The next family is that of the Otiorhynchid®. This rather crabbed name is compounded of two Grreek words, the former si^ifying an ear and the latter a nose or snout, and is given to this family because the beak is developed at each side into a flat ear-hke lobe. The beak is short and stout, and the basal joint of the antenn® reaches beyond the eyes when directed backwards.

Of this family our first example is Otiorhynchus picipes, which is represented on Woodcut XVIII. Fig. 2. The typical genus, to which this insect belongs, has the antenn® long, and generally set on the tip of the beak. The scutellum is often absent, and where it does exist is very small; there are no wings, and the body is egg-shaped and convex. In this genus the ear-like lobes projecting at the tip of the beak, sometimes termed winglets, are very well developed, and can be easily seen with the aid of a magnifier. By these projections there is a deep groove in which the antenn® are set; and in many of the species the head has a most curious resemblance to that of a moose when viewed sideways, the resemblance being increased by the hairs with which the thickly set. muzzle, if we may so call it, is

The insects of this genus are very destructive to plants and ruit-trees, some species attaching themselves more particularly

to definite plants, but the generality being in no wise par- |l ticular as to tbe sort of plant, tree, or fiower on which tliey feed. The present species is very plentiful, and prefers young fl leaves to every other kind of food. This fact shows tliat it is |l one of the insects that are found in the spring time, and, by beating whitethorn hedges about April and May, any number |l can be procured. Although not brightly coloured, it is rather ■ a pretty Beetle. Its colour is chestnut-brown, and the elytra H are covered with a thick coating of scales, through which a few jl stiff and shining bristles project. They are boldly striated, H each stria being composed of a series of circular impressions, ■ and between the striae is a row of elevated, smooth,' blackish H tubercles. The thorax is very globular and thickly granulated,

The scales which have been just mentioned are found in the ■ members of this family generally, and are most lovely objects I when viewed under the microscope. The most beautiful of ■ these scales are to be found on the little green Weevils that are I so plentiful upon nettles and hedge-side plants. Seen by the I unaided eye, there is nothing remarkable about these insects, which appear to be simple dull-green Beetles ; but if one of |l under the microscope, and viewed with a half- I them be placed with light concentrated on it by a ‘ bull s-eye lens, n inch glass it undergoes a transformation like that of Cinderella when | touched by the fairy wand. The whole of its body, head, j thorax, and elytra is clad with rounded glittering scales, set in j order, the scales being larger and fewer on the under j regular side than on the upper side of the thorax. Their colour is the latter hue being strongest at their tips, but gold-green, shifting in accordance with the change of bght. both colours are wonderfully beautiful, for they are boldly and The elytra ridged ; and as each ridge is densely covered with regularly play of colour upon them is really wonderful. As if j scMes, the to the colouring, the elytra themselves I to give more richness which would be very beautiful even | are rich golden-brown, clothing of emerald scales, but which are quite | without the thrown into the shade by the beauty of theii covering. of the insect cease here. If a still

Nor do the wonders higher power be used, one for example which magnifies some | each scale is seen to be shaped with two-hundred diameters, care. The form somewhat resembles that ; the most elaborate

of a battledore with the handle broken off, and the head rather

rounded. The sni'face is covered with ridges as regular as

those of the elytra from which it came, and each ridge projects

a little beyond the end of the side, so as to produce a series of

teeth. Over the whole of each scale the light plays with a changing lustre, and indeed each tiny scale seems, when greatly magnified, to reproduce in itself the splendid colours of the entire insect.

Seveial other members of the typical genus are well known to garden eis fiom the mischief which they do to the flowers and fruits. For example, there is the Gtrooved Weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus), which is too plentiful in gardens, and has a peculiar predilection for potted plants,.getting just between the root and the stem, and nibbling round tlie plant until it first weakens, and then destroys it. Owing to the sober-grey exterior of the Beetle, it is enabled to lie concealed on the very spot where it does so much harm ; its egg-shaped body, disguised with the particles of earth which cling to its scaled and bristly surface, looking more Hke a dusty stone than insect. an

Ihe larva of this destructive Beetle was found by Messrs. Westwood and Haworth busily engaged in devouring the roots of a species of Sedum, which had been potted. This larva is rather long in proportion to its width, and is covered with short stiff hairs, by means of which it is able to push its way through the earth. It lives but a very little below the surface 0 the ground, and never eats any portion of the plant that feed throughout the winter months, does an enormous amount of unsuspected mischief. It changes to the pupa state about weeks

Another of these Beetles is popularly known by the name of rnicoi Weevil (Otiorhynchus ter^hncoms), because it chiefly atUcks those fruit-trees which are nailed against the wall Keettf- f°L direfully from its inroads. This ^ and, when examined tlounh fie thi ^ead, thorax, and elytra are seen to be

P es. It may seem strange, but it really is the case that

punctures, are more apparent to these stri®, composed of tiny the lens, which brings out the granuthe naked eye than under the punctures into the shade.

lations in bold relief, and throws sideways and turned gradually If the Beetle he examined appears near the edge round, a narrow line of warm-chestnut as the body of the insect revolves. of the elytra, always shifting microscope, and a ha - ^ When the Beetle is placed under the chestnut hue is seen to brought to bear on it, this inch power by a uumber of short reddish bristles, which, be occasioned above, are too few to have any perceptible ^ when viewed from of the body i but, when seen m pro- ; effect on the pitchy-black brought into the field of file, so that a number of them are develope their colon .

are able to assert themselves and view, parallel case y oo mg a The reader may easily see a and then by viewing it side- : back of the hand first from above, light. In the first case ‘’j' ways against the ovm the surface almost escape observation, f ® aspect. The bristles of assume quite an important case they rubbed off, and therefore the

Beetle, by the way, are easily this except in young speciline is not seen to advantage chestnut as is the case with the

mens that have been carefully handled, from which I write this description. example there does no great l^aim, bu

It ?s common in hedges, and its presence cannot be it takes to invading our orchards, when the loose bark of grape- It is fond of lurking under Tjermitted the roots of the vines in the earth around AU these places the walls, and in old nail-holes. Ihe bases of of the walls well di'enched occ< be searched, the base should from the the loose bark stripped Inally with tobacco-water, mortar. In the present stopped with vines Ind the nail-holes species are acknoweighteen British ledged. genu; as now restricted, This name is

Nf.xt comes the +1-10 lamiiy fumilv oi of the uuc Erirhinid®. _ -r„ 4 inrifr-

X rj-reek words, which signify long 1 c beaks are of to tbe family became their is7ven

bTrtd as long ind^d asjhe thorax.

“ a^L lenV, -rly

The first pair of le|sare^aeW the home in which i to this family, together with

belonging”^

resides while in the larval state. Its name is Lixus hicolor.

The genus to which this insect belongs is known by its elongated, narrow, cylindrical body, its long and nearly straight beak, and the sharp and strong hook at the end of the tibiae. This singularly beautiful insect derives its name of hicolor, or two-coloured, from the hue of the body, which is clothed with thick scarlet and yellow down. This splendid coat, however, is easily rubbed off, and hence it is difficult to obtain a specimen in really good condition. Thistles and geraniums form the usual habitation of this Beetle, which burrows into the interior of the stem, and there remains until it has undeigone its changes. Deal is one of the places where this beautiful Beetle is found; and the best mode of obtaining good specimens is, therefore, to examine carefully the roots and stems of the plants on which it feeds, and if a swelling should appear on any of them, to pull up the plant, take it home, and keep it alive, if possible, until the Beetle makes its appearance. Owing to the extreme delicacy of the downy coat, the laurel-bottle is needed for the various Lixi, as, if left to run about in a box or bottle, they would sadly damage their beautiful clothing. Even when the fatal bottle has received them, care should be taken that it be carried steadily, so as to avoid shaking the delicate insect against its sides.

Mr. Hope mentions in his MS. notes that he has taken two species of Lixus— namely, Lixus paraplecticus, a wondertully long and thin Beetle, and Lixus angustatus—neav Oxford both on flags growing in the ’ Isis.

tin?'' on ^ representaof another Beetle belonging to this family. Its name is I modes p^n^. This genus has the beak quite as long as the its'dH^iTf ameter. body is egg-shaped, but long in proportion to The species which is represented in the illustra- ^on is a northern insect, and is found in Scotland, where it is plentiful among fir-trees. It is a handsome Beetle, its colour being nch red-brown, variegated with golden spots. the habits of this insect in the following an! ' • • • • • frequents pine forests, one species Pis ces pim, abounding in many parts of Scotland, wh^ere I’have »een the fet^ale with her N rostrum deeply buried to the soft par^

bark and solid timber of fresb-cut fir-trees.between the outer thus formed an egg is deposited, the larva proceed- In the hole under the bark until it is tulling from which eats galleries with particks of wood, grass, grown, when it closes its retreat perfect insects . . . cling

and changes to a pupa. The &c., handled.’ The name Pwsodes very tightly to the fingers when pitch, and is given to is forined from a Greek word signifying because they inhabit the fir-tree. these insects belonging to the same farnily,

There is an insect, to gardeners by the name of I too well known the Weevils which attack pomorum). Unlike (Anthonomus confines itself to the and stems of plants, this insect the roots which has caused entomologies to ^ I flowers, a circumstance and its kin the name of but mtbm long tue ' | and .nve., teotb^ , rer in tbe mid^, and ^e fe~e fibise are widened XVIII. Fig. 4, tbe form en Wohout Tbrin“Tisrpresented palpus at d, and is shown at c, the mazillary of tbe antenna with chestnut, and on the elytra

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