808 ME. W. L. DISTANT ON THE EHYNCHOTA [Nov. 20, 



fragmentary knowledge of the Order in those days is considered, 

 with the obscurity that then enshrouded the Fabrician species, 

 which Westwood seems to have almost ignored. Much of this 

 synonymy has been elucidated, especially by the late Dr. C. Stal, 

 who in 1862 visited this country, examined the collection and 

 made notes thereon, which were published in the 6fv. Vet.-Akad. 

 Eorh. 1862, p. 501. These were again given, sometimes in a 

 revised form, in his subsequent ' Enumeratio Hemipterorum.' 

 Like all Stal's work, this casual examination produced reliable 

 correction, but much was still left in an obscure condition, and 

 our catalogues contain many doubtful references to a number 

 of Westwood's species described from this collection. 



I have to thank Prof. Poultou, who has succeeded Prof. West- 

 wood at Oxford, for placing the whole collection in my hands for 

 comparison and revision. I have carefully compared all the types 

 with those contained in the British Museum and my own collection, 

 with the result of finding that though many of Westwood's species 

 must rank as synonyms, he has on the other hand priority in 

 many cases over the descriptions of more recent workers, who 

 have failed to recognize his species by their short descriptions 

 and unrevised generic position. It is probable that Continental 

 describers may also be compelled to withdraw some of their 

 own descriptions for a similar reason, and the figures with which 

 the Society has allowed me to illustrate this communication may 

 facilitate that result. 



Some few species are in such indifferent condition as to render 

 generic identification impossible — at least with certitude ; but in 

 most cases these are figured, and thus eventually, when better 

 specimens reach the hands of workers, they can be recognized and 

 then generically disposed. 



Subfam. Discocephalinje. 



DlNOCOEIS UNICOLOE. 



Dinidor unicolor Westw. in Hope Cat. i. p. 25 (1837). 

 Antileuchus piceus Dall. (part.) List Hem. i. p. 165. n. 6 (1851). 

 Dinocoris unicolor Stal, En. Hem. ii. p. 9. n. 16 (1872). 

 Dinocoris piceus Dist. (part.) Biol. Centr.-Am., Khynch. i. p. 46. 

 n. 2 (1880). 



In the Biol. Centr.-Amer. I had followed Dallas in placing the 

 D. unicolor Westw. as a synonym of D. piceus Pal. Beauv. On 

 examination I find the two species are quite distinct, that of 

 Westwood having a greater width of abdomen and the upper 

 surface distinctly rugose. 



DlNOCOEIS TESSELLATUS. 



Dinidor tesselatus Westw. in Hope Cat. i. p. 24 (1837). 

 Dinocoris tessellatus Stal, En. Hem. ii. p. 9. n. 14 (1872). 

 A species closely allied to the D. amplus Walk., but having the 

 second and third joints of the antennae wholly black. 



