288 {May, 
Note on Meloé cyaneus, Muls.—I have at present a pair of a Meloé which appear 
to agree with Mr. Rye’s description (ante, p. 248) of a specimen found in the Isle of 
Man. I have taken one or two of this species or variety for several years consecu- 
tively, but could never feel satisfied to attribute them to proscarabeus: they are 
smaller, more glossy, not so black, and (some more than others) have a greenish 
or ‘ bronze’ tinge, principally about the head and thorax. In the ? of the above- 
mentioned pair, the entire abdomen is slightly bronzed, as well as the head and 
thorax. I have always found these individuals feeding on grass, but they will also 
eat the common Arum leaves.—Cuas. G. RormeraM-WEBSDALE, 78, High Street, 
Barnstaple: March 22nd, 1872. 
Note on Meloé cyaneus, Muls.—Sincoe the publication of my note on the subject 
of this insect (ante, p. 248), the Rev. R. P. Murray has very kindly forwarded to 
me a small congregation of oil-beetles (upwards of a score in number) just taken by 
him in the Isle of Man. An examination of these specimens convinces me that the 
doubts before referred to by me, as to the validity of the claim of Mulsant’s cyaneus 
to be considered specifically distinct from proscarabeus, were well founded ; as in 
this little family I find two examples at least with the head and thorax as com- 
paratively free from punctures, and as glossy, blue, and shining, as those of the 
individual first recorded by me; and, although there is not an uninterrupted chain 
of specimens intermediate between these and such of the others as are certainly not 
separable from the most typical proscarabeus, yet the variations as regards size, 
colour, granulation of elytra, and punctuation of the head and thorax are so 
great, including so close an approach to the special peculiarities in the latter respect, 
that I have no doubt but that all must be considered as different states of the same 
species,—the extreme of which is apparently much more aberrant from the type 
than Mulsant’s cyaneus. The longitudinal dorsal thoracic channel becomes imper- 
ceptibly modified to an isolated depression, often accompanied by two discal and 
almost Circular depressions; and there is sometimes a faint transverse basal de- 
pression, simulating that of violaceus. Mr. Rotherham-Websdale’s specimens above 
mentioned (courteously forwarded to me by him) are specially interesting, as 
having a semi-cupreous tinge over the whole of tne body: they are about equal to 
the Manx intermediate specimens, as regards punctuation of head and thorax.— 
E. C. Rr, 10, Lower Park Field, Putney: April, 1872. 
Note on Meligethes pictus, Rye—Since the publication of my remarks on this 
species (ante, p. 269), my friend Mr. R. Lawson has communicated to me a few 
specimens of it from Scarborough entirely free from spots on the elytra. These 
are the first immaculate individuals of the species that have come under my ob- 
servation, and were not before sent because they happen to be not quite perfect. 
—Ip. 
Note on a deformed antenna in Hydroporus obsoletus, Aubé—Among some 
specimens of this local insect recently taken by me here, is one exhibiting the 
following abnormal structure: its right antenna has the four basal joints almost as 
usual in the species, only rather thicker and more compressed; the 5th joint is 
compressed, obconic, formed apparently of two aborted joints, anchylosed laterally 
for more than their lower half, and the right-hand one of which gives off a palpiform 
