1879.] , 279 



Von Harold's remarts had better therefore be ■withdrawn or explanied. But I 

 may observe that when I made my description of 3f. distinctvm I compared the in- 

 sect with Motschoulsky's descriptions and came to the conclusion that it was not P. 

 hcBmorrhoum ; and I see, on again going over the question, no reason to doubt that I 

 was right in my conclusion : independently of the quasi-generic differences of the 

 two, Motschoulsky's diagnosis of P. hmmorrhoum is quite inapplicable to M. distinctum 

 in two points, viz., " pedibus pieeis," and " elytris . . . iuterstitiJs basi convexis." 

 Farther, I think that Harold had not my 31. distinctum before him when he wrote 

 the remarks above alluded to, for his phrase, " Thorax sehr fein punktirt," is not ap- 

 plicable to my insect. The probability seems to be that Harold's supposed P. 

 h(Einorrhoum is a species still in need of a name. 



It may not be amiss to add that Harold, in his remarts on Cercyon Sl/arpi (I.e.), 

 has mistranslated my statement about the tibia? of C. dvx. I said (Trans. Ent. See, 

 1873, p. 65) "allied to C. UttoraJis, but has the antei-ior tibisB simple at the extremity." 

 Harold says, however, that I remarked that " dux has the front tibiae unarmed " 

 (" unbewaffnet ") . Such, however, was not my meaning. Actually, in C. dux the 

 front tibise are armed externally with very short seta; or spines ; the tibia; are dilated at 

 tlie extremity, and their outer angle is extremely rounded, and the lower part is 

 densely set with very short spines, among which may be perceived two longer, but 

 yet quite short teeth. This structure can only be distinctly recognised when recently 

 developed specimens are examined, for the fossorial habits of the species cause the 

 front tibise to be much worn and altered, by the gi'inding down of the spines and 

 edges. By using the term "simple at the extremity" I did not at all intend to refer 

 to the armature of the outer edge, but to the fact that the tibife in C. dux show no 

 trace at all of the prolongation and narrowing of the apical portion which gives the 

 appearance of an emargination at the extremity in C. littoralis. I think, however, 

 that C. Sharpi will prove not to be synonymic with C. dux. 



Harold cites also, in the same paper, Cyclonotum orbiculare, L., as a Japanese 

 species, and adds that C. hreve, Sharp, is certainly the same species. Here agaiii I 

 must differ from him. He goes on to add that in the European specimens of C. or- 

 biculare the palpi are of a reddish-yellow colour. This is, however, not the case, and 

 I suspect Harold's error arises from his not having distinguished the south European 

 C. hispanicum from the more northern C. orbiculare. I think if Harold will go over 

 the matter again he will perhaps agree with me in considering C orbiculare, C. his- 

 panicum, and C. breve as distinct, although very closely allied species. The North 

 American C. globulosum, XI. {roiundatiim, Dej.), is another of these closely allied 

 forms, and there are others in various parts of the world, even in tropical Africa, and 

 in Australia, all of them presenting an extraordinary similarity in size, form, and 

 appearance, so that by a hasty observer they would easily be called "all one species," 

 but, when careful examination is made, structural differences may be found to corro- 

 borate the slight distinctions of the more superficial characters. — D. Siiaep, Thorn- 

 hill, Dumfries : 31«^ March, 1879. 



Note on Homalota egregia. Rye. — There can, from the description, be no doubt 

 that Liota hypogcea, E. Mulsant and CI. Bey, is identical with this species. I do not 

 know for certain which name will stand ; my species was described in the number 

 of this Magazine published on 1st January, 1876 ; Mulsant's was described, as new, 

 in the Annalcs de la Socie'te Linneenne de Lyon (n. s,), xxii (for 1875, with date 1876 

 on title), p. 191. But if, as is most likely from the extreme confusion attending the 

 multiple publications of these authois, the insect is also their Aleuonota hypoyaa, 



