6 
Suffr.).—The general characteristics of the insects described under 
these names are almost identical, and, at the time of writing, I know of 
no reliable feature by which they may be differentiated. Indeed, I 
doubt whether there are two distinct species. In the first place, the same 
variation in colour exists in each of the so-called species,—from black, 
blue-black, coppery, red, green, blue, in endless shades. The size also 
is as variable. In separating discolor from sericea the main points relied 
on by Mr. E. W. Janson ( Annual , 1861) were “ the structure of its an¬ 
tennae and thorax, and its parallel elytra. In D. comari (discolor) the 
antennae are comparatively short and stout, the third joint but little longer 
than the second, and very little shorter than the fourth; the anterior 
angles of the thorax are rounded and deflexed, and the callus is con¬ 
founded anteriorly with the margin.” These features are fully delineated 
in the plate issued with the 1861 Annual. Cox (Handbook of Coleoptera, 
1874) tabulates by the joints of antennae and shape of elytra, and also 
states that “the antennae and legs [of D. comari (disco lor)\ are shorter 
and thicker,” and elytra more coarsely punctured. Canon Fowler 
(Coleop, Brit. Isles) says:—It (discolor) may “ be easily known by 
having the antennae comparatively short and stout, with the third joint 
less elongate, and only a little longer than the second, and especially by 
the fact that the anterior angles of the thorax are rounded and deflexed, 
and the lateral callosities are much less marked and are confounded 
anteriorly with the margin ; the antennae and legs are sometimes partly 
ferruginous.” The same authority also gives the preference to sericea 
in size. It would thus appear that an extreme form, having short and 
stout legs and antennae, with very slightly marked tubercle, and elytra 
parallel-sided, would constitute what is usually known as D. discolor 
(comari). All other forms, of which there are many, including those 
with long, medium, and short antennae; with tubercle slightly “ hooked,” 
and also blunted or nearly absorbed ; legs long or short; elytra parallel¬ 
sided, or narrowing towards apex; these would all come under D. sericea. 
It was pointed out by Mr. J. W. Tutt, at the meeting of the City of 
London Entomological Society, December 18, 1890, that the black 
forms of D. sericea exhibited, appeared to him to be of an uniform 
small size. This observation might perhaps tend to explain the darker 
colouring, but very little else. 
The types exhibited by Mr. Newbery showed the Scotch form of 
discolor , as discovered by Mr. J. Foxcroft, in Perthshire, in 1854; also 
South of England forms of discolor and sericea , and the intermediate 
forms. The question which now presents itself is, “ What constitutes 
a species in this case?” One or two of the distinguishing points of 
discolor may be found in sericea specimens ; but if the three are com¬ 
bined in any one insect, then, according to our authorities, it is called 
discolor. The matter may be thus summed up : the insects described 
as sericea and discolor are probably varieties of one and the same 
species, or else we are unacquainted with the true D. discolor. It may 
be as well to add that these forms occur together at the Black Pond, 
Esher, Woking, Shepperton, Sunbury, Wimbledon, Deal, Walthamstow, 
and many other localities, generally in June and July, on rushes, Spar- 
ga?iium , reeds, etc. 
D. braccata , Scop.—Known formerly as D. nigra, F. A large, 
robust species, without impressions on elytra. Taken in profusion 
