134 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



THERE is an enormous genus of Weevils, consist- 

 ing of very tiny species, about as large and somewhat 

 the shape of a note of admiration (!) as here given. 

 Their bodies look very much like pears, the stalk of 

 the fruit representing the beak of the insect. In 

 consequence of this resemblance they have received 

 the generic name of Apion, which is a Greek word 

 signifying a pear. They have also been compared to 

 peg-tops ; and, if the peg were curved instead of 

 straight, the resemblance would be almost complete. 

 We will call them Pear Weevils. 



In spite of the difficulties which attend the exami- 

 nation of these insects, the entomologist will find his 

 time well bestowed upon them. Independently of 

 other sources of interest, these tiny Beetles are 

 marvellously beautiful. Their colours are exceedingly 

 various, and the richness and perfection of the 

 sculpture which adorns their tiny bodies must be seen 

 to be appreciated. It is as if the very exuberance of 

 creative power had sported with these little creatures, 

 a thousand of which could be contained in a lady's 

 thimble, and yet which bear upon every portion of 

 their bodies a limitless profusion of highly-elaborated 

 ornament. The head and thorax are covered with a 

 multitude of deep impressions, at first seeming as if 

 scattered at random, but in reality disposed with 

 most consummate art ; while the elytra baffle all 

 attempts to describe their varied beauty. Agreeing 

 in one point namely, the bold ridges which run 

 longitudinally along them they are of infinite 

 variety in their details, so that a full description of 

 all the species would occupy much more than the 



