1873. 119 



Htmenopteha. — FcBHUS assectator, Croesus sepfentrionalis, Emphytus calceatus, 

 Cinetis dorsiger, Tipliia minuta, and Alyson lunicornis. 



DiPTEEA. — Oxycera longicornis and analis, Callomyia amcena, Platypeza atra 

 Fachygaster Leachi, Sphegina clunipes, Palloptera litura, Borhorus pedestris, 

 Cecidomya pirn, and Limnobia sexguttata. 



Hemiptera. — Ploiaria vagabunda, Phytocoris intrusus, JEupeVix prodiicta, and 

 Aphis CAdelgesJ picea. — C. W. Dale, G-lanville's Woottou, Sherborne : September 

 2nd, 1873. 



Answer to the " Notes on a British bug." — As it was I who wrote the descrip- 

 tion of Oncotyliis tanaceti and Macrocoleus sordidus, the former in Brit. Hem., the 

 latter in the Ent. Mo. Mag., I wish to shew my reasons for supposing that we 

 I possess those insects, and also to ask whether Mr. Saunders' belief, that the species 

 \ said to be taken by him on Ononis appears to be known under two distinct names, 

 ' is a proof that I am the cause of that error, when no evidence is adduced tliat I 

 have either sent or named the insects in those collections ? To be certain of what I 

 was about, and before writing the descriptions of either of the above insects, I sub- 

 mitted specimens to the late Dr. Fieber for his opinion, and they were returned to 

 me with the above names, and now stand in my collection with his labels attached. 

 The Macrocoleus sordidus he had it in his power to compare with an original example 

 ! which he had from Kirschbaum, to which he refers in the Europ. Hemip., p. 320, 

 where, in a foot-note, he corrects the author as to the spotting on the thighs. My 

 description was drawn up from the individual submitted to Fieber, and it and others 

 were not taken by me on Ononis arvensis, but by beating and sweeping Origanum 

 i vulgare. Fieber says that Macrocoleus sordidus occurs on the margins of woods on 

 low plants, and Kirschbaum upon low plants by the sides of woods and on flowers 

 in woods ; thus beai'ing me out as to locality. Oncotylus tanaceti, as described by 

 me, and the insect taken by Mr. Saunders, are certainly identical, and both agree in 

 every way with the specimen returned to me as Oncotylus tanaceti by Dr. Fieber 

 (which is perfectly distinct from the insect described by me as Macrocoleus sordidus) : 

 I have never met with it on Ononis, a plant I have but seldom had an opportimity of 

 examining. This therefore proves that the insect is not confined to the Ononis, 

 but apparently lodges in any house where it is best entertained j and this holds 

 good with its being found on Tanacetum vulgare on the margins of woods. Can 

 there be any on the " hedge-bank between Leatherhead and Mickleham," where I 

 took it ? I am content to be of the same opinion in the matter as Dr. Fieber, and 

 , until he is proved to be wi'ong, I must maintain that the names and descriptions of 

 my insects are rightly applied. I have the insects before me lent by Mr. Douglas to 

 Mr. Saunders. The label " Macrocoleus sordidus " of one of these, with a number 

 underneath the card, is in my handwriting ; " Oncotylus tanaceti," the label of the 

 other, without a number, is neither in the handwriting of Mr. Douglas nor myself. 

 Scholtz's exponent of the last named (ticket yellow, with funereal border) has a 

 longitudinal row of punctures on the second pair of thighs (under-side) not applicable 

 to the descriptions of authors. The other specimen of Scholtz, labelled " C. hortulanus, 

 Meier," is without elytra, and totally irrccognizable. In passing, I will simply 

 observe that the only exponent I have of Tiniciphalus hortulanus was given to me 



