92 [September, 



with Fieber's description of that species. But Meyer's original description is evi- 

 dentlj taken from qiiile a diilerent insect, as he compares hortulamis to Plagiognathus 

 viridulus, to which ours has no resemblance. I sliould therefore propose the follow- 

 ing amended synonymy, and should be very glad of any information as to what 

 sordldus and hortidanus really are. 



Sp. n. (new name wanted) 



tanaceti, D. and S. {nee Fall.), Oncotylus. 

 sordidus, D. and S. (wee Kbm.), Macrocoleus. 

 hortulamis, Fieb. {nee Mey.), Tiidoej^halus. 



As to which genus should be applied to our species, I am unable to ofPcr an 

 opinion, as, to my mind, the characters on which the genera of Capxidce are based 

 are utterly unintelligible. I do not now propose to re-name the insect, in case 

 further investigation should prove that I have been too hasty in my conclusions. — 

 Edward Satjndees, Eeigate : August 1873. 



Note on capture and hahits of Loxops coccineus. — Before the appearance of the 

 description of this insect in last month's Magazine, I had succeeded in capturing 

 several specimens on an ash tree. It appears to be exclusively attached to old trees, 

 and in one or other, or all of its stages of development, to find nourishment amongst 

 the seed vessels, as it is from amongst these the greater number of my specimens 

 have been beaten. None of the saplings round about here, which I have carefully 

 searched, have yielded an example. As a rule, even the lowest branches of the ash 

 are difficult to reach, and I was obliged to drag a cart, which stood a little way off, 

 beneath the coveted spot, and mount upon it. I do not remember, amongst my many 

 ■wanderings on the continent, any place where this tree grows except singly, and it 

 may be owing to tliis fact that the insect has hitherto been looked upon as rare. — 

 John Scott, 37, Manor Park, Lee : Uh August, 1873. 



Loxops coccineus, Meyer. — In the year 1871, Mr. Edward Saunders took 

 this species at Reigate, and, guided by his information, I find it plentiful in this 

 neighbourhood on ash, — not saplings, biit seed-bearing trees. I liave had twenty 

 examples at one time in an ximbrella, but the males fly out instantly, and the greater 

 portion captured are therefore females. A week ago, examples were immature and 

 pale, those captured now have obtained their full flush of red, and are very beautiful. 

 The males are much darker than the females, but in the latter the characteristic 

 yellow spots on the elytra are more numerous and conspicuous. The form of the 

 female is also more oval than that of the male. On tlie continent, the species is 

 everywhere quoted as rare, and taken singly ; which may be because ash trees are 

 scarce, or the branches inaccessible, or perhaps search has not been made during the 

 (probably) short period of the insect's appearance. The food plant seems not to 

 have been known. — J. W. Douglas, Lee : August 9th, 1873. 



Note on Idlocerus M-album, Ficb. (vide ante, p. 26). — I have just discovered 

 that the habitat of this species is Lombardy poplar (Fopulus pyraniidalisJ,on which 

 it is now not uncommon. The character H on the elytra is very white, and plainly 



