THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 



larvae in their size and whiteness, but differing from these, 

 inasmuch as the legs are now distinctly pronounced, and 

 separate from the body, except at one point of attachment, 

 and each leg is enclosed in a skin or case of its own, and 

 quite transparent. After a fortnight or three weeks, more or 

 less (f do not pretend to say the exact time), the legs begin 

 to assume a brownish hue, and the eyes are clearly perceptible 

 as black points, one on each side of the head, a certain sign 

 that the final change is approaching. The cases or covering 

 of the several limbs then open, and the limbs themselves 

 make their appearance through the fissures, the legs stretching 

 themselves, and with the terminal hooks or claws take hold 

 of any object that may answer the purpose of a fulcrum ; 

 then they seem to deliver themselves of the leg-cases, 

 antenna-cases, and wing-cases, and stand revealed as weevils 

 in their proper form, but for a short time continue to retain 

 their white colour, excepting the eyes, which still have the 

 appearance of black specks ; the exterior covering of the 

 weevil soon assumes consistency and colour. It is quite 

 idle to propose a remedy, or to pretend that I can propose a 

 remedy, for the destructive propensities of this insect. It is a 

 great mistake also to suppose that it is any novelty. I have 

 been familiar with it for many years, and have not observed 

 either an increase or diminution in its numbers. Ferns in 

 cultivation have a similar beetle — Otiorhynchus sulcatus — 

 dependent on them for support; so have roses, of which I 

 shall have more to say forthwith; so has the lily of 

 the valley. The process of picking them off with the 

 finger and thumb is too tedious to recommend, otherwise it 

 would be attended with certain success; but how can we be 

 remunerated for the time employed in picking oflTthe weevils 

 from a hop-garden, — they are scarcely larger than a large 

 grain of wheat, and it would require thousands to fill a quart 

 measure. — Edward Newman?\ 



W. H. Kynaslon. — Hoiv to Relax Butterjlies and Mollis. 

 — Will you kindly inform me in next month's 'Entomolo- 

 gist' the best method of relaxing butterflies and moths afier 

 they have become stiff.'' — W. H. Kynaslon; Monlpellier 

 Lodge, Cheltenham. 



[Prevention is better than cure. I do not advance this as 

 an entirely new or original idea, yet it is so true and so 



