142 PEAK. 



showing the mischief that two of the species have been noticed 

 as causing, and also the recurrence of the attack year by 

 year when once estabhshed. 



The Brown Leaf Weevil, figured at p. 141, is a common 

 kind in this country, and sometimes very destructive, but is 

 not generally so much noticed as the bright kinds of Phyllo- 

 hiiis (the genus to which it belongs), of which one species, 

 P. maculiconns, did damage over hundreds of acres in May, 

 1888, by devouring the leafage of various kinds of orchard 

 trees, as of Apples, Plums, Cherries, Nuts, &c. 



These Brown Leaf Weevils, P. oblong us, are of the shape 

 figured magnified at p. 141, only about the sixth of an inch 

 or a little more in length, and somewhat elongate or parallel - 

 sided in shape. The head and thorax are usually black ; the 

 wing-cases variable in colour, pale dull red or brown, with the 

 margins often black, or sometimes they may be entirely 

 pale, — my own specimens, from Kent, have been with reddish 

 wing-cases and black borders, also I have them with reddish 

 brown, and yellower brown elytra, without borders ; the head, 

 thorax, and wing-cases are covered more or less with a rather 

 long grey pubescence ; wings present. This grey down dis- 

 tinguishes this species from the other PJnjllohiHs weevils, 

 which are for the most part beset with green scales. The 

 antennae (horns) are twelve-jointed and elbowed, the club 

 elongate-ovate ; the rostrum (or proboscis) short ; eyes rather 

 prominent ; the legs yellowish or brown. 



In the early summer of 1896 observations were sent me of 

 great damage being done to orchard trees by these beetles 

 at localities in the south-east and south-west of England. 

 Specimens were sent on the 18tli of May from Kent, with the 

 observation that the Pear and Apple trees of the sender were 

 so infested that at the time he hacl " the ground and trees full 

 of them." A little later on specimens were sent from another 

 locality, with the observation: — "I may say that they have 

 done me very great damage for years past. They appear 

 about the first week in Ma}', and eat the young buds of the 

 Apple trees, &c." 



In continental records this Brown Leaf Weevil is stated 

 to appear in some years " in astonishing numbers." The 

 devastation of the orchard trees begins with the appearance 

 of the leafage, and first of all the buds are attacked, and 

 where development takes place slowly a great part are de- 

 stroyed. Grafted plants in nursery gardens are noted as 

 especially liable to attack. 



We do not appear (so far as I am aware) to have any 

 English observations as to the life-history of this beetle in 

 its early condition ; but the following notes are given by 



