Curculio. | RHYNCHOPHORA. 251 
fully burnt at intervals, and not allowed to lie too long, will cause an 
appreciable diminution of the mischief ; it has been found a good plan, 
where planting has been done on a large scale, and the beetle is present 
to any extent, to take out as many of the old roots as possible, burn all 
the rubbish that is lying about and graze the ground with cattle for three 
or four years before replanting ; direct applications of soft soap and 
sulphur, or of paraffin, to the stems of the trees is of service as the 
beetles commence at the ground level and gradually strip the trees upwards 
of their bark. The species of Curculio are large and conspicuous beetles 
and may be distinguished hy having the scutellum large, the meta- 
sternum comparatively long, the antenne with the scape reaching the 
eyes, which are vertically oval, and the prosternum emarginate at apex, 
with the ocular lobes distinct and ciliated. 
Cc. abietis, L. Pitchy black, dull, with yellowish scales which 
are dotted over the surface in more or less distinct small yellowish 
patches, and on the elytra form two narrow more or less irregular bands, 
one before and one behind middle ; there are also patches on the thorax, 
at the sides and before scutellum, and at the apex of the elytra ; rostrum 
stout, rugose, with the antenne inserted at apex ; thorax at least as 
long as Lroad, constricted before apex, coarsely and rugosely punctured, 
with or without a smooth central line ; elytra with chains of punctures 
(‘‘cancellatostriatis,’ Thoms.), interstices broad, strongly rugose ; legs 
black, femora armed with a rather strong tooth. L. 8-14 mm. 
Varieties occur in which the colour is pitchy ferruginous and the legs 
reddish or pitchy red ; the male has the base and the last ventral seg- 
ment of the abdomen always broadly impressed. 
On pines and firs ; locally abundant and, as a rule, common throughout the whole 
kingdom ; it is often found crawling on pathways, on pavements, &c.; and Dr. Sharp 
says that it is often met with in houses in Scotland. Mr. Moncreaff says fhat he has 
taken it on flowers of thistles in front of Lumps fort, Southsea, im cop in June, with 
no fir or pine trees within two miles. 
PLINTHUS, Germar. 
This genus contains about five or six species which are found in 
Western Europe, the Canary Islands and North America; according 
to Bedel they chiefly inhabit mountainous regions, but this is certainly 
not the case with our single species ; they hide themselves during the 
day and come out at night or in the twilight ; our species is a somewhat 
elongate, dull inseet, which may easily be recognized by its sculpture, and 
by having the first joint of the club of the antenne as long as all the 
following united. 
P. caliginosus, F. Elongate, apterous, dull-black, glabrous or 
with traces of scales and rows of very short sete, which, however, are 
only apparent in newly emerged specimens ; antenne reddish brown, 
with the first two joints of the funiculus elongate and equal; thorax 
