270 [Mv, 



It is an exceedingly rare species on the Continent. The only- 

 known British example was taken by Mr. Dale near Langport, Somer- 

 set, at the end of June, 1843. 



S.. ocliraceus, Wesmael, is a discovery made since the publication 

 of the " Synopsis :" vide Ent. Ann. 1863, p. 137. 



It may be worthy of remark, that according to the types, H. humuli 

 of Stephens (111. p. 108, 7) is not the Liunsean species of that name, 

 but a small pale form of H. nervosus, Fab. ; whereas 3. lutescens, 

 affinis, paganus, apiealis, subfasciatus, irroratus, and marginatus, of 

 Stephens, are all forms of the true humuli. 



Through the kindness of Mr. PifFard, I have just added to my 

 collection a British example of Drepanopferyx pJialcenoides, taken at 

 Windermere, by Mr. Strouvelle, of Wiudermere College. This insect, 

 though common on the Continent, is very I'are here ; I believe that 

 all the native specimens have occurred either in the north of England 

 or south of Scotland. 



ON SOME PECULIARITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEMIPTEBA— 



HETEROPTEBA. 



BY J. W. DOITGLAS, 



During the critical examination of the Heteroptera, two kinds of 

 variation from typical structure came under my notice. 



\st. Abnormal structure of antennae. — In the section Lygceina 

 examples frequently occur having one of the antennae shorter than the 

 other, and in every such case the shorter one has 3 instead of 4 joints. 

 The first and terminal joints are of the usual form, the last generally 

 slightly shorter than usual in the respective species, but sometimes 

 longer, the second joint about half as long again as in the other antenna, 

 and the joint corresponding to the 3rd in the ordinary form wholly 

 wanting. The result is that the antenna, although it has but three 

 joints, is longer than if the joints were of the normal length, yet is 

 perceptibly shorter than the other antenna ; it is dwarfed but not 

 deformed. This peculiarity never extends to both of the antennae; itoccurs 

 as often on the left side as on the right, and is not confined to either 

 sex, and the insects so affected are in other respects perfectly developed. 

 The most remarkable thing is, that it is always the 3rd joint that is 

 wanting ; the impression produced on the observer is that Nature, 

 having been short of material, had yet determined to produce the 

 terminal joint as essential to the functions of the antenna, and had 

 endeavoured to do the best she could under the circumstances by 



