18 



At the April Meeting of the Entomological Society of London, 

 Mr. Billups exhibited two species of Pezomachus, new to Britain, 

 P. immaturus, and P. vulnerans. 



A single example of a Coleopteron (Tachys parvulus), new to 

 Britain, taken by Mr. J. H. Smedley, at Wallasey, September, 1884, 

 and described by the Rev. W. W. Fowler, Ent. Mo. Mag., xxii. 43- 



Of these additions to our Fauna, the most important, or at 

 least the most interesting, is that of a new butterfly. The 

 fact of a new butterfly, and that too a species of Lyccena, 

 occurring in England, is an event for which Entomologists 

 were hardly prepared. Among Lepidoptera, the butterflies have 

 always received most of the collectors' attention. The " blues " 

 especially have been industriously worked. In the hope of 

 obtaining varieties, many Lepidopterists give considerable time 

 to the capture and examination of the commoner species of 

 Lyccena. Now that examples of a new species are among the 

 possible results of a free overhauling of such species as L. 

 icams and L. wgon, it is probable that both these insects will 

 in the future, like cur canine friends at present, have their 

 liberty considerably interfered with. It is to be hoped that 

 the " suspects " may be treated with moderation, and receive 

 their immediate discharge if after capture and examination 

 they are found to have no criminating evidence in the shape 

 of a tail about them, and do not happen to be wanted on a 

 charge of hermaphrodism or aberration. 



The circumstances attending the capture of this new species 

 would seem to suggest a more careful scrutiny of our commoner 

 species of Lepidoptera in out-of-the-way places. It cannot, 

 however, be expected that the greatest energy or most con- 

 summate care will result in the detection of many other new 

 species in this way ; but it would be well for us, perhaps, 

 never to take for granted that any object is what it appears 

 to be, until we have assured ourselves of its identity. Certain 

 species may be so familiar to us that we would venture to 

 identify them even at a distance ; but it is better not to place 

 too much reliance on our ability in this respect. A little 

 trouble taken in the examination of a supposed common 

 object might be rewarded by the discovery of a novelty. 



