96 APRIL. 



light varieties are generally considered scarce, 

 or might be confounded with collaris ; but on 

 examination, they are readily distinguished by 

 the colour of the thorax being as light as the 

 elytra, and also by the size. 



Sinodendron cylindricum, with us not only 

 inhabits the ash, but also the maple (Acer cam- 

 pestre,) and several species of willow, in a state 

 of decay. It would be well if entomologists 

 generally paid more attention to the plants on 

 which insects are usually found, as it would 

 very much facilitate their collection, and like- 

 wise throw much light on their habits and pe- 

 culiarities. 



Geotrupes vernalis, (vernal Dor-beetle.) The 

 species of this beautiful genus appear to be so 

 closely allied as to render it a work of difficulty 

 to separate them accurately from each other, 

 if we may judge from the dissimilar opinions 

 of Mr. Curtis and Mr. Stephens : the former 

 makes five, the latter ten British species. There 

 are four species in this county, the stercorarius, 

 the laevis, the vernalis, and one which I suspect 

 to be the sylvaticus. The laevis and vernalis 

 are very nearly allied ; they agree in the colour 

 of the antennae, in the minutely and entirely 

 punctured thorax, and the smoothness of the 

 elytra, but differ in size and colour. The laevis 

 is inferior in size, generally of a deep black on 



