Mr. J. Walton on the genus Sitona. 227 



On the dried stems of the larger umbelliferous plants in the 

 plains of Southern Sardinia. 



I cannot assert the identity of my specimens with the species 

 of Fries, not having been able to compare their fructification ; my 

 plant differs from the Byssised(Ey under which name other really 

 distinct species are perhaps confounded. Sp. aquila has been 

 found hitherto on rotten branches only, and has therefore been 

 referred to Byssiseda : my specimens might be ranked with Cau- 

 licola. 



IV. Bertia. 

 Perithecia erumpentia oblonga ovoideave, stromate effuse atro crustse- 

 formi insidentia, cellulis mediocribus subrotundis contexta, fere 

 suberosa, tenacia, rugose -verrucosa ; in sicco rugose-tuberculata, 

 rigida, ostiolo inconspicuo vel saltern minutissimo prsedita. Asci 

 creberrimi ectespori, fixi, cite evanidi. Paraphyses tenuissimae. 

 Sporiaia hyalina, cylindracea, utrinque obtusa, curvula, endesperio 

 ab episporie haud distincte, septe medio bilocularia. 



I have named this genus after Dr. Giuseppe Berti of Porto 

 Maurizio, to whom I owe numerous collections of cryptogams 

 from Eastern Liguria. 



Bertia moriformis. Spk, moriformis, Tode Fung. Mecklenb. ii. 

 p. 22. n. 19. tab. 11. fig. 90. a, b, c, tolerably correct but incom- 

 plete; Fries, Syst. ii. p. 458; Sclerom. Suec. ed. 2. n. 125. 



Found for the first time in Italy by my illustrious friend Baron 

 Vincenzio Cesati. A species common in other parts of Europe, 

 but very variable in its mode of growth and in size; nevertheless 

 the nucleus, the asci and the sporidia always preserve the same 

 characters in solitary individuals as well as in those which are 

 clustered together ; a fact, be it observed, which supports the 

 maxim I have tried to establish, and which I hope in the sequel 

 to be able triumphantly to demonstrate. 



In the distinction of the genera and species we ought to set the 

 highest value on those characters which are drawn from the form 

 and structure of their sporidia. 



XXXI. — Notes on the genus of Insects Sitona, with descriptions 

 of two new Species. By John Walton, Esq., F.L.S. 



Fam. CURCULIONID^. 

 Genus Sitona, Germ., Steph.; Sitones, Schonh. 

 § A. Eyes subdepressed. 

 I. Sitona hispidula, Fab., Germ., Steph., Schonh. 

 — pallipes, Steph. 

 Cure, hispidulus, Marsh., Gyll., Kirb. MSS. 



The subimmersed eyes, and the erect rigid hairs scattered on 



