282 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



PLATYMETOPIUS UNDATUS, De Geer. 



genus and species of hetthptera-homoptera new 

 to the british fauna. 



By G. C. Bignell. 



During the past summer I have had the pleasure of collecting 

 in this neighbourhood with Mr. John Scott ; one of our trips was 

 a visit to Bickleigh Vale. In going there we passed through what 

 is now a meadow, but I am sorry to say it was planted with 

 young fir trees about two years since ; fortunately the trees are 

 at present very small, and I trust they may long remain so ; but 

 this cannot be expected ; consequently in a few years the only 

 meadow between Plymbridge and Cann Quarry will be a thing of 

 the past. It is a lovely spot, of about three acres in extent, and 

 situated in the heart of woodland scenery ; it was in this spot 

 P. undatus was taken. On our arrival there we each began to 

 sweep and search for our respective favourites ; after working 

 some time I captured a very pretty Homopteron. On showing it 

 to Mr. Scott he remarked, " I do not remember having taken that 

 before." After some time I captured a second, and at the same 

 time thought I must have taken it off a fern {Pteris aquilina), 

 having just previously made a sweep for an ichneumon. I men- 

 tioned this to him, and he, taking the hint, devoted his attention 

 exclusively to sweeping them, and was well rewarded. 



This pretty insect is 6 mm. in length, and of a beautiful 

 chocolate-brown and orange-yellow when fresh ; these colours 

 are much lighter in older specimens. I shall not attempt to 

 minutely describe it. Mr. Scott, who has described so many 

 before, no doubt will describe this in his favourite magazine. I 

 may, however, say that when at rest, and viewed from above, the 

 upper part of the head, thorax, and space been the two brace ^^ 

 like markings on the elytra is chocolate-brown, the outer margins 

 yellow ; the legs and under side of the entire insect is a lemon- 

 yellow. 



During our walk back to Marsh-mill Eailway Station, I 

 suggested to him our next trip should be further up the vale, where 

 the brackens are abundant, and nature permitted to have its own 

 way, believing we might obtain a greater number, and probably 

 another rarity ; consequently on August 9th we visited Shaugh- 



