58 Observations on various Insects 



Nothing is at present known of the transformations of this 

 weevil ; but as it is so abundant in the flower-heads of the sainfoin, 

 and the above accurate description will enable the naturalist to 

 identify the species, I hope that ere long its economy will be 

 ascertained. 



We may notice that Lotus corniculatus (the common bird's-foot 

 clover) supports Apion loti, which is abundant on that plant in 

 June ; and the flowers of the same plant are sometimes strangely 

 metamorphosed in appearance by a little midge called Ceci- 

 domyia Loti. 



Apion Ervi and A. Lathyri are found on Lathyrus pratensis 

 (everlasting tare). 



Apiox ViCliE is plentifully found upon the wood-vetch ( Vicia 

 sylvatica). 



Latlnjrus Nissolia (crimson grass-vetch) is particularly subject 

 to the depredations of an apion. 



Another beetle has recently been observed to injure the tares ; 

 and were it to appear annually in such great abundance as it did 

 on one occasion, its ravaofes would prove a great loss to the culti- 

 vator. In July, 1850, Mr. F. Bond exhibited before the Ento- 

 mological Society of London the larvae and beetles of a species, 

 named Chrysomela polyyoni, which had destroyed many acres of 

 tares in Cambridgeshire, It also inhabits the dock, sorrel {Ru- 

 mex acefosa), and knot-grass {Polyyoymm aviciilare), from whence 

 the beetle receives its name of Poljgoni. On these plants it is 

 generally abundant fiYjm the early spring to midsummer. 



17. Chrysomela {Phcedon) Polygoni, Linn. 



It is oblong-ovate and very convex (fig. 25 ; 26 the same mag- 

 nified) ; the mouth comprises an upper lip (fig. 27), two man- 

 dibles or jaws for biting (fig. 28), two maxilla? with two palpi or 

 feelers (fig. 29), and an underlip with two small feelers (fig. 30); 

 the horns are moderately long, black, eleven-jointed, slender at 

 the base, and thickened at the apex into a club (fig. 31) : it 

 is finely punctured ; head small, greenish, or deep blue ; thorax 

 convex, broader than long; the lateral margins not thickened, 

 shining, entirely reddish ; wing-cases rather inore deeply punc- 

 tured than the thorax, violet-blue or green; beneath them is con- 

 cealed an ample pair of wings : breast, middle of the underside 

 of the thorax, and the abdomen, blue ; tip of the latter and the 

 shortish legs reddish. The few; are slender and four-jointed 

 (fig. 32): length l|-2Hines. 



The lucern in France {Medicayo saliva) suffers severely from 

 a beetle which does not inhabit England. I shall, therefore, only 

 briefly notice its economy. It is the 



