234 [March, 



7. Genus? — OBSCITEELLFS, Fall. 



Atractotomus pini, D. and S. 

 I am indebted to Dr. Puton for this synonymy ; he places the species in the 

 genus Agalliastes, but I cannot think it belongs there, neither does it seem to me 

 to agree with Atractotomus, although closely allied to it. I think it might well be 

 considered as the representative of a new genus. 



8. TiNICEPHALirS OBSOLETFS, D. and S. 



This species, following Fieber's views, must be removed from this genus, the only 

 British exponent of which is hortulanua, Mey. The wing cell has no hook, the 

 character of the division in which Tinicephalus occurs ; how Fieber came to put it 

 in this genus I know not, as it has to me neither the shape nor the look of a Tini- 

 cephalus. I should have called it a Litosoma, but if it is to enter that genus it3 

 name will have to be changed, as an ohsoletus already exists therem. 



9. PSAILFS ALNI, Fab. 



P. dilutiis, D. and S., ? Fieb. 

 I have had an opportunity, through the kindness of Mr. Douglas, of examining 

 one of the type specimens of dilutus, D. and S., and]'so far as I can judge, it is 

 simply a pale specimen of alni, Fab. Fiebcr'e dilutus appears from his description 

 to be a large species, in fact the largest of the genus, — long. 2s lin. ; whereas dilutus, 

 D. and S., is only 1^ lin. — Edwaed Saunders, 2, Spencer Park, Wandsworth. 



OBSEKYATIONS ON THE FOKEGOIXG NOTES. 



1. Obthostiea nigeina and O. maceophthalma. 



The question involved is not yet removed from the domain of opinion, and it 

 awaits the solution to bo derived fi*om facts. — J. W. D. 



2. GeOTOMUS PTTNCTULATrS. 



I am not disposed to question the accuracy of the identification made by 

 Dr. Puton. 



In the Ent. Monats., viii, p. 233 (18G4), Dr. Fieber referred his previously 

 described C. Helferi to the older C. punctulatus, Costa, so that it is evident he knew 

 the latter species ; but when, in 1868, I sent him Ai^t/ius Icevis, D. and S.,hc not only 

 did not recognize it as C. punctulatus, but, comparing it with the latter and C. ni- 

 gritus, pointed out differences which he considered made it distinct from both. 



Mulsant and Eey, in the " Punaises de France," ii, 36, 1 (18GG), not only fol- 

 lowed Fieber with regard to C. Ilelferi being equivalent to C. punctulatus, but 

 added to the synonyms, C. hifoveolatus, II.-S., and C. aciculatus, Fieber, and made 

 the species the type of the new genus Geotomus. Mr. Saunders argued in the Ent. 

 Mo. Mag., viii, 110 (1871), that our British insect was only a variety of C. ni- 

 gritiis, Fab.— J. W. D. 



3. Beettus Signoeeti, Fieb. 



My examples agree with Fieber's description, including the breadth of the 

 membrane referred to, and one of them was named by Fieber himself, so tliat there 

 is no doubt of the correctness. Mr. Saunders's insects, not agreeing with the de- 

 scription, may possibly be the B. pggmcEus (Fieb.), Lethierry, Cat. des Ile'mipt., 2nd 

 ed. (1871), or one of the new species described by Eeuter (Oef. Vet. Ak. Forh., 

 1870), or by Ferrari (Ilcmiptera Agri Ligustici, 1871). — J. W. D. 



