NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 131 
banks.” The Scutelleride (Hemipterous) feed upon the juices of 
leaves, as well as upon caterpillars, which they pierce with their 
sucking-tubes. Yet many of them vie in beauty with the most 
splendid Coleoptera. Mr. Allen adduces the Cetoniade and 
Buprestide in proof of his theory; yet in both these splendid 
families there are not merely numerous individuals, but even 
groups as dull and sombre as the generality of carnivorous or 
carrion-feeding beetles. Oxythraca stictica, Aleorostictus variabilis 
and Valgus hemipterus are totally devoid of gay coloration. The 
Telephori frequent flowers in search of Aphides, &c., yet their 
coloration is very plain and insignificant. Among Lepidoptera 
also, the Seside, though perfectly diurnal and flower-haunting, 
make little display of colour. Nor can all the true butterflies 
boast of great beauty, as witness certain species of Hipparchia 
and Hrebia, which yet feed upon the nectar of flowers. Finally, 
I may mention the gay hues displayed by certain Orthoptera 
which are by no means in the habit of frequenting, or feeding upon, 
flowers. Hence I submit that, as far as insects are concerned, 
Mr. Allen’s views, though decidedly suggestive, can scarcely be 
definitely accepted.—C. R. SuarEer; Bicester Road, Aylesbury. 
GALL ON THE GrEAT KNAPWEED.—At vol. x., p. 124, of the 
‘Entomologist’ I described and figured a gall on the pinnatifid leaf 
of the great knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) as that of Diastrophus 
(Isocolus) scabiose, Gir. I lately sent the imago, bred from this 
gall, to Dr. Mayr, who returns it as certainly a new species 
between D. scabiose and D. areolatus. The true D. scabiose 
makes a multilocular gall on the knapweed stalk; the gall of this 
new species is unilocular, and occurs on the leaf-stalk or midrib. 
My single specimen came from Topley Pike, near Buxton, and 
I now call attention to it in the hope that it may be recognised 
if again met with. I should be thankful for fresh specimens.— 
Epwarp A. Frrcn; Maldon, Essex. 
Brack Enromoroeicat Prxs.—We can fully endorse Mr. Farn’s 
remarks on the use of black entomological pins, never having met 
with an instance in which a specimen pinned by one of these 
enamelled pins has been destroyed by verdigris. Another great 
advantage is that the wings are less liable to ‘‘ spring” than when 
the ordinary pins are used. The black colour and very small heads 
make these pins scarcely noticeable in the collection. We would 
