A VARIABLE INSECT. 113 



group which have been already described. The head 



projects boldly from the thorax, and the eyes are very 



large. The hinder angles of the 



thorax are rather elevated, sharp, 



and bent outwardly. The body is 



long and slender, a fact which has 



gained for the insect the specific 



title of linearis. The generic title 



Campylus is of Greek origin, the 



word signifying a peculiar staff; 



and the name has been chosen on 



account of the slender, stick-like 



form of the insect. 



This is an extremely variable species in point of 

 colour, the female being very remarkable in this 

 respect. Red, however, is the leading colour, and the 

 average hues of the insect may be described as 

 follows : The head is black and deeply punctured, 

 and the thorax has a deep furrow along the centre, 

 and a transverse pit or ' impression ' a little behind 

 the middle. Its colour is brick-red, and in many 

 specimens there is a black spot on the centre, while 

 in others the same part is brown. The elytra 

 are rather more convex in the female than in the 

 opposite sex, and are covered with striae and punc- 

 tures. Their colour is somewhat the same as that 

 of the thorax, but rather paler, though in many 

 examples, especially among the females, the 

 whole elytra are yellowish brown, except the 

 margin, which retains the ordinary brick-red 

 colour. 



I 



