONA, Germ. Sitona, Germ. 



• 1 Spartii, Kir. MSS. * 3 lineatus, Fab. 



Ulicis, Kir. MSS. chloropus, Kir. MSS. 



femoralis, Slrph. * 4 tibialis, Gyl. Dej. Cat. 



* 2 hispiduliis, Fab. affinis, Kir. MSS. 



rufipes, Kir. MSS. albescens, Kir. MSS. 



pallipes, Sicph. lineatulus, Kir. MSS. 



chloropus, Marsh. 



