172 



THE WOODLANDS. 



pierced, it unfolds with difficulty or remains stunted. 

 So wily is this weevil, that as soon as it hears a foot- 

 step it withdraws to a secure situation, and when 

 there is the smallest movement of the bushes, the 



THE WILLOW BORING BEETLE. 



whole brood fall into the grass below, so as not to be 

 seen, and only a few stragglers can with difficulty be 

 discovered on the ground. 



Professor Westwood has given full particulars of 

 one of these beetles which is very destructive to 

 willows, although for a long time these injuries were 

 attributed to another insect, which being attracted to 

 the spot by the extravasated sap and rotten sawdust 

 made by the larvae of the Weevil, came to be con- 

 sidered as the cause of the mischief. The whole of 

 the trunk in which these larvae were found emitted a 

 strong smell, somewhat like beer in a state of fermenta- 

 tion. The little white grub is very similar to that of 

 the Nut-Weevil (another species not uncommon in 



