1873.] 191 



have no note of the locality of this specimen, -n-hich, according to my remembrance, 

 ■was given to me by an old correspondent in one of the midland counties. The 

 species occurs in France and G-ermany (also in Italy, Dalmatia, the Caucasus, 

 Russia, and elsewhere), so that it may really be indigenous, and this note will, at 

 all events, serve to direct attention to the subject. The insect is of the size and 

 facies of S. ferrea, but of a purple or dark violet colour, with comparatively shorter 

 elytra, longer (12-jointed) antennse, and simple claws to the tarsi (not cleft at the 

 base). — Id. 



On the superficial sexual characters of the British species of Bruchus. — The 

 male characters of the Bruchi have scarcely been noticed by English writers, yet 

 they are so useful in determining the species, that I am induced to offer a few notes 

 on those species I have been able to see. Walton notices the male characters of 

 B. atomarius and luteicornis ; Thomson, in addition, points out those of loti. 



Section a [Hind femora toothed]. 



B. pisi, L., seems to present no appreciable external sexual differences, beyond, 

 perhaps, having the posterior tibiae and tarsi a trifle broader in the ^ . 



B. pectinicornis, L. Antennae of S darker than in 2 , and with joints 4 — 11 

 triangularly developed internally ; antennae of $ simple. Middle tibiaj simple in 

 both sexes. 



B. riifimanus, Sch. A' -^ynnae of g joints 6 — 11 wider than in ? , especially 

 joints 6 and 7 ; middle tibiae of S much bent and furnished with a hook at the apex. 



B. atomarius, L., Thoms.* {seminarius, "Walton, nee Gryll.). Middle tibiae of $ 

 slightly bent and armed with a small tooth on the inner marghi, about a quarter of 

 their length hefore the apex. 



B. luteicornis, lUig. Antennae clear red in $, sometimes the five terminal 

 joints a httle darker ; middle tibiae of S (red) bent and armed at the apex with a 

 bifid and blunt black hook. 



B. loti,f Pk. Middle tibise of S with the apex incurved and armed with a 

 bifid hook. 



Sec. 6 [Hind femora not toothed]. 



B. ater, Marsh., nee Thoms. (villosus, F.). The males seem to have the hind 

 tarsi shorter and broader, with the basal joint thicker and more curved. 



B. canus. Germ. Antennae of c? longer than in $ , joints 5 — 10 a little developed 

 triangularly internally ; tibiae simj)le in both sexes. 



B. cisti, F. (ater, Thom., nee Marsh.). Antennae of c? longer and much stouter 

 than in $ ; joints 5 — 10 triangularly developed internally. 



Of Bruchus mihilus, Boh., there is one, and of B. lentis, Boh., two, in Dr. 

 Power's collection ; these belong to Sec. a. These specimens are, I think, $ ; at all 

 events, they present no appreciable sexual characters. 



Bnichus ajfflnis and vicice {nigripes, Gyll.) I have not seen. — H. S. GoRUAM, 

 Eusper : November 12th, 1872. 



* Thomson, without assigning any reason, proposes to adopt this name for the iiisect known 

 to us as seminarius. There are two distinct European species of the latter name, one of Linn^us, 

 the other of Gyllenhal. Our insect is Linnitus's (as proved by Walton's examination of that 

 author's types) ; and it would seem that Gyllenhal's species, bemg posterior in date, is the one that 

 would require re naming. Possibly, Thomson has con.-iidered that the adoption of atomarius, 

 under which name Linna?us appears from t)iis to have again described his species, will avoid the 

 coining of a new name for that of Gj'lleahal's. — E. 0. R. 



t According to AUard {'Etude sur le groupe des Bruchites,' supplemented in 'Petites 

 Nouvelles Entomologiques,' No. 6, and Berlin, ent. Zeitschr., xiii, p. 326 et seq.), the true IS. ioti 

 does not exist in any collection that he has seen ; the inference from his remarks being that 

 S. oxytropis, Schon., usually represents it. B. hti is stated to be distinguished _ from the latter 

 by its punctiform scutellum being covered with very dense pubescence, which is continued on 

 the suture, and by its general pubescence being more sparse. — E. C. R. 



