332 Mr. J. Walton on the genus Apion. 



the following species, and without some practical experience are 

 rather difficult to determine. 



I received four insects from Germar with the name Ap. atra- 

 tulum; these are beyond all doubt the same species as Ap. stria- 

 tum of Marsham and Kirby. 



Very common almost everywhere on the furze ( Ulex europcms) 

 from February to November. 



38. A. immune, Kirb., Steph., Schonh. 

 — Betulce (Chevr. in Litt.), Schonh. 



This species differs from the preceding in having the head di- 

 stinctly striated between the eyes, the vertex very coarsely punc- 

 tured adjacent to the thorax, the corresponding space in Ap. stri- 

 atum being smooth and shining ; the thorax vdth a large puncture 

 near the base, before the scutellum, sometimes obsolete or want- 

 ing. The thorax has been described as somewhat globose and 

 punctulated, whereas it is narrow and subcylindrical, laterally a 

 little dilated at the middle, very coarsely and thickly punctured ; 

 the elytra, at the sides, posteriorly much enlarged and rounded, 

 with the apex obtusely rounded, above very convex, and remark- 

 ably gibbous behind the middle. It is a smaller species than the 

 foregoing, and also variable in form and size. 



M. Chevrolat forwarded to me two insects under the name of 

 Ap. BetulcB of Schonherr, which are very evidently small varieties 

 of this species. 



In my former notes on the species of this genus, I have erro- 

 neously referred the present insect to the preceding, as its male ; 

 the possession of an extensive series recently collected in the south 

 of England has enabled me to correct this error, and to point out 

 the specific distinctions of both species. 



This insect appears to be confined to the south of England and 

 is rather local ; I found it plentifully on the broom {Spartium Sco- 

 parium) in Charlton sand-pits and in other localities in June and 

 September. 



39. A. Sorbi, Herbst, Kirb., Gyll., Germ., Steph., Schonh. 

 Cure, viridescens, Marsh. 



A. carhonarium, Germ. {S)> Steph. 111. 



The male of this species is of smaller size than the female, the 

 eyes are more prominent, the rostrum shorter and stouter, and 

 the elytra black. 



Gyllenhal first identified the male of this insect, which he com- 

 municated to Kirby; afterwards both authors described the female, 

 and characterized the male; since which (1817) Germar described 

 and figured an insect under the name of Ap. carhonarium, which 

 he subsequently recorded as the male of Ap. Sorbi"^. Stephens 

 in his ' IHustrations ' described an insect under the name of Ap. 

 * Germ. Mag. iii. App. p. 39. 



