CURCULIONID^E. 305 



A large Hypera which I have observed hitherto only in Lanzarote 

 and Puerteventura, the two eastern islands of the Canarian Group, 

 where it occurs sparingly (beneath stones) in sandy and calcareous 

 spots, principally at a low elevation. 



841. Hypera murina. 



Curculio murinus, Fab., Ent. Syst. i. ii. 463. (1792). 



variabilis, Hbst, Kdf. vi. 263, tab. 80. f. 1 (1795). 



Phytonomus murinus et variabilis, Schon., Gen. et Spec, Cure. ii. 383, 



384 (1834). 

 Hypera murina et variabilis, Woll, Ins. Mad. 399, 400 (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Mad. Col 118, 119 (1857). 



variabilis, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 328 (1864). 



Habitat Maderenses (in Ilheo Chdo sola baud detecta) et Canarienses 

 (ins. omnes), in cultis vulgaris ; forsan ex Europa introducta. 



There is no weevil more general throughout these Atlantic Groups 

 than this common and variable European Hypera. Indeed I have 

 myself taken it in the whole seven Canarian islands, and in all the 

 Madeiran ones except the northern Deserta (or Ilheo Chao). Yet 

 although thus universal, I have little doubt that it has become gra- 

 dually naturalized from more northern countries. It occurs for the 

 most part about cultivated grounds, especially corn-fields, at low 

 and intermediate elevations*. 



Genus 261. CONIATUS. 

 Germar, Mag. der Ent. ii. 340 (1817). 



842. Coniatus tamarisci. 



Curculio tamarisci, Fab., Mant. Ins. 113 (1787). 

 Hypera tamarisci, Germ., Mag. der Ent. iv. 337 (1821). 

 Coniatus tamarisci, Schon., Gen. et Spec. Cure. ii. 406 (1834). 

 , Woll, Cat. Can. Col. 328 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Can.}, foliis Tamaricis galllcce gaudens. 



The C. tamarisci of Mediterranean latitudes occurs on shrubs of 

 the Tamarix gaUica, at low and intermediate elevations, in Grand 

 Canary ; but I have not yet observed it in any of the other islands. 



* The two forms which stand in collections (as species) under the names of 

 murina and variabilis are alike indicated at the Madeiras and Canaries, and 

 indeed they were formerly treated by myself as specifically distinct. Nevertheless 

 I am now quite satisfied that they merge gradually into each other, and there- 

 fore I will not attempt any longer to uphold them. I have consequently been 

 compelled to cite the insect under the title of murina, on account of its being 

 prior in publication to that of variabilis. 



