8 (June, 
list ; this unexplored district is not at all unlikely to contain butterflies 
of the genus Hrebia entirely new to us. Nearly 20 species of this genus 
are found in the Alps, and six or eight in Scandinavia, whilst in the 
intermediate British Islands hitherto only two have been observed. 
The extremely local character of many of these insects is an excuse 
for their non-discovery by chance summer visitors; but, now that we 
have at least two entomologists in the north-west of Ireland, better 
must be done,—or I shall have to name them ! 
Leeds, April 18th, 1871. 
ON GHOTRUPES VERNALIS, LINN., AND ITS ALLIES. 
BY D. SHARP, M.B. 
In his classification of Geotrupes, M. Jekel gives, as belonging to 
his division Sternotrupes, six species, viz., 1, vernalis, Linn., 2, alpinus, 
Sturm, 3, pyreneus, Charp., 4, Amedei, Fairm., 5, corruscans, Chev., 6, 
purpureus, Kiust.; but he adds a note, saying, “les espéces de ce dernier 
groupe, souvent contestés par les auteurs, réclament une révision 
sérieuse !” 
_ [have examined my specimens of this group, and the descriptions 
of authors as carefully as I am able, and have come to the conclusion 
that five, and probably the whole six, of the species given by Jekel, 
must be reduced to two; and I feel so much confidence in this opinion, 
that [ venture to bring it before the entomological public: more par- 
ticularly does it seem to me that I am justified.in doing this, as these 
two species are generally mixed together in collections, even where some 
of their varieties are separated as distinct. 
These two species are 1, G. vernalis, Linn., very variable in colour, 
size, and sculpture, and liable to assume peculiar forms, especially in 
mountainous districts ; and 2, G. pyreneus, Charp., of which there are 
also two or three well-marked races. I will briefly allude to the cha- 
racters by which these two species are distinguished, give a sketch of 
the variations they present, and conclude with the description of a third 
species of the division from the Caucasus district. 
If a specimen of G. pyreneus be compared with an ordinary indivi- 
dual of G. vernaiis, it will be seen that G. pyreneus is much more 
brilliant, smooth, and shining, that it is narrower in proportion to its 
length, and that its thorax is visibly punctured only at the sides, while 
that of G. vernalis is densely covered with large and small punctures ; 
in like manner the under-surface of the hind body (abdomen) is densely 
punctured over its whole surface in vernalis, and impunctate and shining 
