308 Mr. H. J. Carter on the Kunker Formation 



then known, sajs " Scutellum nullum ; " but in characterizing 

 the genus he rightlj says " Scutellum minutum, punctiforme." 



Ithaura nitida. 



I. oblongo-elliptica, vix depressa, silaceo-brunnea, nitida ; rostro 

 cum capite inter oculos carinato et rude piinctato. Long. 3| lin. 



Hah. Parana. 



Oblong elliptic, scarcely depressed, glossy yellowish brown ; 

 rostrum shorter than the prothorax, a central carina at its 

 base, commencing between the eyes, with three rows of coarse 

 punctures on each side ; antennse short and stout, slightly 

 pubescent ; prothorax longer than broad, abruptly constricted 

 at the apex, remotely and rather finely punctured ; scutellum 

 small, somew^hat transverse, rounded ; elytra delicately striate, 

 the striffi marked with coarse oblong punctures, the alternate 

 interstices raised posteriorly ; tibi^ short, seriately setulose j 

 tarsi very small. 



The type species of this genus is figured and described in 

 the ' Journal of the Linnean Society,' vol. xi. pi. vi. fig. 2, 

 pp. 215, 216. It is a longer and proportionally narrower 

 insect than this species, differently sculptured, and with a 

 rather dull varnished appearance. The genus is allied to 

 Aphyoduj another singular form, and both approximating to 

 the group of which our too well-known Calandra granaria 

 is an example ; but the head deeply constricted behind the 

 eyes, and the small portion which lies between them, seem 

 alone to warrant their separation as a group apart. 



Of some of the species described in these papers coloured 

 figures will be given in Mr. C. Waterhouse's ' Aid to the 

 Identification of Insects.' 



XXX. — On the Kunker Formation of the Alluvium in India 

 compared with the Flint Formation in the Chalk of Eng- 

 land. By H. J. Carter, F.R.S. &c. 



Perhaps De la Beche and Elie de Beaumont were the first 

 to insist more especially on the necessity of studying the pre- 

 sent to interpret the past in geology — thus avoiding all tlieory 

 and speculation in establishing facts which, if pursued truth- 

 fully, offer great attraction to the scientific mind, but, if other- 

 wise, cannot fail to do the opposite. 



Under such views I venture to compare the formation of 

 the nodular and so-called " sheet " kunker of India with 



