NEV,' BRITISH SPECIES, ETC., IN 1871. 33 



Miill. Hemiptera: descriptions Oi LygcBus trichopterus, 

 sp. n., and Pseudophloeus Dalmanni, Schill. xix, pp. 341 — 

 356: a general account of the external anatomy of Coleopteraj 

 with two outline plates and a very copious explanatory table, 

 which is, however, somevrhat at variance with the figures. 

 A general index to the 3 fasciculi completes the volume. 



In Ent. Mo. Mag., vii, 228, 1 have called attention to the 

 injustice proposed to be done by Dr. Kraatz (Berl. Ent. 

 Zeits., 1870, 221 et seq.) to this authoi-, in rejecting his 

 specific names piuicticeps and pauciseta for the insects 

 hitherto known, by tradition solely, as Poedlus, or Ptero- 

 stichus, cupreus and versicolor, and which the acute Swede 

 was the first to characterize and establish as distinct species; 

 — the latter of them, indeed, having been never before allowed 

 specific rank, but always vaguely considered as a variety of 

 the former. 



Admitting that it would have been better if Thomson iiad 

 retained the Linnaan name for the larger of the two (which, 

 hov/ever, he would not in strictness have been justified in 

 doing, as the description would apply equally well to both), 

 still, as he has not done so, it seems unjust and unreasonable 

 to endeavour to set him aside, whilst admitting his correct- 

 ness, as Dr. Ivraatz does. But, if the scientific community 

 were, from a pardonable regard for the memory of Linncsus, 

 of unanimous opinion that Thomson's description oi puncti- 

 ceps should be taken only as a better elucidation of the 

 Linnasan ciipreus, which has always been recognized as a 

 good species, though never sufficiently described, there still 

 remains pauciseta, now proposed to be rejected, in favour of 

 Sturm's versicolor, for which the savans have hitherto shown 

 the irreverence of unanimously refusing it specific rank ! If 

 Sturm's exposition of this insect be 7iow allowed to give it 

 that rank, why was it not sufficient for that purpose before ? 



1872. D 



