﻿188 ^ BRITISH BEETLES. 



with the club usually four-jointed ; their anterior legs 

 are approximated at the base, and the greater part are 

 winged, and have the scutellum more or less distinct. 



The species of Lixus are usually very elongate, cylin- 

 drical, and narrow, with the grooves in the rostrum of 

 very variable formation, but, as in Larinus, directed 

 downwards^ and usually commencing between the middle 

 and the apex. In the latter genus they meet beneath. 



The Lioci are rare in this country, being found chiefly 

 on the south coast. They live in water-plants, etc. ; 

 one of then\, and that the most beautiful, L. hicolor, 

 breeding in thistle-stems at Deal. AVhen freshly dis- 

 closed this insect is clothed with very thick and bright 

 scarlet and yellow down, which (as in the other members 

 of the genus) readily rubs off, so that it is difficult to 

 obtain good specimens for the cabinet. Old entomolo- 

 gists used to pin the specimens alive immediately on 

 capturing them ; because, if bottled or boxed, they soon 

 divest themselves of their gaudy covering. According 

 to M. Lacordaire, they are able during life to renew 

 this plumage to a certain extent. 



Another species, L. paraplecticus , is noteworthy on 

 account of its very elongate, thin, pointed appearance, 

 reminding one of the "walking-stick" insects. Very 

 different to this are the allied Larinus and Rhlnocyllus ; 

 squat, stumpy, and ovate ; found in thistle flowers, etc. 

 on the coast. The latter, which is slightly hairy, was 

 formerly considered a specific for toothache ; the genus 

 Antiodontalgicus having been formed for its reception. 

 Pissocles, resembling Hylobius, though on a smaller 

 scale, frequents pine forests ; one species, P. pint, 

 abounding in many parts of Scotland, where I have seen 

 the female with her rostrum deeply buried into the soft 



