12 Mr. J. Walton on the genera 
ad 
IlI.—Notes, &c. on the genera of Insects Phyllobius, Polydrosus 
and Metallites. By Joun Watton, Esq., F.L.S. 
THE insects of these genera are pre-eminently distinguished by 
having the body adorned with shining or brilliant scales of va- 
rious shades of green, whilst others have a splendent metallic 
lustre of various hues ; nearly all the species are subject to con- 
siderable variation in the colouring of the scales and legs. 
I sent specimens of each of the following to M. Schénherr and 
Dr. Germar, and I have their authority for the names and syno- 
nyms referred to them. 
Fam. CURCULIONIDZ. 
Genus Puytiosivus, Schinh., Germar ; Nemoicus, Steph. 
§ A. Femora dentate. 
1. Phyllobius calcaratus, Fab., Schonh., Steph. Man. p. 249. 
— cesius, Marsh. 
— Pyri et cesius, Steph. Illust. iv. p. 147. 
— @ruginosus et cesius, Kirb. MSS. * 
This insect, from its very great similitude to the following, has 
frequently been confounded with it, and erroneously referred by 
many entomologists to Cure. Pyri of Linnzus ; but the accurate 
and experienced eye of Gyllenhal detected the characters by which 
it may be discriminated: it differs from P. A/meti in having the 
scales setaceous-lanceolate ; the antennz and its articulations 
longer and more slender, the scape reaching beyond the base of 
the head ; the third and fourth joints of the funiculus distinctly 
longer ; the thorax less impressed and constricted anteriorly ; the 
scutellum of the form of an isosceles triangle, having the apex 
deeply truncated and rounded; the legs and antennx rufous, 
rufo-ferruginous or rufo-castaneous, very rarely nigro-piceous. 
Mr. Stephens has in his cabinet a splendid series of varieties, 
some of which are clothed with golden or coppery-coloured scales ; 
these he refers to Cure. Pyri of Linnzeus, and others with green 
scales to cesius of Marsham ; I presume he now considers them 
as the P. calcaratus of his ‘ Manual’ and of Schonherr. 
Found in the south in boggy woods, and on the banks of rivers 
on the alder (Alnus glutinosus) the beginning of June; and in 
Yorkshire on the common birch (Betula alba) in similar situations : 
it is rather local and not frequently met with. 
* It must be understood that the names of insects cited from Kirby’s MSS. 
are verified according to his museum, although not stated; and those with 
a note of interrogation he refers with doubt to Marsham. 
