1903.] 97 



in Ireland. There S. suhrotundafa is common enough, but *S^. atrata 

 {pace Mr. J. J, Walker) lia.s not been found. The differences between 

 them are decidetl and constant. The former is on the average Lirger; 

 it is broader in proportion to its length, less parallel-sided, and has 

 the disc of the thorax less closely punctured ; the retlexed margin of 

 the elytra is very strongly developed and extends almost to the apex, 

 while in S. (if rata the margin is much feebler and scarcely reaches 

 beyond the middle of the elytra. I think, therefore, that S. sahrotundata 

 may very well claim to be a distinct species and not a mere variety of 

 IS. atrata. It is found in a different county, it has decided and 

 constant ptjints of difference, and it breeds true to itself, varying in- 

 deed in size and colour, but still uiaintainiug its distinguishing 

 characteristics of sculpture and structure, i suggest that this solves 

 the question as to the absence of *S'. atrata from Ireland and the Isle 

 of Man, for if «S'. subrutuiidata be a distinct species, the absence of 

 8. atrata from its habitat is a matter of indifference. As to its deri- 

 vatioi], i do not think we have any data to work upon, nor do 1 think 

 we have any means of knowing which of these insects existed first. 

 It is true that IS. atrata has the wider range, but I am not disposed 

 on that account to allow it greater antiquity, and 1 fancy that Ireland 

 and Isle of Man are just as old as the rest of the world. 



Actoii Glebe, Pujntzpass: 



December 20tli, 1902. 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW EUROPEAN SORONIA. 



BY MALCOLM CAMERON, M.B., R.N., F.E.S. 



80RONIA ELON&ATA, n. sp. 



More elongate and narrower than S. punctatisxima, 111., and 'S'. grisea, L., 

 shining, of a ferruginous-red colour. Head transverse, with an obscure V-shaped 

 impression on the front, rather thickly and coarsely punctured, the pubescence 

 yellow, scant ; antenna) ferruginous. Thorax transverse, slightly rounded on the 

 sides, narrowed in front, its greatest breadth just before tlie base; anterior margin 

 broadly excavate, the anterior angles prominent, but rounded ; lateral borders 

 narrowly explanate ; posterior border slightly sinuate on either side, posterior 

 angles obtuse ; the surface with a rather dense double punctuation, consisting of 

 larger and smaller punctures ; ferruginous-red, not spotted witli black, the pubes- 

 cence scantj, yellow. Elytra elongate, parallel in the anterior two-thirds, then 

 gradually rounding off ; lateral border narrowly depressed ; the surface of each 

 elytron with four feeble longitudinal ridges and irregular rows of large coarse punc- 

 tures, the interspaces being thickly and more finely punctured; ferruginous-red, 

 the scutellary region a little obscure, a small yellowish-red ill-defined spot on the 



