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attention and knowledge, might be easily increased, as the nature 

 of the ground and the needed food-plants are favourable. As 

 already said, the species are small, some very small. They are 

 as a rule pyriform, that is pear-shaped, which rather obvious 

 similarity has indeed given them their generic name, from 

 a Greek word, meaning a pear. In colouring they are mostly 

 black or metallic, dark blue or green, but a small section is red, 

 and a few others are variegated. Some also have red, or partially 

 red legs, the majority have black. They feed principally on 

 leguminous plants, and amongst these Vicia and Trifolium (other- 

 wise vetches and clovers) are extremely frequented by them ; 

 this brings a good many of the species under the observation of 

 agriculturists, and into the black list of noxious insects, as their 

 depredations are sometimes very severe. As a rule I think the 

 most destructive species are faii-ly at home in a variety of such 

 plants, so that when any strong measures are taken against them 

 in the open field they can retire to similar plants in the hedge- 

 row or at the dyke-side, and reside there ready for a fresh descent 

 on the crops. Other of the species (and these naturally the rarer 

 ones) seem to be very fastidious as to their favourite food, and to 

 be limited to special plants. Those who may wish to learn a 

 little more about the often vast destruction these tiny weevils 

 can produce on clover and vetch crops, by force of numbers and 

 voracity, as well as the means suggested for their being kept in 

 check, will find full details in the works of Curtis, Miss Ormerod, 

 &c. It should be added to any notes on Apion that one of the 

 Fathers of British Entomology, the late Rev, W. Kirby, made the 

 genus a special study, and published an excellent monograph 

 many years ago, which, though later researches have altered many 

 of his conclusions, still witnesses to his interest in these little 

 weevils. I append a few notes on those taken by me here : — 



Apion cerdo Th. — Exclusively on Vicia cracca ; rather common ; 

 its European and British distribution point it out as a rather 

 northern insect ; nowhere very abundant. 



A. carduorum (Kirby) — Abundant on thistles, alike in this 

 country and Europe ; very variable in size. 



A . ulicis (Forst) — Very abundant on whins, especially in spring ; 

 often swarming on the early days of warm sunshine ; extends 

 througliout Europe and North Africa. 



