Mr. J. Walton on the gemis Sitona. 229 



described by Stephens under the name of Sit. tibialis of Herbst, 

 after Gyllenhal, and he has quoted Cure, chloropus in his ' Syst. 

 Catal/ as synonymous ; but I think Marsham^s description of the 

 sculpture on the thorax agrees better with the former, I have 

 therefore placed a note of interrogation. Cure, subauratus and 

 C pleuritieus of Kirby MSS. and collection are identical, and are 

 most decidedly specimens of Sit. suleifrons. 



It may be known from all the species of this section by its 

 smaller size and by its proportionably shorter form. 



Found abundantly in many localities amongst grass and in 

 hedges in the spring and autumn. 



5. Sitona lineata, Linn., Mus. Linn., Germ., Steph., Schonh. 

 Cure, lineatus, Fab., Marsh., Gyll., Kirb. MSS. 



— ruficlavis. Marsh. 



— griseus, Marsh., non Fab. 



— griseus (var. /3.), Kirb. MSS. 



Recent specimens of this insect may generally be known by 

 having the alternate interstices of the elytra covered with paler 

 scales than the others, and are more or less distinctly lineated ; 

 but they are sometimes concolorous and not lineated ; individuals 

 of this and many other species (especially those which are clothed 

 with silvery-gray scales) are from age very subject to abrasion, 

 and these occur not unfrequently with the upper surface very 

 thinly or unequally clothed with scales ; sometimes the shoulders 

 and scutellum are maculated, or with an abbreviated streak ; at 

 other times immaculate and more or less denuded ; nevertheless 

 they may be distinguished, without difficulty, by a comparative 

 examination of the form and sculpture, which may be more 

 easily seen than expressed : the females are more robust. 



Cure, rufielavis and Cure, griseus of Marsham are varieties, 

 sparingly clothed with silvery-gray scales, with the elytra con- 

 colorous or partially denuded. 



The most abundant species of the genus, everywhere common, 

 and sometimes found in great numbers amongst peas and beans. 



6. S. punetieollis, Kirb. MSS., Steph. 183L 



— octopunctatus, Germ, in Litt. 



— insulsus, Schonh. 1834. 



Cure, fiavescens (var.), Kirb. MSS. 



I sent specimens of this insect to Schonherr and Germar as 

 " Sit. puneticollis of Kirby, nigrielavis, longielavis et flaveseens, 

 Marsh. •/' the former referred them to Sitones insulsus"^; and the 

 latter observed, that '^Sit.punetieollisoi Kirby, insulsus of Schonh., 

 is the true Sit. oetopunctatus, Germ. ;" which opinion is further 

 corroborated by a foreign specimen sent by him for my inspec- 



• Schonh. Syn. Ins. ii. p. 103. no. 9 (1834). 



