NOTES ON SOME SINHALESE RHYNCHOTA. 296 



Ormenis, StiiL* The general characters are those of Flata, but 

 the single series of nervures dividing the membrane from the 

 corium is much more regular, and there is no reticulation at the 

 apex of the latter. There are also no transverse nervures in the 

 clavus. 



Type M. sinhalana, nom, nov.— This is the \Poeciloptera 

 quadrata, Kirby, l. c. p. 154, pi. vi. f. 8, but not that of Walker 

 from Jamaica (1850, List. Hom.), and, therefore, in accordance 

 with tlie rule mentioned above, the name is now changed. 



Scarpanta tennentina (Walker) = ^Scvjy-jja/i to latipennis, Kirby, 

 I. c. p. 153. The unique specimen of latipennis appears to be 

 founded upon a poor example of tennentina. 



KiCANiA fenestrata (Fabr.) ; Peradeniya, frequenting Aristo- 

 lochia, sp. (E. E. Green). 

 Family Geocorid^e [^Lyggeidae auctt.j . 

 In employing remedial measures against insect pests, ento- 

 mologists have often to guard against the destruction at the 

 same time of certain natural enemies of these pests, owing to 

 the general similarity in appearance, both in external structure 

 and in colour, of the insectivores and their pre}'. Mr. Green 

 has recently sent me two nymphs, one of Antilochus coquebertii 

 (Fabr.), the other of Dijsdercus cingidatus (Fabr.) — the dreaded 

 " Oriental Cotton-stainer " — with the note that the former had 

 been discovered with its rostrum inserted in the person of the 

 latter; as these two species belong to the same subfamily, Pyrrho- 

 coringe [ = Largidse + Pyrrhocoridee auctt.J , all the members of 

 which are reputed to be vegetable feeders, I wrote Mr. Green, 

 querying the note ; but, in a reply dated Sept. 13th, 1900, he 

 observes: "I think Antilochus coquebertii normally preys upon 

 Dysdercus cingidatus ; I have repeatedly seen the performance. 

 If the two individuals are put in a glass tube together, the Anti- 

 lochus immediately pounces upon the Dysdercus.'' As the two 

 insects are, comparatively, very similar in appearance, the 

 former being merely larger and more brightly coloured in all 

 stages, this observation appears to be of distinct value in con- 

 nection with the cotton-plant question. 



Fam. CiMiciDiE. 

 Canthecona cognata, Dist. 

 C.furcellata, Wolff, has been noted (Indian Museum Notes, 

 ii. 165, aud iii. (5) 56) as a destroyer of caterpillars ; Mr. Green 

 has now sent me specimens (imago and nymph) of C. cognata, 

 Dist. [=^insularis, Kirbyj that were "doing really good service 

 in preying upon a caterpillar that was ravaging some croton 

 plants here" (Peradeniya, Eeg. No. 302). 



'■'■'■ A detailed description, with figures of neuratiou, &c., was in progress 

 when I learned that Dr. Melichar has in preparation a monogi-aphic revision 

 of the group : I have therefore given here only a brief diagnosis. 



