Species of Cherrus and Pohjphrades. 



Mr. Waterliouse stated that during last autumn he visited Oxford for the purpose 

 of examining a portion of the Rev. Mr. Hope's collection, and that after that visit he 

 communicated some observations which he had made relating to certain species 

 of CurculiouidEe (which were described by Schonherr, from specimens in the collection 

 in queslion) to M. Jekel ; amongst other points he noticed the very great resemblance 

 which there existed between the type-specimens of Polyphrades cinereus and Cherrus 

 nanus, which he thought ought not to be separated generically, and which could 

 scarcely be even separated as distinct species. In return, M. Jekel favoured Mr. 

 Waterhouse with some observations upon the species of Cherrus and Polyphrades, 

 which he regards as of sufficient interest to be laid before the Society. 



The following is M. Jckel's communication : — 



" Genera Cherrus and Polyi)hrades. — This is a very interesting case, which, after 

 many troublesome efforts, I ascertained about two years ago, in studying the new 

 species of Gerniar — Cherrus nitidilabris, of the ' Fauna Novae Adelaidiae.' I do 

 not know whether I spoke to you on the subject last summer, but I had been puzzled 

 as you are now. My decision was as follows : — 



"1. Schonherr described Cherrus nanus in vol. i., doubting, in a note, as to its being 

 a true Cherrus, and at that time he knew only this species as belonging to the Cherri- 

 form beetles. 



"2. In vol. v., when reviewing his genus Cherrus, he no longer had by him 

 the Cherrus nanus, and when he there established his new genus Polyphrades, he did 

 not sufficienlly recollect the characters of that species, which, as I have said, he 

 originally doubted as being a true Cherrus. He then described a large species of 

 Polyphrades under the name cinereus, a species very closely allied to Cherrus nanus, 

 but which may be distinguished by its having the suture cariniform behind, a 

 character wanting in Cherrus nanus and C. nitidilabris. I possess, however, two 

 other undescribed species with the same character. 



"These species might be divided into two sections, which I am certain are not 

 founded upon sexual characters, since I possess both sexes of some of them. 



" 1. Elylrorum sutura postice elevato-carinata ; including Ch. cinereus, Schonherr, 

 and two new species. 



"2. Elytrorum sutura plana — Ch. nanus, Scho., Ch. nitidilabris, Gen«., Ch. paga- 

 nus, Scho. They all differ somewhat in the structure of the rostrum and anteunis 

 from P. laticollis, P. argentarius, Sec, but they scarcely should constitute a distinct 

 genus." 



March 0, 1854. 



E. Newman, Esq., President, in the chair. 



Donatio7is. 

 The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given t(t 

 the donors: — The 'Zoologist' for March; by the Editor. Tiic 'Atlicna'um' for 



