206 [JPebruai7, 



EXTRACT FROM M. ALLARD'S PAPER ON SITONES, &c. 

 BY E. C. EYE. 



M. Allard, under the modest title of "Notes pour servir a la Classi- 

 Jtcation des Goleopteres du genre Sitones,''' of whicli the first part has 

 recently appeared in the Annals of the French Entomological Society 

 (Tom. xiv., 1864, p. 329 et seq.), having, in the most able manner, re- 

 viewed the different species of this genus (a frequent crux to beginners), 

 giving numerous distinctive chai'acters, and an analytical table. I now 

 propose to extract therefrom such parts as are likely to be useful to 

 British Entomologists ; adding a few remarks of my own. "When the 

 remaining portion of M. Allai'd's paper is published, a communication, 

 similar in character to the present, will appear in this Magazine. 



M. Allard remarks, that the Sltones appear only to be found in 

 cold or temperate regions ; and that of the 56 species known, 23 are 

 exclusively proper to Europe, and 24 of the remainder are found in 

 Europe, as well as in Asia, Africa, or America. He also adds, that it 

 is reasonable to expect to meet with all the Asian and African species 

 in the middle of Europe. 



I subjoin M. Allard's analytical table, so far as it affects the species 

 hitherto recorded as British ; from which it will be seen that the three 

 groups of Schonherr (wherein the sub-depression, moderate prominence, 

 and extreme prominence of the eyes constitute the sole characters of 

 separation) are disregarded in favour of an arrangement which is less 

 likely to be artificial, as it is founded on a study and compai'ison of 

 several parts of the body, instead of being limited to any one organ. 



EiEST GrROUP. — Tliorax truncated before and behind, moderately 

 enlarged in the middle, and assuming in its enlargement a form more 

 angular than rounded. Elytra convex ; contracted in their lower third, 

 and ending rather in a point. 



\st divisivn. — Elytra elongate, more than twice as long as broad. 



A. Eyes very prominent (no British species.) 



B. Eyes but little prominent. 



1. Elytra not set with slight white bristles. 



a. Insect variegated with brown and grey ; 

 scutcllum concolorous: elytra rather strong- 

 ly puuctate-striato griseus. 



2. Elytra set with little, white, erect, and very con- 

 spicuous bristles (no British species.) 



2nd division. — Elytra shorter, and more oval. Form of tho 

 insect more compact, or the elytra moderately longer than 

 tho head and thorax together. Eyes very slightly prominent. 



