COCOON-MAKIXG BEETLES. 173 



Fourteen species of this genus are known, and all of them 

 make similar cocoons in which to pass their pupal existence. 



These are not the only cocoon-making Weevils, for there is 

 another genus, Cionus, which is equally distinguished as an 

 architect. The cocoon of the Cionus resembles in every es- 

 sential that of the Phytonomus, but is spherical instead of oval. 

 These insects feed on the mullein ; and the best plan to secure 

 the cocoon of the insect is to find out some place where 

 mulleins grow, and search them diligently. The Great Mullein 

 {Verhascum thapsus), which grows in waste grounds, on sandy 

 or gravelly soil, is nearly sure to furnish either the Beetle or 

 the cocoon, and perhaps both. Mr. Stephens states that he 

 took all the species of this genus upon a single mullein plant. 

 The Knotted-root Figwort (^Scrophularia nodosa) is another of 

 their favourite plants. The generic name, Phytonomus, is 

 formed from two Grreek words, and signifies ' herb-grazer.' 



The next family is that of the Otiorhynchidse. This rather 

 crabbed name is compounded of two Greek words, the former 

 signifying an ear and the latter a nose or snout, and is given to 

 this family because the beak is developed at each side into a 

 flat ear-like lobe. The beak is short and stout, and the basal 

 joint of the antennae reaches beyond the eyes when directed 

 backwards. 



Of tliis family our first example is Otiorhynchus picipes, 

 which is represented on Woodcut XVIII. Fig. 2. The typical 

 genus, to which this insect belongs, has the antennae long, and 

 generally set on the tip of the beak. The scutellum is often 

 absent, and where it does exist is very small ; there are no 

 wings, and the body is egg-shaped and convex. In this genus 

 the ear-like lobes projecting at the tip of the beak, sometimes 

 termed wingiets, are very well developed, and can be easily 

 seen with the aid of a magnifier. By these projections there is 

 a deep groove in which the antennas are set ; and in many of 

 the species the head has a most curious resemblance to that of 

 a moose when viewed sideways, the resemblance being increased 

 by the hairs with which the muzzle, if we may so call it, is 

 thickly set. 



The insects of this genus are very destructive to plants and 

 fruit-trees, some species attaching themselves more particularly 



