1<7« [January, | 



friend who does not collect the group, and could not recollect whence] 

 they came. There were authentic specimens in the collection of 

 the late Mr. T. H. Allis, and I hope they still exist at York. 



Oxyptilus Icetus, Z., distans, Z. — To a great extent I agree with 

 Dr. Jordan's remarks on these, but there is a little more to be said. 

 Distans is larger, darker in colour, and coarser-looking than Icetus, but 

 I cannot find any reliable distinctions in markings between them — 

 that is between typical distans and Icetus received from Prof. Zeller. 

 The original British specimens from near Thetford, to which the name 

 Icetus was applied, were second-brood specimens, taken late in July, 

 1868, and these were lighter and brighter-coloured than those of the 

 first brood, which was not met with either that or the following year. 

 I remember very well the day — June 4th, 1870 — when the first speci- 

 mens of the Jirst brood were taken, when about thirty fell to two nets 

 at Brandon. They were hiding among the lucern and other low 

 plants, and were easily disturbed, but not always easily caught. Of 

 these, the majority were larger and decidedly darker in colour than 

 those of the second brood, and agreed accurately with types of distans ; 

 and whenever, in subsequent years, I collected at Brandon in June, I 

 found these typical distans mixed with specimens inclining towards 

 the brighter-coloured form, of which the second brood was mostly 

 composed. There can, therefore, be no doubt whatever, that Dr 

 Jordan is correct in applying the name distans to our insect, and, 

 I think, very little doubt that Icetus is a variety of the same species. 

 I admit a little doubt on the point, seeing that a very few specimens 

 have been taken at Folkestone by Mr. Purdey and others of an 

 Oxyptilus which agrees absolutely with continental Icetus, but is rather 

 paler than any Brandon specimen that I have seen, and, as far as I 

 know, the distans form has not been taken at Folkestone. Probably, 

 this only requires careful looking after, but it would, doubtless, be 

 rare in that neighbourhood. I think I am at liberty to say that Prof. 

 Zeller is also now of opinion that distans and Icetus form but one 

 species. 



Mimozseoptilus bipunctidactylus, Haw. — This name seems to have 

 been entirely overlooked by Dr. Wocke and Pastor Wallengren, both 

 of whom have adopted serotinus, Z., w r hich certainly is a much later 

 name, but has, nevertheless, found its way into many lists and cabi- 

 nets. I am strongly of opinion that Haworth's name should be 

 restored. 



M. plagiodactylus, Stn. — I quite agree with Dr. Jordan that this 

 species "deserves investigation." I think that I. have been investi- 



