136 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



mologists, and I would strongly recommend the 

 beginner to lay aside the examination of these little 

 beings until his eye is trained to seizing details by 

 some practice with the larger insects. 



The specific name of this insect, cardu&rum^ signi- 

 fies ' of the thistles,' and is given because it can be 

 found upon that plant. 



WE now come to the Weevils with elbowed 

 antennae, the first family of which is the Brachyderidae. 

 In these insects the head is short, wide, and set on 

 the thorax without any separate neck, a peculiarity 

 which has gained for the family the name of Brachy- 

 deridce, or ' short-necks.' 



Our example of this family is Sitones lineatus, 

 which is represented in the woodcut which accom- 

 panies this description. This genus is 

 known by the possession of wings, the 

 short beak, and the third joint of the 

 antennae, which is shorter than the 

 second. About nineteen British species 

 of this genus are acknowledged. The 

 present species is a pretty though not a 

 brilliant insect The ground colour is 

 black, but the body is clothed above 



Sitones lineatus. wkh ^^ Qf & warm . brown hue> while 



the under surface of the body is similarly clothed, but 

 with scales having a silvery lustre. There is a central 

 furrow on the disc of the thorax, and a rather deep 

 impression across its apex. The elytra are punctured 

 and striated, with white interstices between the striae. 

 These white lines form the distinguishing characteristic 



