CHARACTERS OF SPECIES. LOCALITY. 283 



general ; sometimes covering the body and limbs, while 

 in other species it is restricted to only one of these 

 parts. Many of the Capricorn tribe (Capricornes Sw.) 

 have their antennae ornamented by elegant circular tufts 

 of hairs, radiating in all directions., like the bristles of a 

 bottle-brush : these tufts, again, in other species, are 

 scattered at regular intervals over the elytrae and thorax, 

 from whence they seem to spring. Many of the African 

 BuprestidcB and the Sicilian Cetoniadce are so orna- 

 mented. Sometimes, although much more rarely, the 

 hinder legs are tufted, as in some Capricorn beetles ; 

 while we have a pretty vernal bee having these orna- 

 ments upon its middle legs. Few of the true Cicades, or 

 singing Hemiptera, possess more than a slight pubes- 

 cence ; but several of those of tropical America and 

 India have long tufts, resembling the finest cotton, pro- 

 jecting from the end of their bodies. Lastly, pubescence 

 shows itself under the form of a very fine powder, either 

 white or coloured, as in many of the Cocci, or plant lice. 

 All these, and many other modifications, should be 

 noted in the comparison of species ; and they may be 

 used, with confidence, as distinguishing characters. 



(343.) It is unnecessary to expatiate further upon 

 the diversified appearances in the external covering of 

 animals ; for, whether that covering be hard or soft, its 

 surface always possesses some characteristic. A species, 

 therefore, is distinguished from others with which it is 

 immediately connected, either by a very slight difference 

 in its form, the relative proportions of its parts, its 

 colour, its surface, or its sculpture : these characters, 

 moreover, however refined they may be, are quite suf- 

 ficient to point out a specific difference, provided they 

 are permanent ; that is to say, that they are discern - 

 able in all the individuals that have been seen or col- 

 lected. 



(344.) Difference of country, or of geographic dis- 

 tribution, when coupled with other considerations, may 

 frequently excite a well-grounded suspicion that two 

 individuals very closely resembling each other, are of 



