affecting the Clover-crofs and Pasture-lands. 47 



" This second crop was mowed, made, dried, and housed in the granary, as 

 was the custom, and after twelve days the little weevils hegan to hatch and to 

 issue from the granary ; soon after I perceived a very great number descend 

 along the walls and make for the outside, as in the case of the first crop. 



" Thus then we must conclude, from the facts I have just reported, 

 1st, That in the space of about 5 to 7 weeks, which is necessary for the growth 

 of the second crop of clover, the pupa of the apion has had time to form 

 itself ; 2nd, That the perfect insect has been able to copulate, to transport 

 itself into the fields and deposit its eggs upon the plant ; 3rd, That these have 

 been able to develop themselves, and that the larvaj which have proceeded 

 from them have had the requisite time for reaching their full growth, and 

 finally to destroy and devour the seed produced by the second flowering of the 

 clover. 



" I obtained only two crops, but it is probable that the third, if there had 

 been one, would not have fared better than the first two. I ought to observe, 

 that my clover had been chalked (^platre) in the spring, and that it was in 

 its second year — that is, it had been sown the preceding year ; and that it had 

 not yet been cut. 



" I reckon my loss in the seed-crop in 1841, by the clover-weevil, at I'gth. 

 The agriculturists also complained, later, that the yield of seed was far from 

 abundant." 



There is a species so closely allied to A. api'icans, that it is 

 believed to be merely a variety. Its habits are the same, and it 

 infests the purple clover ; but it seems to be strongly attached to 

 Trifolium ockroleucum (the sulphur-trefoil). This little weevil is 

 named 



3. Apion Assbiile {Kirhy). 



It is rather smaller than A. apricans, and is further dis- 

 tinguished by the base of the horns and the fore-shanks being of 

 a duller colour. This weevil is very abundant from the early 

 spring to late in autumn. In April and succeeding months I have 

 found it in abundance in clover-fields, pastures, meadows, and 

 hedge-rows, and in June on the sulphur-trefoil. 



The Dutch or white clover (^Trifolium repens) suffers from the 

 depredations of another allied species of weevil, whose economy 

 has been well ascertained by M, Guerin. This apion is named 



4. A. FlaVIPES, Fah. : the Yellow-legged or Dutch-clover 



Weevil. 



It also is similar to the preceding species, but it is still 

 more slender in form, with entirely bright ochreous legs, ex- 

 cepting the tips of the shanks and all the feet, Avhich are intensely 

 black ; the two basal joints of the horns are also bright ochreous, 

 and the trunk is not so coarsely punctured as in A. apricans. 

 The maggots of this beetle also feed upon the seeds of the Dutch 

 clover. This species is no doubt abundant all the summer, and 

 I have found it in profusion in May on the Dutch clover. 



Providentially these weevils are kept in check by various 



