304 
Notes and Comments. 
( — ochracens Gvll.), while the form with the smooth thorax 
he calls V. nitidicollis nom. nov. He is probably mistaken 
about angustatus Steph. He may very possibly be right as to 
ochracens Gyll.’ 
RURALIDiE. 
In a recent issue of The Entomologist’ s Record, Mr. G. T. 
Bethune-Baker gives some valuable and necessary Synonymic 
Notes on the Ruralidae. In these the law of priority plays an 
important part. He demonstrates that in several of the genera 
considerable revision is necessary — due, in most cases appar- 
ently, to the fact that those who have acted as Adam and named 
insects, have not made themselves sufficiently familiar with 
the literature. The following extract from his contribution 
gives an idea of the thoroughness of his work, but at the same 
time it makes one wonder what will happen when the next 
worker comes along and re-revises and generally ‘ plays 
youraliete’ with the Ruralidae:- — 
HEODES. 
Hcodes Dalman. In raising this genus, Dalman mentions 
only virgaureae. This therefore becomes the type. Scudder 
cites phlaeas as the type, but he has evidently overlooked the 
fact that Dalman only mentions virgaureae. . . . Chrysophanus 
Hb., had its type fixed by Scudder as hippothoc (loc. cit .). 
This species is absolutely congeneric with virgaureae, and 
therefore falls before Hcodes. . . . Chrysoptera Zincken (1S17). 
Tutt cited virgaureae as the type of this genu.s, which therefore 
also falls before Hcodes. Rumicia Tutt, and Lou'eia Tutt. 
These genera were raised by the author for the reception of 
phlaeas and dorilis respectively. I have examined carefully 
the species, and cannot find a single character whereby to 
differentiate them from the genus Hcodes, and I have no 
question in my mind that the names should be sunk to 
Hcodes.’ We presume he means ‘ Hades ’ ! 
DERMAPTERA. 
In the Entomologist’s Record, Yol. 26, No. 6., Dr. Malcolm 
Burr gives some ‘ Notes on the Indentity of the Dermaptera 
Described by Thunberg.’ In this he forms the following 
remarkable ‘ summary ’ :■ — Forficula jlexuosa Thunberg. is 
not F. jlexuosa Fabr., but a mis-identified macrolabious F. 
auricularia L. ; Forficula dentata Thunberg, is not /•'. dentata 
Fabr., but a mis-identified Auchenomus javanus Borm. ; For- 
jicula marginalis Thunberg, stands F. ochropus Stal., being 
synonymous ; Forficula fasciata Thunberg, replaces the name 
livid ipes of Tufour. and the correct name of the species is 
therefore Nala fasciata Thunberg ; Forficula capensis Thun- 
berg, is a synonym of Diaperasticus erythrocephalus Oliv. 
Naturalist, 
