60 



eventually referred to lapponicus : it seems to be now pretty clearly 

 established that the smoothness or suleation of the elytra in Dytisci 

 is neither a certain character of species nor absolutely diagnostic 

 of" sex. 



A great number of other notices occur in the ' Zoologist,' recording 

 the capture of novelties or rarities, but I will not repeat them here, 

 because that Journal is always on your table as soon as published ; 

 and, moreover, I believe I may congratulate myself on having each 

 individual member as a subscriber. 



In the ' Transactions of the Linnean Society'* are two beautifully 

 illustrated papers by that distinguished entomologist whom, since I 

 began to address you, yon have elected as your future President. 

 The first of these is intituled " On the Genus Myrmica and other 

 indigenous Ants;" the second, "Remarks relative to the Affinities 

 and Analogies of Natural Objects, more particularly of Hypocephalus, 

 a Genus of Coleoptera." In the paper on British Ants Mr. Curtis 

 enumerates five genera and sixteen species, two of which, Myrmica 

 perelegans and M. denticornis, are presumed to be new to science. 

 The paper on Hypocephalus has a double object; the first, used as a 

 stepping-stone to the second, is to show that Hypocephalus belongs 

 to the great Coleopterous section of Lamellicorns; the second, in the 

 author's own words, is " to assist in fixing our systems on some firm 

 basis, generally understood and universally to be adopted, so that we 

 may no longer be tossed to and fro as we are at present." I am sure 

 that every entomologist will give his meed of praise to so high an ob- 

 ject as these words disclose, but I do not feel quite so confident that 

 what I have called the stepping-stone to this philosophical eminence 

 will be so generally availed of: 1 do not feel quite sure that entomo- 

 logists will, with the same unanimity, agree to place Hypocephalus 

 among the Lamellicorns, and 1 should scarcely be enacting my pre- 

 sent part with perfect faithfulness were I not to say that I entertain a 

 different view; but it must be distinctly understood that I dissent 

 simply in my individual capacity as an entomologist, entirely dis- 

 claiming any importance for my dissent on account of the office which 

 I have just relinquished; and I feel confident that Mr. Curtis will at 

 once pardon what is simply an avowal of difference of opinion. 



Mr. Stainton has published the first number of a new serial called the 



* ' Transactions of the Linnean Society.' Vol. xxi. Part 3. 4to. Plates. London : 

 L')n!;niau. 1854. Price I2«. 



