Mr. J. Walton on the genera Pissodes, Hypera, ^c. 295 



animal and of the individual polyps wholly different from that 

 which is found in every species of the family Brachiolites. 



In all the various and so greatly varying fonns which have 

 been thus seen to be included in the genus Cephalites one end is 

 Ibund to be subserved, namely, the maintenance of the security 

 (if the whole mass, and of each individual of its myriads of living 

 tenants; together with the unimpeded access of the sea- water — 

 lliat element upon whose constant presence the life and subsist- 

 ence of those myriads depended. The great diversity is no less 

 striking than is, in each case, the completeness of the varying 

 methods which nature has adopted for securing that ever-teeming, 

 ever-active life which excites the inquirer's increased admiration 

 at every step he takes. 



[To be continued.] 



XXX. — Notes, <Sfc. on the genera of Insects Pissodes, Hypera, S^c. ; 

 with descriptions of several new species. By John Walton, 

 F T S 



Fam. CURCULIONID^. 



Genus Pissodes, Germ., Schonh., Steph. 



1 . Pissodes Pini, Linn., Gyll., Steph., Schonh. 



Recently found in Scotland rather plentifully by Mr. Weaver ; 

 " on rails, in a fir- wood, Weybridge, in June," Mr. Smith ; " under 

 side of a fir-log, Dalmeny Park, Scotland," Mr. R. N. Greville ; 

 " under the branches and chips of the Scotch fir lying on grass, 

 Gosforth Woods, Northumberland," Mr. T. J. Bold. 



2. P. notatus, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Schonh. 



— Fabricii, Staph., non Leach MSS. 



Two specimens of this insect in the collection of the British 

 Museum, taken in Scotland by the late Dr. Leach, appear to 

 have been mistaken for the following by Mr. Stephens. 



A single specimen found under a stone in an old gravel-pit at 

 Yaxham near East Dereham, Norfolk, by Mr. WoUaston. 



3. P. picecp, Illig., Schonh. 



— Fabricii, Leach MSS. sec. specim. Mus. Brit. 



Oblong-ovate, piceous, sparingly clothed with flavescent scales. 

 Head short, convex, obsoletely punctulated, front with a deep fovea 

 between the eyes ; rostrum nearly as long as the head and tho- 

 rax, moderately stout, cylindrical, slightly curved, closely punc- 

 tured, brown, and sprinkled with scales at the base. Antennae 

 scarcely reaching to the middle of the thorax, rather thick, rufo- 

 piceous, setose and pubescent. Thorax considerably narrowed 



