In spite of the difficulties which attend the examination of these insects, the entomologist will find his time well bestowed upon them. Independently of other soiuces of interest, these tiny Beetles are marvellously beautiful. Their colours are exceedingly various, and the richness and perfection of the sculpture which adorns their tiny bodies I! must be seen to be appreciated. It is as if the very exuberance of creative power had sported with these Httle creatures, a thousand of which could be contained in a lady’s thimble, and yet which bear upon every portion of their bodies a limitless profusion of highly-elaborated ornament. The head and thorax are covered with a multitude of deep impressions, at first seeming as if scattered at random, but in reaHty disposed with most conmmate art; while the elytra baffle all attempts to describe their varied beauty. Agreeing in one point^namely the bl ndges which run longitudinally along them-th^ are If

infinit6 Vciristy in dstciils, so tliJit n full doscription of all the species would occupy well-nigh more than the space that can be given to the whole of the Beetle tribe.

I have often thought, when examining these little beings with the microscope, that artists in metals might find in them

other Beetles an exhaustless mine of new and most beautiand

ful patterns ; and, indeed, artists, no matter in what department, cannot do better than study the insect tribes, in order to learn many secrets of form and colour. as they are,. the Apions often do much damage to the

Tiny many of them living in peas and beans, as has agriculturist, stated of the Bruchus, some boring into the stems or been

of plants, or making a gall-like excrescence on the leaves roots frequent clover, and in a field of tins or twigs. They specially plant, and along the adjoining hedgerows, the entomologist Apions in a morning to give him full emcan take sufficient ployment during the winter months with his microscope. I that some knowledge of drawing is a potent may here mention the study of insects ; and, indeed, the note-hook help in he always at hand. No matter how rude and pencil should sketch, it is sure to he useful, and has a wonderful may he the power in fixing details in the mind. XVII. Fig. 3, is shown Apion carduorura,

On Woodcut one-seventh of an inch long, while the generality of being about not much more than half that length. The antenna Apions are at c, and the tarsus at/. The head and thorax is represented are black, with short shining hairs scattered very of this insect Near the base of the head the anthinly over the surface. bold tubercles. The elytra are tennae are set upon two rather with a tinge of blue a colour whic is of a verdigris-green, to this genus — and the spaces between the striae rather common are very flat. , • x a species are known to entomologists, and

Some eighty British the beginner to lay aside the ex- I would strongly recommend beings until his eye is trained o amination of these little by some practice with the larger insects. ^ seizing details cardum'um, signifies or specific name of this insect,

The because it can he found upon tha the thistles,’ and is given of the Apions are name a

plant. Indeed, the majority frequent. The reader nn

tlie plants which they principally

liave noticed that I have explained a considerable nnmber of

tlie names of the insects, and that some are left unexplained.

The fact is that many names have no explanation. Systematic

entomologists, when they iind new genera crowding on them,

are quite at a loss for suitable names. They can manage I of the chief characters which marks the species, and give its

pretty well with the specific name, because they can take one j synonym in Gfreek or Latin. But this is not to be done with

the generic title, and so they are driven to various expedients

such as calling a new genus after the name of some particular

friend, or a favourite child, or perhaps a pet dog or cat.

Having exhausted their resources, there yet remains another,

which will account for some of the remarkable names which r we see in entomological lists. Cut up some paper into small squares, and write upon each of them a letter of the alphabet —a child’s toy alphabet will answer still better. Take at random half a dozen letters, taking care to have a vowel or two among them, arrange them on the table, and try if they can be made into a pronounceable word. If not, take some more letters and try again ; and when a word is at last formed, there is the generic name ready. If a sort of classical air be thought necessary, all that is required is to add us or um at the end of it.

I We now come to the Weevils with elbowed antenn®, the first family of which is the Brachyderidas. In these insects the head is short, wide, and set on the thorax without any separate neck, a peculiarity which has gained for the family the name of Brachyderidce, or ‘ short-necks.’

Our example of this family is Sitones lineatus, which is represented on Woodcut XVII. Fig. 4. This genus is known by the possession of wings, the short beak, and the third joint I the second. About of the antennae, which is shorter than ► tourteen British species of this genus are acknowledged. The present species is a pretty though not a brilliant insect. The ground colour is black, but the body is clothed above with sea es of a warm-brown hue, while the under smface of the i body IS similarly clothed, but with scales having a silvery us re. There is a central furrow on the disc of the thorax, and

rather deep impression across its apex. The elytra are

with white interstices between the punctui-ed and striated, white lines form the distinguishing characteristic striee. These which is apt to be very variable in other respects. of the species, must be very careful in l^andling The young entomologist Weevils, as the scales are easily rubbed this and other scale-clad the dull-black of the elytra. off, so that nothing is seen but is just as unfit for the cabinet as A roughly-handled Weevil plumage rubbed from its winp. a butterfly with the rich are injurious to the crops,

All the members of this genus generic name of Sitones clover and peas. The especially is ^ G^e spelt Sitona by some entomologists) (erroneously and has been given to the Beetle word signifying a corn-dealer, of their influence upon the h^vests. in consequence which comes next in order,

In the family of the Cleonidaj, and strong, and curved downwards in the beak is rather long bend. In the typical gen species with a very sudden some and has the antennae set near the beak is larger than the head, The body is thickly covered with its end. spine at the tip. Some of larg^ tibi® have a strong among the members of Weevils are found British on ^ oodcut nehulosus, is represented one of which, Gleonus be seen by the line whic accompanie XVII Fig. 5. As may sometimes being fouithis is quite a large Weevil, ^e figure! the case with all the members of an inch in length. As is fiffhs scales, which in this its body is covered with

f 'tq P'enus or keel, wHch runs along oJ a ridge, ITeT^h the streak on each side which has a white ffs centTe. The thorax, with a short ridge in the ^ddl , ' iq Bunctui’ed and wrinkled,

to the figure. The reaaer wi Weevils, as at U os, an<r the distinctive

spots and hands and require the

These are all Y {^dnce the fine entomological pm in Old

of a needle-point laivie teeo up their bodies. Ibeii

to pass through

of thistles, in which they may be found. There are four species

of this genus, of which one is exceedingly rare, another sufficiently rare to be valuable, while the other two are local, but

tolerably plentiful in the places to which they take a fancy.

The present species is moderately abundant in the New Forest.

The specific name of nebulosus, or cloudy, is given to this

Molytes germamig. 2. Otiorhynchus plcipea. 3 Ponorum. 5. Balaninus nurum ^ v * Pissodes ^issoaea iiini pmi. a 4. Anthonomns 4

Beetle in allusion to the colouring of the body. Like many ther Beetles, this species is liable to some variety, the sea es of the head and thorax sometimes assuming a red hue an a line of similar colour .running along the suture of the’

of a very fine example

inglish Weevils. It is called Molytes genrnnus, and is so

that it cannot possibly be mistaken if seen. This * conspicuous genus, of which two British species are known, is distinguished smooth, egg-shaped body, the minute and scarcely ; by its broad, visible scutellum, and the strong hook at the tip of the tarsi. | The colour of this species is shining-black, and the thorax is and marked with three irregular spots on deeply punctured, each side, the spots being composed of dull-yellow hairs. The with many dull-yellow spots and a number elytra are covered of shallow rounded impressions.

Both species of Molytes are found in chalky districts, and species seems to be a very local one, Kent and the present being the places where it has chiefly been found. Sussex

of this family may be seen on Plate VI.

Another example is the Beetle known by the name of P/l2/^o^^omus : Fig. 6. This an insect which is found plentifully at Dover. In tigrinus, have twelve joints, the scape being this genus the antennse to the eyes, the club being oval. The clubbed, and reaching is twice as long as the head, rounded and curved, the beak with scales, and the tibiae are without elytra are thickly clothed spnrs. . i.of this genus are remarkable for constructing

The insects when they are about to change into the perfect pensile cocoons is represented just below the state. One of these cocoons are really wonderful examples of insect Beetle. These cocoons be made by such a creature as a Httle art, and that they should incredible. The form is hairy grub seems almost long-bodied thread secreted by the insect. oval, and the material is silken cocoons is that they are made of open The peculiarity in these large enough to admit an ordinary network, the meshes being of one of these cocoons could U pin. A very good imitation iron net, and forming it in o made by taking some galvanised of the cocoon are in thei

egg-like shape ; for the threads an as the wire. The cocoon represente m way quite as strong the plate is of the natural size. care to spin its cocoon on the unde

The larva always takes it will not be seen unless the leav es ^

surface of a leaf, so that As a rule, the young entomologist will

lifted. often afford him a rich har^

under surfaces of leaves will is to be seen on the upper surface.

when no sign of an insect

Fourteen species of this genus are known, and all of them

make similar cocoons in which to pass their pupal existence.

These are not the only cocoon-making Weevils, for there is

another genus, Cionus, which is equally distinguished as an architect. The cocoon of the Cionus resembles in every essential that of the Phytonomus, hut is spherical instead of oval. These insects feed on the mullein ; and the best plan to secure the cocoon of the insect is to find out some place where mulleins grow, and search them diligently. The Grreat Mullein ( Verbascum thapsus), which grows in waste grounds, on sandy or gTavelly soil, is nearly sure to furnish either the Beetle or the cocoon, and perhaps both. Mr. Stephens states that he took all the species of this genus upon a single mullein plant. The Knotted-root Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa) is another of their favourite plants. The generic name, Phytonomus, is formed from two Grreek words, and signifies ‘ herb-grazer.’

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