278 THE entomologist's record 



I see that the Cidaria russata and C. imma7iata discussion has been 

 re-opened, and I am very much interested in Mr. Fenn's paier. But, 

 after all that has been said, I am verj' much in the same position as 

 before. In one of my former notes I had already answered Mr, 

 Fenn's question, but I may repeat again, what I have said before, that 

 the Cidaria we get here from June to October, both inclusive, is 

 nothing more or less than one and the same species, namely, im- 

 manaia. Here, the species commences to come out about the third 

 week in June, and increases in abundance until August or the be- 

 ginning of September, when it is at its maximum, it then gradually 

 decreases in numbers until October, when it disappears. Ova from 

 the June ones produce larvse, which come out in September, aug- 

 menting the brood which lie over until August or September; and 

 further, this second brood copulate freely with the others, and all lie 

 over the winter as ova. Var. comvia-notata is very scarce here, but I 

 have taken the var. several times. I do not doubt but that the var. (?) 

 known as riissala, is regularly double-brooded in England ; but, 

 whether the insect, appearing intermediate between the two broods, 

 and, I understand, merging into both of them, is distinct from nissata, 

 is another matter. I am open to conviction, and I shall be extremely 

 glad if Mr. Fenn can give us some reliable distinction, whereby we 

 may know how to separate the two species ; but, as yet, my own con- 

 viction is, that there is only one species, viz. immanata, and that 

 russata is only a highly specialised form of Cidaria inunanaia. In 

 my opinion, its being double-brooded counts for nothing. Insects are 

 double-brooded in one part of the country, and single-brooded in 

 another ; double-brooded one season, and not in another, or only 

 partially so. And, is it not quite possible that one form of an insect 

 could be double-brooded, while another is single-brooded, even in the 

 same locality? If Mr. Fenn, or any other entomologist, can point out 

 a structural difference between the two, so-called, species, then, and 

 not till then, can anyone call them two distinct species. It is right 

 that I should say here, however, that my references to the June and 

 July immanata depositing ova, which appear, as perfect insects, in 

 September, is in a state of confinement. I have no idea if they do 

 so in nature, but I know that quite young larvse are obtained in the 

 beginning of August. I see Mr. Fenn and I agree in thinking that 

 only one species is got in the north. And it is quite possible that 

 all the southern (English) ones, I have seen, are immanata ; but this 

 is hardly likely, as the russata form appears to be most common near 

 London. I, like Miss Kimber, would be much obliged to Mr. Fenn, 

 if he would kindly send round one or two true russata in the Ex- 

 hibition Box, even though not in very good condition. Had there 

 been room I would have sent round a few from my series, with dates 

 affixed. — W. Reid, Pitcaple, Aberdeen. Nov. 25///, 1890. 



The Genus Donacia, Fab.^ — The beetles contained in this genus 

 comprise some of the handsomest examples to be found in the 

 Coleopterous fauna of the British Isles. The name given to them is 

 derived from the Greek word donax, which signifies a reed ; and the 

 term is exceedingly applicable to this class of phytophagic beetles, as 

 •^ Abstract of a paper read at the meeting of the City of London Entomological 

 and Natural History Society, on December 18, 1890. 



