1914. 143 



1882, the Eev. H. S. Grorham exhibited a Coccinella from Coleford, 

 Gloucestershire, which, being marked with four ocellated spots only, 

 was almost certainly the var. biocellata, Gebl., of Anatis ocellata. 

 Mr. G-orham, however, considered that it was intermediate between 

 the latter and Mysia oblongo-gutta f a, but he did not believe it to be a 

 hybrid. The report of this meeting goes on to say that several 

 members remarked on the really small amount of variation to be 

 found in this group, although commonly believed to be variable ; and 

 Mr. C. 0. Waterhouse said that only two British species could be said 

 to vary to any appreciable extent, namely C. variabilis and G. bipunc- 

 tata. We now know that species possessing a stable pattern are the 

 exception rather than the rule, and it seems doubtful whether, notwith- 

 standing the opinions just quoted, the insects in question were really 

 less variable in 1882 than they are at the present time. 



In Coleopt. Brit. Isl. VI, p. 106, the name C. 11-punctata \a,r. con- 

 ■fluens, Donisth., is retained on the ground that it is recognised in the 

 last European Catalogue ; but there are at least three reasons why the 

 name m question is untenable : (a) the name confluent is pre-occupied 

 for a variety of the same species by Haworth, 1812 ; (b) the insect has 

 a prior name, e.g., brevifasciata, Weise ; (c) the publication of the 

 name was unaccompanied by a description of the insect. Some speci- 

 mens of C. 11-punctata from Eenvyle, Co. Gtalway, given to me 

 by the late Canon Cruttwell, belong to var. nigrofasciata, Eossi 

 (2 + 3 + i, 4 + 5). 



Anyone who wishes to know what varieties of our Coccine 

 have been characterised must consult Mulsant (op. cit.) ; he 

 with the matter very thoroughly, but uses distinctive letters ii 

 place of names, and therefore, to those who find that the latter are 

 more readily memorized than the former, his work is less useful than 

 it otherwise would have been. 



Colesborne, Cheltenham : 



March 3rd, 1914. 



