BY W. MACLEAY, JUN., ESQ. 265 



there can be no doubt. In his detailed description of the insect 

 Boisduval says that there are 7 elevated interrupted costae on 

 each elytron, those on the sides being less distinct. 



At least two other species, Am. Spencei, Hope, and Am. 

 Eopei, Schonh., both fully described by Schonherr in the 7th 

 vol. of his great work on the Curculionidfe, are clearly referable 

 to this genus. I will not, however, add them to the present list 

 of species, as I have done with S. dolens, as I do not feel at all 

 certain that I may not have described both of them under other 

 names. There are many species in this genus so alike in 

 sculpture, that it is only by a careful observation of the points 

 of difference between those which most resemble, that anything 

 like a description intelligible and useful to others for the 

 purpose of identification can be arrived at. Whether I have 

 succeeded or not is a question which others must decide. I 

 know that Schonherr has not, notwithstanding the immense 

 amount of labour displayed in the detailed description of every 

 species, and I can perceive that his failure proceeds entirely from 

 his comparing his species with others with which they have little 

 connexion. For instance, in his description of Am. Sjpencei, a 

 Sderorimis as I believe, he points out the difference between it 

 and Am. Westwooclii, certainly a Talaurinus. It is not diflficult 

 to understand how, under such circumstances, a veiy detailed 

 description may fail, where several species closely resemble. 



Genus AMTCTERUS, Schonherr. 



Antennae subgraciles articulo secundo funiculi longiore. 



Rostrum crassissimum brevissimum medio triangulariter impres- 



sum ad latera elevatura gula subcrassa, 

 Oculi parvi convexi rotundati. 

 Caput fronte excavatum medio subcarinatum. 

 Thorax antice subtruncatus plerumque valde tuberculosus. 

 Ehjtra oblonga convexa valide tuberculata lateribus subparallela. 

 Pedes longi subvalidi. 

 Mandibulce, &c., ut in Psalidura. 



