376 Mr. T. Vernon Wollaston on 



establish it. Unfortunately the inslruwcnta cibaria of the Cur- 

 culionidce are so totally ignored and unknown, that we may pro- 

 bably often fail in recognizing the distinctness of closely allied 

 groups for which good structural characters (however small) 

 might be afforded by a careful dissection ; and it is far from im- 

 probable, therefore, that the rather singular contour of these stalk- 

 infesting Caulotrupidcs may be indicative of more decided modifi- 

 cations of their oral organs : at any rate, until this point is fairly 

 settled, I prefer keeping them still apart from the Phlceophagi. 

 'I'heir main features consist in their comparatively unsculptured 

 surfaces — their prothoraces especially (which have a tendency to 

 become more or less conical) being nearly free from sculpture, — 

 in their apterous, fusiform bodies, sub-connate elytra, and in their 

 scutella being almost or entirely obsolete. Their third tarsal- 

 joiut also is somewhat more evidently expanded than is the case 

 in the ordinary PJilceophctg'i ; but how far any of these characters 

 may be the index of more important ones yet to be discovered, I 

 will not at present venture to conjecture, 



13. Caulotrtipis laccrtosus, Woll, 

 Caulotrupis laccrtosus, Woll., Ins. Mad. 309, t. vi. f. G (1851). 



Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 102 (1857). 



Habitat Maderam sylvalicam (pra:sertim borealem), sub cortice 

 necnon in ligno emortuo laurorum, hinc inde sat vulgaris. 



Not an uncommon insect towards the lower limits of the sylvan 

 regions of Madeira, especially, however, in the north of the 

 island, — occurring in the rotten wood, and under the bark, of 

 forest-trees, particularly laurels. 



14. Caulotrupis subnitidus, Woll. 

 Caulotnipis subnitidus, Woll., Ann. of Nat. Hist. (Ser, 3), v. 452 



(18G0). 



Habitat insulas Maderenses (sc. Maderam et Desertam Gran- 

 dem), ranios Eupliorbice piscatorice in locis sub-inferioribus tere- 

 brans. 



Apparently peculiar to the dead Etiphorbia-fitems of Madeira 

 and the Deserta Grande, occurring usually in spots of a rather 

 low elevation. 



15. Caulotrupis inipius, Woll. 

 Caulotru^iis impius, Woll., Ins. Mad. 311 (1851). 



Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 103(1857). 

 Habitat insulas Maderenses (sc. Maderam, Desertam Grandem 



