12 Mr. J. Walton on the genera 



III. — Notes, S^c. on the genera of Insects Phyllobius, Polydrosus 

 and Metallites. By John Walton, Esq., F.L.S. 



The insects of these genera are pre-eminently distinguished by 

 having the body adorned with shining or brilliant scales of va- 

 rious shades of green, whilst others have a splendent metallic 

 lustre of various hues ; nearly all the species are subject to con- 

 siderable variation in the colouring of the scales and legs. 



I sent specimens of each of the following to M. Schonherr and 

 Dr. Germar, and I have their authority for the names and syno- 

 nyms referred to them. 



Fam. CURCULIONIDiE. 



Genus Phyllobius, Schonh., Germar ; Nemoicus, Steph, 



§ A. Femora dentate^ 



1. Phyllobius calcaratus, Fab., Schonh., Steph. Man. p. 249. 



— ccBsius, Marsh. 



— Pi/ri et ccBsius, Steph. lUust. iv. p. 147. 



— ceruginosus et ccesius, Kirb. MSS. * 



This insect, from its very great similitude to the following, has 

 frequently been confounded with it, and erroneously referred by 

 many entomologists to Cure. Pyri of Linnaeus ; but the accurate 

 and experienced eye of Gyllenhal detected the characters by which 

 it may be discriminated : it differs from P. Alneti in having the 

 scales setaceous-lanceolate; the antennae and its articulations 

 longer and more slender, the scape reaching beyond the base of 

 the head ; the third and fourth joints of the funiculus distinctly 

 longer ; the thorax less impressed and constricted anteriorly ; the 

 scutellum of the form of an isosceles triangle, having the apex 

 deeply truncated and rounded; the legs and antennae rufous, 

 rufo-ferruginous or rufo-castaneous, very rarely nigro-piceous. 

 Mr. Stephens has in his cabinet a splendid series of varieties, 

 some of which are clothed with golden or coppery-coloured scales ; 

 these he refers to Cure. Pyri of Linnaeus, and others with green 

 scales to casius of Marsham ; I presume he now considers them 

 as the P. calcaratus of his ' Manual ' and of Schonherr. 



Found in the south in boggy woods, and on the banks of rivers 

 on the alder [Alnus glutinosus) the beginning of June ; and in 

 Yorkshire on the common birch {Betula alba) in similar situations ; 

 it is rather local and not frequently met with. 



* It must be understood that the names of insects cited from Kirby's MSS. 

 are verified according to his museum, although not stated ; and those with 

 a note of interrogation he refers with doubt to Marsham. 



