416 Mr. J. Walton on the genus Anthonomus. 



XLIII. — Notes, 6fc. on the genus of Insects Anthonomus ; with a 

 description of one new species. By John Walton, F.L.S. 



Fam. CURCULIONIDiE. 

 Genus Anthonomus, Germ., Schonh., Steph., Curt. 

 There is the greatest imaginable confusion amongst the species 

 of this very pretty and interesting genus of insects ; ten have 

 been catalogued and described as specifically distinct, but I must 

 confess my inability to distinguish out of that number more than 

 four ; notwithstanding all the care I have taken, it is very pos- 

 sible I may have erred or blundered ; should this be the case, I 

 must plead the infirmity of human judgement, from which the 

 most skilful cannot claim exemption, and I can only say I shall 

 feel truly obliged if any entomologist will have the kindness to 

 point out any errors I may have inadvertently committed, and 

 thus give me an opportunity of correcting them before the con- 

 clusion of my notes on this family of insects. 



§ A. Anterior femora strongly dentate. 



1. Anthonomus Pomorum, Linn. sec. ej. Mus. et Auctor. aUor. 

 — ■ incurvus, Steph. sec. ej. Mus., non Panz. 



There are foreign specimens of Ant. incurvus in the collec- 

 tion of Kirby from Gyllenhal, and others in my possession from 

 Schonherr; it is a small insect (length li line), about one-third 

 the size of Ant. Pomorum, from which it only dificrs by being 

 much less and inhabiting a difi*erent plant ; according to the opi- 

 nion of Gyllenhal, ' scarcely a distinct species,' and to Germar, 

 * obsoletely distinct ;' in Sweden it inhabits the bird cherry [Pru- 

 nus Padus), and possibly may be found on that plant in this 

 country, where it grows wild in the mountainous districts of the 

 north of England and in Scotland. I have not yet seen an indi- 

 genous specimen. 



I may refer to some very interesting observations relative to 

 the habits and oeconomy of Ant. Pomorum in Mr. Curtis's * Bri- 

 tish Entomology,' vol. ii., and in the 'Ent. Mag.' vol. i. p. 33. 



Found on the blossoms of the apple- and pear-tree from about 

 the 25th of May to the 15th of June, and under the bark in 

 winter ; the late Mr. Bainbridge reared many specimens, either 

 from the larvse or pupse, I forget which, obtained from the buds 

 or the rust-coloured blossoms of the apple. 



2. A. Ulmi, DeGeer, Marsh,, Gyll., Steph., Schonh., Kirb. MSS. 



— pedicularius. Germ. Mag. iv. p. 322. 



— Druparum var., Steph. sec. ej. Mus., non Linn. 

 — fasciatus, Kirb. MSS. 



The form, sculpture, and general habit of this insect approxi- 



