1896.] 107 



thorax truncate at base, the tegmina tcctiform and wholly or partially 

 vitreous and transparent, regularly reticulate, and very broadly rounded 

 at apex, the costa dilated and more or less distinctly venose transversely, 

 and by having the radial vein furcate not far from the base ; the wings 

 are absent or rudimentary. 



Ne^thus semivitreus, n. sp. 



Parvus, brevis, testaceiis, tegminibus fere circularibus, opacis, mavuld 

 lata cent rail irregulariter vitred, venis crassis elevatis ; elavo ad marcjincm 

 maculls qulbusdam parvis fuscatis. 



A small and short species of a testaceous colour, with the tegmina almost semi- 

 circular, opaque, with the margins partly transparent, and with a very large irregular 

 vitreous patch in centre, occupying the greater part of the surface ; the venation is 

 much less close and less regular than in N. vitripennis, and from the veins proceed 

 very short, incomplete, transverse veins ; the clavus has several very small dark 

 spots on its outer edge ; the posterior tibice are plainly bispinose, and their apical 

 spines are well marked. Long., 4 mm., lat., 2 mm. 



Hnh. : California, Signorct's Collection. Two female specimens 

 (Vienna Museum Collection). 



Among Signoret's insects I have found a considerable number to 

 which names are attached of which I can find no trace in any publi- 

 cation, and it appears evident that they are merely MS. names ; no 

 less than ten species of Clasfoptera are named in this way. Great 

 confusion arises from the practice of naming species without describing 

 them, and it is obvious that no name should ever be attached to a 

 species before the description is written and ready for the printer ; 

 one or two authors have made the confusion much worse by referring 

 in subsequent publications to species which they have in this way 

 named and never described. 



The School House, Lincoln : 

 3£arch, 1896. 



Coleoptera at PorlocTc, Somersetshire.- — On February 17th last I arrived at 

 Porlock for a short stay, in search of health — and beetles. The nature of the 

 country seemed very promising, but, after constant and energetic effort during 

 several days with scarcely any good result, I had to pronounce it disappointing. In 

 the woods the ground and trees were thickly covered with moss and lichens, and 

 afforded fair hope of yielding Carabus intricatus and other desirable species, but the 

 most persistent search failed to induce anything beyond an occasional Tachyporus 

 hypnorum to tumble out upon my nice new sheet of paper. Logs were fairly plen- 

 tiful and in good condition for working, but bark proved almost as barren as moss. 

 I next tried water — the running streams and the ditches near the shore — but could 



