85 



CURCULIO NUCUM, 



IT often happens in cracking a nut or 

 filbert, which we take to be very good 

 and sound, wc find it is inhabited by a 

 small grub (which is the larva of a bee- 

 tle,) that consumes the kernel by degrees 

 intirely ; the autumn is generally the time 

 when the larvae are found in them ; but as 

 these do not originate from the nut or 

 from themselves, the question is how they 

 come into it, especially as there is no re- 

 markable opening to be observed in it j 

 The case is as follows : a small cha- 

 fer, which differs from all others by 

 its rostrum, is observed on the hazel 

 in the month of August, and some- 

 times later ; these chafers creep some 

 times about as if they were eagerly look- 



