863 



have given this genus some other uame, instead of Melolontlia, because this 

 was first used by Linnajus as a specific name, which, according to the well 

 known rule of priority, cannot be discontinued in its original application, 

 without manifest injustice to the first describer. To continue the compari- 

 son made, on another page, between the names used in natural history and 

 those of persons, — insects, like ladies, may and do, frequently and repeat- 

 edly, change their generical or fomily names; but there is no good or com- 

 mendable authority for depriving either of them of their specific or baptis- 

 mal names. I therefore propose to restore to the Melolontlia of the ancients 

 and of Linnajus, its original distinctive or specific appellation, by calling it 

 Pobjphylla Melolontlia, literally the many-leaved Melolontha, in allusion to 

 the unusual number of leaves in the knob of the antennjB. Mr. Hentz's 

 species will then become Pohjpliylla variolosa. 



[Insert after first paragi-aph on p. 83, 3d Ed.] 



[70.] Another grain-weevil, hardly differing from the foregoing except 

 in its color, which is black, is found in New York. It is the Calandra (Sito- 

 pliilas) remotepunctata of Sqjionherr. Whether wheat, and other grain, 

 suffers to any extent in this country. from either of these weevils, I have not 

 been able to ascertain, as the accounts given of the ravages of the insects 

 supposed to be weevils are rarely accompanied by any descriptions of them 

 in their different states. 



[Insert after first paragraph on p. 116, 3d Ed.] 



[93.] Mr. Say thought the foregoing to be the only species of Rhagium 

 in the United States. There is, however, another one, closely allied in form 

 to the willow Rhagium of Europe, which was obtained by Mr. Leonard in 

 DubUn, N. H., and the same insect has been found in other parts of New 

 England. It does not appear to have been described, and is the Rhagium 

 decoloratum of my . Catalogue, so named because the wing-covers appear 

 discolored, as if their original hue had faded away. It is from eight tenths 

 of an inch to one inch, or rather more, in length. It is proportionally 

 longer and narrower than the ribbed Rhagium, and its antenna; are two 

 thirds the length of the body; its wing-covers are smooth or not ribbed, 

 and of a dirty brownish yellow or clay color; the rest of the body, the legs, 

 and the antennae, are reddish brown. It is possible that this may be only 

 a variety of a species which has blue or blackish wing-covers; but all the 

 specimens that have fallen under my observation are alike. 



