PREFACE. 



TN the following account of the wheat and rice weevil of 

 -^ India, an attempt has been made to gather together 

 what is already known about the insect, and to supplement 

 it from information obtained from practical men in India. 



The chief points which are uncertain or unknown in its 

 history have been indicated, in the hope that some of those 

 who take an interest in the matter may assist in obtaining 

 the information which is wanted : as it is only from a most 

 minute and accurate knowledge of its habits and peculiarities 

 that reliable inferences can be drawn. 



Appended to the general account are abstracts and trans- 

 lations of the chief writings of entomologists, both on this 

 particular species and also on its near ally, the wheat weevil 

 of Europe, whose history throws considerable light on points 

 connected with Indian species; also a valuable series of 

 reports obtained by Messrs. Ealli Brothers from their agencies 

 in different parts of India. 



The writer's best thanks are due to Messrs. Ralli Brothers, 

 Mr. J. Blackwood, Junior, Dr. G. M. Giles, and to Mr. 

 W. Wishart, in India ; to Professor Westwood, in England ; 

 and to Mr. L. 0. Howard in America, for assistance rendered. 



E. C. COTES, 



Indian Museum. 



