355 



Art. XCI. — Varieties. 



192. Strictures on ^Entomological Notes, hy Edward Newman.'' — 

 * The Entomologist ' has the defect of having been compiled M'ith ra- 

 ther too much haste. I hand you a few corrections which appear to 

 be necessary. Elaphidion deflendum (Entomol. 6) is identical with 

 Callidium notatum of Olivier. Lamia ahenea (Id. 1 1) is probably the 

 Lamia fen-ugator of Fabricius. Callia axillaris (Id. 14) has been de- 

 scribed under the name of Exocentrus axillaris, in Germar's ' Species 

 Insectorum.' The genus Curius of Newman (Id. 17) is identical with 

 the genus Plectromerus of Dejean's ' Catalogue des Coleopteres : ' 

 Olivier published a species of the same genus under the name of den- 

 tipes, which increased the number of species to five, the PI. dentatus 

 of Dejean being distinct. The genus Glaphyra of Newman (Id. 19) 

 is too near Glaphyrus of Latreille, it should therefore be changed. 

 Elaphidion spinicorne (Id. 25) of Fabricius is not found in Brazil, but 

 rather in North America. Cerambyx torridus of Olivier does not be- 

 long to this genus, but to the genus Cordylomera of Serville ; this I 

 can affirm, having long had the species in my possession : it is from 

 Senegal. Elaph. bidens, 01. ; Olivier's original specimen of this in- 

 sect, now in my possession, is from Carolina. Pachyta lone (Id. 30) 

 is Pachyta Servillei of Serville's ' Nouvelle Classification,' Ann. iv. 

 213 ; it is from North America. Leptura interrupta (Id. 72) does not 

 appear to me different from Leptura vittata of Olivier. Hispa Pluto 

 of Newman (Id. 77), is without doubt the Hispa excavata of Olivier. 

 Genus Brachytria, (Id. 95) ; is this a genus of Coleoptera, and to what 

 tribe or family does it belong } There are no characters given by 

 which one can recognise it. — Chevrolat ; 25, Rue Fontaine, St. 

 George's, Paris, May 25, 1842. 



[I am always obliged for such criticisms as these ; and although some of them ap- 

 pear very just, I cannot regret having published descriptions of species which had long 

 stood unnamed, even though they should be doubly named, because a double name is 

 better than no name, and entomologists have no choice but to adopt the rale of prio- 

 rity. As I fully intend, before the close of the volume, to give a list of addenda and 

 corrigenda, I think it as well not to enter on this task at present; yet I must protest 

 against the adoption of Dejean's Catalogue names, in preference to those to which I 

 have appended descriptions. If we once admit this principle, where would it lead us? 

 I might invent and print a catalogue of 100,000 names and date it 1842 ; and I might 

 assert that every insect published during the next fifty years was previously named in 

 my catalogue. The proposition strikes at the very root of science. — E. N.] 



193. Anacampsis longicornis, 8fc. I captured some fine varieties of 

 this beautiful insect on Chat Moss, May 1st; the specimens varying 

 from a brick red to nearly black : Wood's figiu-e of the insect is very 



