WEEVILS. 223 
smooth and polished, in others completely covered with tubercles, 
and in others squaremose. The legs, again, in some are dis- 
proportionally long, especially the anterior pair, and in others 
the prosternum is armed with one or two long porrected spines.” 
I beg to call your attention to another insect of the Beetle order 
known by the trade as a Weevil, but inasmuch as it does not 
possess the notable characteristics—the long snout and elbowed 
antennee—it cannot rank as a true Weevil. It is as destructive 
and as plentiful on imported wheat and rice as C. granarius. 
There is a question about its scientific name. Fediacus der- 
mestoides has been suggested by a competent authority, but the 
figuring of that insect by Spry and Curtis do not support that 
opinion. Zzis beetle does not appear to be figured in any 
books—the dentated lateral margin of the thorax makes it easy to 
be detected, and, although so common, this important variety 
in structure appears to have passed unobserved. The nearest 
figure and description appears in Westwood’s Introduction (Vol. 1, 
p. 149), under the order JVecrophaga, family Engida, and it is 
probably the genus Cucujides piceus, or C. testaceus ; both of these 
insects are grain-feeders, and are found in granaries. On the 
other hand, the genus Dermestide usually infest the carcasses and 
skins of dead animals, and from which, indeed, they derive their 
specific name. The one under notice is about the eighth of an 
inch in length, brilliantly red in colour, and the elytra present a 
.shining appearance. Mr. F. Enoch says he has ceased to mount 
these insects as they are unsatisfactory. I must invite your in- 
spection of some I have mounted in balsam, and I think you will 
say they are satisfactory ; not only is the structure defined under 
the microscope, but they are pleasant to look at, especially so 
when shown with the spot lens. 
The sketch before you represents the Bean “ Weevil” Bruchus 
rufimanus (red handed). ‘This animal is found in large quantities 
in the large flat beans imported from foreign parts. Belonging to 
the order Rhyn chophora, the sub-family is distinguished by the 
antennze being filiform, or but slightly thickened at the tips, serrated 
or pectinated, the eyes imaginate ; the rostrum broad and deflexed ; 
the elytra do not cover the abdomen, and the hind legs are often 
very large. Scientifically speaking B. rufimanus is no weevil, as it 
does not possess the elongated proboscis and the elbowed antennz 
required to place it in the class Calandra, while it is more than 
twice its size. The munching of grain is a common practice of corn 
dealers, no doubt a.capital thing for dentists, but a questionable 
dainty, for lurking concealed in the corn lies Bruchus, and the 
muncher soon finds out, by a pungent bitterness of flavour that the 
delicate morsel is a mixture of vegetable and animal food. 
Concerning it Westwood, in his matchless way, remarks, ‘The 
