3 
These groups are again subdivided into smaller ones; but nearly all 
our species vary so little in their general characters, and minute 
descriptions are so bewildering, that it is far better for the young 
student to find some distinct character by which he may know each 
species. This will not prove a very difficult matter with this genus, 
except in the case of D. sericea and D. discolor , which will be duly 
dealt with in the proper place. 
The first species on our list is D. crassipes , F. In this species, 
the posterior femora are very long, reaching to apex of elytra, the 
insect generally dark in colour, and it has a flat compact-looking 
appearance. Mostly found on the leaves of Nymphcea alba. A few 
years since, the late Rev. H. J. Gore took a great many at the New 
Forest, some of which he kindly gave me. Several localities are given 
by Stephens and Fowler, in England, Scotland, and Ireland; the 
species seems widely distributed, and other localities may also be found 
by the ardent explorer. 
D. de?itata, Hoppe.—Said to be closely allied to D. crassipes , but 
the general build of the insect is very different ; it is much more 
robust in shape, and could hardly be confounded with the latter 
species. The colour also is much more variable, some being of a 
brilliant grassy green, and others of indigo-blue. The specimens taken 
by me at Basingstoke Canal in June, 1887, occurred on Potamogeton 
natans , and by getting into the large patch floating on the water, I 
captured some fifty or sixty during the afternoon. The best time of 
day for Donacia species is from one o’clock up till seven. 
j D. versicolorea , Brahm.—Known as D. bidens, Oh, in Cox’s 
j Handbook of Coleoptera, and also in Sharp’s first edition of Catalogue 
of British Coleoptera and Fowler and Matthew’s Catalogue (1883); in 
second edition of Sharp’s Catalogue (1883) it is termed versicolora , 
Brahm. The shape of this species is much shorter than either of the 
preceding, the legs also are much stouter; the colour is uniformly 
darker, almost black. It is very active in habits, and the best mode 
of capturing it is to draw the leaves of the plant under water, when 
the beetles may speedily be picked off and bottled. I have found 
specimens as early as June, and as late as October. At Basingstoke 
Canal, in 1887, I took a great quantity. Occurs also at Walthamstow 
in the various ponds at that locality. The insect is widely distributed, 
and sometimes common. 
D. sparganii , Ahr,—This insect has frequently been confounded 
with D. dentata , and but recently I received two specimens as the 
latter beetle. The error probably arises from the tabulation in Cox’s 
Handbook of Coleoptera , wherein it states that the posterior tibiae of 
male are without nrominences on inner side, and has thus caused the 
confusion of the two species. The legs of D. sparganii are uni- 
colorous dark, and more or less metallic; while in dentata they are red. 
Moreover, sparganii is uniformly dark, and besides a much flatter 
insect. The only locality known to me is Watford, Hertford, where it 
has been taken by Mr. A. Piffard and Mr. T. Hall. 
D. dentipes , F.—Sometimes called aquatica , L., but the latter name 
has not been adopted in Britain, for the simple reason, that it has been 
applied to so many of the Donacia species. The insect is one of the 
most beautiful of the genus. Elytra of brilliant green, with a broad 
