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COLEOPTERA. 



Notes on British Geodephaga, with Description - of 

 One New Species (Supplementary to the Geo- 

 dephaga Britannica). 



By J. F. Dawson, LL.B. 



Vicindela hybrida and maritima. Some surprise lias been 

 expressed that I should persist in maintaining these insects 

 as distinct species, contrary to an increasing opinion that 

 they are only varieties of the same. I have never found 

 reason to question the fact of their being distinct. They 

 present structural differences, which, though slight, are well 

 defined; besides the invariably dissimilar form of the central 

 band. Take, for instance, the claw,— in that we have a 

 structural character, which may be patent to any one who 

 will examine it. With the aid of a damp camel-hair pencil 

 moisten and expand the unguiculi of each, so as to examine 

 them fairly, and it will be found that the claw in hybrida is 

 invariably larger and stonier than in maritima. 



The authors of the Faune Francaiae refer to maritima 

 as an accidental variety. Surely such cannot be the case. 

 If they are varieties at all, they must be permanent local 

 varieties. Near Burnham Market, and on the north coast 

 of Devonshire, for instance, maritima is found in immense 

 profusion, and in not one example will the form of the central 

 band be found to approximate to that of hybrida ; whilst on 

 the Lancashire coast every specimen of hybrida presents the 



