iS96.] 117 



the not unnecessary question, whether all the insects recorded by him 

 and by Shuckard as British have really a claim to be so regarded. 



With the kind assistance o£ Mr. Waterhouse, I have lately been 

 enabled to examine thoroughly and compare with well-determined 

 continental specimens the national collection — now at South Ken- 

 sington — so frequently referred to by Smith and Shuckard. Further, 

 Dr. Mason, who possesses Smith's own collection, has had the great 

 kindness to send me not only that collection entire, but all the other 

 Chrysids in his possession, and has allowed me to forward any dubious 

 insects for the opinion of M. du Buysson. Messrs. A. Beaumont, 

 W. H. Harwood, and E. Saunders have also been good enough to put 

 all their Chrysids at my disposal, so that, with my own British and 

 continental collections, I have had a good deal of material to assist 

 me in the enquiry which forms the subject of these notes. 



It will be best, I think, to start from Smith's list (Ent. Ann., 

 1862, p. 82) as a basis, and put what I have to say into the form of 

 notes upon it, the name standing at the head of each note being that 

 adopted by him. 



Genus Cleptes. 



C. semiaurata. — M. du Buysson has given reasons for separating 

 G. semiaurata, Linn., and C. pallipes, Lep., as distinct species. 

 There is a difference in the structure of the anterior coxse (see 

 "Species," vi, plate 6). Further, pallipes has always blue or violet 

 metallic reflections, usually very conspicuous, in the black apex 

 of the abdomen, which are entirely wanting in semiaurata, and the 

 legs, especially the tibise, of pallipes are nearly always much lighter 

 in colour, being in the main pale testaceous, while those of semiaurata 

 are almost black. All the British specimens I have seen belong, 

 without exception, to ^rtZ/epes. Whether the tvxxe semiaurata is also 

 British is a question which may be settled, if other collectors pos- 

 sessing insects so named will examine their specimens, and record the 

 results. On referring to the descriptions of semiaurata given by 

 earlier authors, I find that the vast majority are clearly referable to 

 pallipes. Linne's own description does not seem to me clear. He 

 calls the apex " nigro " simply, not alluding to the blue, which he 

 could hardly have failed to notice in pallipes ; but on the other hand 

 he speaks of the rest of the abdomen and the tibiae as " ferrugineis," 

 which, though vaguely so, seems rather suggestive of pallipes. Fabri- 

 cius, Panzer, Shuckard, Wesmael, Dahlbom, Smith, and Frey-Gcssner 

 all notice the blue on the abdomen and the pale logs of the insects 

 they call semiaurata, which must accordingly be pallipes. Thomson's 



