156 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vou 42. 



first to give a preliminary treatment of its life history. His 

 early contribution to the knowledge of the boll weevil is noted for 

 its thoroughness, and it is therefore a matter of congratulation 

 that 'Mr. Townsend is in a position to take up the study of this 

 weevil wliich may have a bearing upon future work with its greater 

 congener. 



A series of 67 specimens bred from cotton squares on the Hacienda 

 Macacara in the Rio Chira Valley, Peru, October 8, 1910, by Mr. 

 Townsend, and 1 specimen from San Pedro de Cumbivira, Peru, 

 September 21, 1910, are before the writer. The series is composed 

 of 38 females and 30 males. The males vary from 3 to 4 mm. in 

 length, 1.4 to 1.8 mm. in width, and 1.2 to 1.5 mm. in length of beak. 

 The females vary from 2.5 to 4 mm. in length, 1.2 to 1.75 mm. in 

 width, and 1.2 to 1.7 mm. in length of beak. 



The San Pedro specimen is darker than the others and most nearly 

 answers the description by Boheman which must have been based on 

 a female. The following description is therefore based upon this 

 specimen : 



Female. — Oblong-ovate, convex, blackish piceous, rather closely 

 clothed with whitish, elongate scales, which are more piliform beneath. 

 Head convex, finely punctate, moderately squamose, front depressed, 

 with medium carina between eyes extending on beak to the point 

 opposite the attachment of the antennae. Beak slender, cylindrical, 

 shining, finely punctato-rugulose, lightly squamose only at base, 

 reddish piceous, lightly arcuate, slightly enlarged at tip, over one 

 and one-half times as long as prothorax. Antennal scrobes directed 

 at eyes; scape inserted slightly beyond the middle, slender, clavate, 

 barely reaching the eye, reddish testaceous; funicle seven jointed, 

 reddish testaceous, first joint as long as the two followmg, clavate, 

 second joint elongate, remaining joints moniliform; club ovate, 

 blackish piceous, with first joint very distinct, pubescence fine. Pro- 

 thorax transverse, apically truncate, basally bisinuate, base one-half 

 wider than apex, sides convex, converging, impressed before apex; 

 dorsum slightly convex, transversely impressed behind apex, densely 

 but shallowly punctate, clad w4th elongate white scales. Scutellum 

 broadly ogival, clad with very fine piliform scales. Elytra anteriorly 

 subtruncate, about one-half wider than thorax, a little over twice as 

 long as the thorax, sides almost parallel to posterior third, thence 

 converging, surface convex, regularly punctato-striate, interstices sub- 

 convex, smooth; closely covered with scaly vestiture. Body beneath 

 of same color as above, but more densely clothed with finer vestiture. 

 Femora clavate, unidentate, basally flavo-testaceous, the remainder 

 infuscated, squamose; tibiae slender, flavo-testaceous, almost straigiit, 

 angulate beneath before middle; tarsi elongate; claws elongate, 



