Notices of New Books. 4757 



error : the error implies carelessness — its attempted maintenance an 

 unphilosophical spirit. 



2nd. Mr. Haliday's ' Descriptions of Insects,' on the contrary, is a 

 paper ,,of the highest scientific interest and the most painstaking 

 accuracy. The following species are described: — one Hymenopterous; 

 Heptamelus ochroleucus, synonymous with Melicerta ochroleuca of 

 Stephens, a Tenthredinidous insect which "seems to connect Blasti- 

 cotoma Filiceti of Klug and the group with 9-jointed filiform antennae. 

 The number of areolets, the broad stigma, and original of the radial 

 veinlet, agree in both genera. Peculiar to Heptamelus is the short 

 pobrachial areolet, which in the Tenthredinidae usually extends a good 

 deal beyond the end of the praebrachial. In Plagiocera, also, they 

 are conterminous ; but the pobrachial is twice as long as the posterior 

 discal ; and that genus, belonging to the group with clavate antennae, 

 has little affinity in other respects to Heptamelus." One Hemipterous, 

 of the family Lygaeidae, Dipsocoris alienus of Haliday, synonymous 

 with the Cryptostemma alienum of Herrich-SchaefTer. " Meyer 

 doubtingly refers this insect to the Capsidae, influenced probably by 

 the supposed want of ocelli which both Meyer and Herrich-SchaefTer 

 have overlooked. It seems to me better," continues Mr. Haliday, 

 "to place it for the present with the Lygaeidae, in a peculiar section, 

 next the Anthocorini, and approaching, perhaps, to the Capsidae, 

 with both of which it has considerable likeness in the wings ; although 

 the dilated and imbricated sutural margin of the hemelytra is peculiar 

 to it, and the rather short, detached proboscis makes some approach 

 to the structure of the Reduvidae. On the whole, Hylocharis is pro- 

 bably the nearest allied native genus. In its habits it most resembles 

 the Saldae, but shuns the light more than they do." It "inhabits the 

 banks of rivers, throughout the summer, gliding among the wet gravel, 

 its silky down protecting it from the w 7 et. It takes flight readily, 

 even from the surface of the water. The yellowish larvae and pupae 

 are found in the same situation, leaping like the perfect insect." 

 Five Dipterous, Clunio marinus, a new genus and species of Chirono- 

 midae, found on gravelly sea-coasts below high- water mark, walking 

 with its wings half raised and in rapid vibration, without taking flight; 

 Dolichopus praetextatus and Aphrosylus celtiber of the family Doli- 

 chopidae ; Geomyza cingulata of the family Muscidae ; and Canace 

 nasica of the tribe Ephydrini. 



XIII. 2 G 



