145 



The question as to the cause of the occasional occurrence of insects impaled upon 

 thorns, has heen re-opened by Mr. Mcintosh (Proc. Ent. Soc.p.79), by whom various 

 instances have been observed. Mr. G. Ingall adopts the ordinarily received opinion, 

 having observed instances of humble bees impaled evidently by the red-backed shrike, 

 (Zool. 3285). 



COLEOPTERA. 



A work has been commenced by M. Chenu, intended to illustrate all the modern 

 genera of insects. The numbers hitherto published contain the text of the earlier fa- 

 milies of Coleoptera, with a vast number of wood-cuts, chiefly copied from other works, 

 but forming a very useful text-book. 



M. Ormancey has published an extended series of observations on the structure of 

 the sheath of the penis of various Coleoptera, with the view to prove that the specific 

 characters obtained from this part of the body are of the first importance in determin- 

 ing the limits of closely allied species, (Ann. Sci. Nat. 3rd ser. xii. p. 227). Figures 

 are given of this organ in sixty different species. 



A paper on the minute species of beetles found in ants' nests, by Kraatz, appears 

 in the Stettin ' Zeitung,' p. 166. Another on the same subject by Bach appears in the 

 October number of the same work. 



M. Mulsant has published the descriptions of various new Coleoptera, in the ' Me- 

 moirs of the Society of Agriculture,' &c, of Lyons, consisting of a new genus of pal- 

 picoms (Ceratoderus graniger, Columbia), a new genus of Trogidse (Erimazus 1-striatus, 

 Algeria), two new genera, forming a new tribe amongst the Coccinellidae, and new spe- 

 cies of Aphodius, Mordella, Ochthebius, Ergates, Clytus, and various other Longi- 

 corns ; with notes on the Linnaean collection of Longicorns. 



Dr. Schaum has published a series of critical synonymical notices of various spe- 

 cies of Coleoptera, chiefly Carabidre, Cicindelidae, and Staphylinidae. 



Dr. Kuster has continued his work entitled ' Die Kafer Europa's,' Heft 21 : Nu- 

 remberg. 



The 21st volume of Sturm's ' Deutschlands Fauna ' has appeared, with sixteen 

 plates. 



Herr Gemminger has published a ' Systematic Revision of the Coleoptera of the 

 neighbourhood of Munich,' (8vo., 65 pp. 1 pi.) 



Herr Maehler has published a catalogue of 2124 species of Coleoptera found near 

 Heidelberg. The ordinary order of arrangement of the families is reversed, the au- 

 thor commencing with the Coccinellidae and ending with the Cicindelidae. 



M. Keisenwetter has published a memoir upon the species of Coleoptera collected 

 by himself in his journey through the South of France and Catalonia, with descrip- 

 tions of a number of new species, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1851, 3rd trim.) 



Numerous species of Coleoptera of the Mark Brandenberg, omitted by Erichson in 

 his work on the beetles of that country, are published by Kraatz, in the Stettin ' Zeitung.' 

 M. Graells has published the descriptions of a decade of new species of Coleoptera 

 from Spain (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. ix. 5), belonging to the genera Cebrio (with notes on 

 the habits of the new species), Anomala, Misolampus, Mylabris, Cneorhinus, Thyla- 

 cites, and Dorcadion. 



A memoir on the character of the Insect Fauna of Southern Persia, with a list of 

 160 species of Coleoptera, including 33 new species (with 2 new genera of Malaco- 

 derms, and a new genus of Longicorns allied to Aromia), appears in the 1st volume of 



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