COLEOPTERA. 89 



ID the EHYNCOPHORA (Pvy%og, rhynchos, beak or nose; 

 <popu),phoreo, to bear) the head is prolonged (see PI. III., 

 fig. 51, 5, a) in some species very considerably into a 

 sort of nose or snout, upon which are placed the antennas. 



The LONGICORNES and PHTTOPHAGA are without this 

 nasal development. In the former the horns are of great 

 length ; and the insects themselves are generally long in 

 proportion to their breadth. The Phytophaga have shorter 

 horns, and are more thickset in figure, being oval, 

 roundish, or somewhat square. 



The snouts of the Bhyncophora vary, some being short 

 and flat, while in others, as the common brown nut weevil, 

 the snout alone is nearly as long as all the rest of the 

 body. One of the best known among these is the beautiful 

 and brilliant Diamond beetle of India, and this, although 

 a foreign species, is here spoken of because it is commonly 

 known, and a low magnifying power suffices to show 

 the fine scales of which the prismatic lustre gives so 

 beautiful an appearance to the elytra and thorax. A 

 higher power displays similar scales covering our own 

 little green weevils, amongst the commonest of our 

 beetles, and perhaps the most exquisite insect gems to 

 be found in the country. 



This is one of the most destructive groups of beetles. 

 Fruit-trees of all kinds, fir-trees, oaks, hazel, grain, peas 

 and beans, turnips, felled timber, alike are subject to the 

 visitations of various species, and, while the check which 

 they place upon the quantity of fruit-produce conduces, 

 under ordinary circumstances, to the improvement of its 

 quality, it is not rare for whole crops to be destroyed by 

 the labours of the perfect insect and its young. 



No part of a plant is secure from the attacks of weevils. 

 One species devours the green and soft parts of the leaves 



