lO ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '92 



south of Pennsylvania, & in the geographical distribution of 

 insects, we are led to believe that 30 degrees of latitude pro- 

 duces a total change in the insect species of countries, thus 

 remote from each other. It would be proper to observe, how- 

 ever, that we have other insects which seem to be also inhab- 

 itants of S. America & I may here particularize those two 

 species of Phileums mentioned in our last letters. 



Another cause of doubt to my mind, arises from the inspec- 

 tion of a figure of the dispa? on plate 236 of the Encyclop. 

 Methodique ; this figure represents that insect to be more 

 than double the size of our specimens, & of an entirely differ- 

 ent form as respects proportional length, being much wider 

 and more robust than our insect. If I could implicitely rely 

 upon the accuracy of all the figures engraved in that work, I 

 should have no hesitation in pronouncing upon the subject, & 

 declaring our Brentus to be a distinct species ; but, unfortu- 

 nately those engravings, are, in many instances, very indiffer- 

 ent, & some of them convey false images of the species which 

 they are intended to elucidate. The desc*?. which Fabr. gives 

 of the dispar does not state the size of the insect (a defect which 

 in a great degree reigns throughout his works) & is besides 

 very brief ; & as I have no other figure than that above re- 

 ferred to, nor a more copious description than that of Fabr. to 

 which I can refer, I must stiil draw upon your familiar ac- 

 quaintance with the writings of the German authors, as well 

 as upon your own knowledge for further information respect- 

 ing the specific identity or discrepance of the North & South 

 American Insects which have been regarded as the dispar. I 

 will only further remark on the characters of our specimens 

 that the portion of the Fabrician description of ' ' elytris acu- 

 minatis" which he attributes to the dispar, certainly does not 

 accord with our insect — 



I am perfectly convinced of the justice of your reasoning 

 respecting Lytta civcrca & that it would be improper to separ- 

 ate it from the genus. 



I have sent you the numbers of the Journal of the Acad. 

 Nat, Sciences regularly a« they were published ; did they all 



