118 Mr. Smith on Discrimination of Species of Sty lops. 



that by Mr. Curtis,* tliey bear little resemblance to the insects ; 

 whether my insect is identical with that discovered by Mr. Kirby 

 there is no means of ascertaining ; probably it is, and it may here- 

 after be ascertained, that we have only one species in this country, 

 in which case I would hope it may retain the name of Stylops 

 MelUtce. 



In making the above observations I have had but one aim and 

 object in view, that of endeavouring to prove the necessity of 

 making correct delineations of every specimen of Stylops which 

 Entomologists may obtain, either whilst the insect is living, or 

 mnmediately after death. By these means my opinion of there 

 being only one species in this country will either be established 

 or refuted. In either case a great advantage will accrue ; re- 

 presentations will be available whereby Entomologists will be 

 enabled to ascertain the name of such captures as they may 

 acquire, for I do not think it possible to do so from the best 

 descriptions of these remarkable creatures ; and if the hints which 

 I have given of the necessity of making correct delineations of 

 the insect, and careful magnified outlines of parts, be followed 

 up, then I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that 1 have not 

 written these observations in vain. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIV. 



A Stylops Spencii, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. Vol. I. ; A 1, tarsus of ditto. 



B Stylops alerrimus, Newport, Trans. Linn. Soc. Vol. XX. ; B 1, natural size. 



C Stylops Triinmerana (Mellittcc?), Smith ; C 1, tarsus of ditto; C 2, antennae 

 of ditto; C 3, head, viewed behind with a portion of the 

 thorax ; C 4, lateral thoracic appendage (pseudolitron). 



D Stylops Childreni, drawn by F. Smith from the type specimen in the British 

 IVluseiira ; D 1, antennae of ditto ; D 2, thorax and ab- 

 domen of ditto, from plate in Griffiths' Cuvier's Anim. 

 King. Vol. XV. PI. 59; D 3, antennae of diUo, from 

 Griff. Anim. King. 



E Head of Stylops MellittcE, Sowerby's Brit. Miscel. Vol. I. PI. 45 ; E I, thorax 

 and abdomen of ditto. 



F Head o( Stylops Dalii, Curiis's Biit. Entom. Fol. 226, Pi. 226; F 1, antennae 

 of ditto. 



• That of Stylops Speticii, by Mr. Westwood, in the first volume of "The 

 Transactions of the Entomological Society," I cannot give any opinion upon, 

 not having seen the typical specimen ; but 1 tiiink the two apical joints of the 

 antennae must be too small, and the abdomen much too short. 



