59 



In the same locality, also, the common Ceutorhynchus 

 contractus scarcely ever reaches its natural size ; and is, 

 moreover, so variable in colour, that I was long before I 

 could persuade myself that the species was not distinct. 

 Instead of the bluish-black elytra which I had always 

 considered invariable, they all possess a yellowish or 

 brassy tinge ; and the legs, instead of being black, are in 

 most instances entirely of a light yellow, and in all, 

 more or less inclined to that colour. I have received 

 from Mr. Hardy, of Gateshead, specimens of Haltica 

 rufipes*, captured by him on the coast, in which the 

 entire insect is of a uniform brownish-red hue. Of the 

 rare Mantura Chrysanthemi I have taken beautiful 

 varieties at Mount Edgcumbe and in Lundy Island, 

 many of which inclined to a rich metallic-yellow, instead 

 of the brassy-brown of the ordinary specimens : also, in 

 the latter locality, particularly dark specimens of Tek- 

 phorus testaceus. In like manner, I might enumerate 

 other species equally remarkable ; but I trust that those 



* I perceive, on reference to the original examples, still in my 

 collection, that this was wrongly quoted as the Haltica rufipes. It 

 is the H. exoleta, Fabr., and it is thus entered in Messrs. Hardy and 

 Bold's * Catalogue of the Insects of Northumberland and Durham ; ' 

 where they make the observation, " variable in colour ; specimens 

 from the sea-coast are frequently of a dark mahogany tint." I have 

 myself indeed, since I communicated the above remarks to the 

 * Zoologist/ taken its precise counterpart, in abundance, along the 

 Yorkshire coast, from Bridlington to the extremity of Flamborough 

 Head ; so that it may perhaps be regarded as a topographical state 

 which is more especially peculiar to the eastern shores of England, 

 north of the Humber. 





