252 RHYNCHOPHORA. [ Plinthus. 
longer than broad, subovate, with large round variolose punctures which 
are confluent at sides, smooth central line narrow, but usually distinct; 
body behind thorax elongate oval, elytra connate, with rows of the same 
large punctures as on thorax, third, fifth and seventh interstices more 
or less raised, sometimes costiform ; legs brown red, femora with a sharp 
tooth, tibie sinuate internally at base. L. 53-9 mm. 
Male with the anal segment of the abdomen truncate behind, and 
leaving the apex of the last dorsal segment exposed. 
Under stones and in moss, on the chalk, clay and sand; also under faggots, in 
woods ; local, and almost confined to the London and South Eastern districts ; never 
abundant, but not uncommon in these localities ; Charlton, Hampstead, Forest Hill, 
Faversham, Shirley, Dartford, Chatham, Strood, Maidstone, Westerham ; Kingsgate ; 
Dover; Folkestone; Sandgate; Hastings, generally distributed but rare; Brighton ; 
Portsmouth district. 
PISSODINA. 
The members of this tribe bear a strong relation to the Curculionina 
with which they have been classed by many authors; they chiefly differ 
in having the curved hook at the apex of the tibie situated at the 
apical external angle, a character which appears to be very artificial but 
is of great use in distinguishing several of the tribes belonging to the 
sub-family ; the tribe, together with the Trachodina, which can hardly, 
perhaps, be separated from it, is allied to the Cryptorrhynchina, from 
which it differs in not having the rostrum received in a groove on the 
prosternum ; the species are roughly sculptured, dull insects, of moderate 
or rather large size, which, however, varies considerably in members of 
the same species; the colour is dark and the surface is variegated with 
bands of greyish or yellowish scales ; the larve attack pine and fir trees, 
and in habits closely resemble those of Hylobius. 
PISSODES, Germar. 
The species belonging to this genus are dull insects, in general 
appearance somewhat resembling Curculio but much smaller; they are 
characterized by having the scutellum conspicuous and rounded at apex, 
the femora fusiform and without teeth, and the prosternum not 
emarginate at apex ; the rostrum is rather long and the antenne are 
inserted at some distance from its apex ; the thorax is narrowed in front 
and is as wide or almost as wide at base as the base of the elytra ; the 
species are exclusively confined to Conifer; the larvee, according to 
Bedel, attack diseased trees ; they form burrows in the outer wood, or 
if they come across small branches they bore right into their centre, like 
the larve of Magdalinus; the genus contains about twenty species, 
which are confined to Europe, Northern Asia and North America. 
I. Size larger; thorax shorter in proportion, with the sides more 
rounded and the posterior angles less prominent; elytra with 
the punctures of striz much stronger and more distinct. . . P, pint, L. 
