256 LONGICORNIA. [Oberea. 



tubercles on disc on each side of the central line; he.nl and thorax 

 rugosely punctured, the latter slightly transverse ; elytra emarginate at 

 apex, thickly clothed with greyish pubescence, and with very large black 

 punctures, which are finer at apex; legs short and stout. L. 15-18 mm. 



Male with the antennae about two-thirds as long as body, and the 

 fifth ventral segment of the abdomen broadly and deeply impressed, with 

 the apex slightly emarginate, and the angles at each side of the emar- 

 gination slightly prominent. 



Female with the antenna? about half as long as the body, and the fifth 

 ventral segment of the abdomen with anarrow channel, and theapextruncate. 



In and about sallows; rare; Isle of Ely and fen districts of Cambridgeshire 

 generally (Dr. Power and others) ; near llomney (Dr. Lowe) ; Stephens records it 

 from Carlisle, Barons Wood, and Scotland ; half a century ago it used to be taken 

 not unfrequeutly in the feu districts, but I know of no captures in these localities in 

 recent years. The capture near Romney is very remarkable ; on being informed of it 

 by Mr. G. Lewis, I wrote to Dr. Lowe, who kindly sent me full particulars as follows : 

 "The insect you mention I took in the autumn of 1883; I was beating everything 

 I came across with an ordinary butterfly-net about a mile from Dymchurch in fact 

 at St. Mary's Coast-guard Station. The bank I was searching was close to the sea 

 water, and I daresay had been originally made to keep off the tidal overflow ; it was 

 covered with Hippophae rhamnoides, which was in fine fruit, and I can positively 

 declare that I knocked the Oberea oculata off the above-named shrub. I looked for 

 some time to find another, and I returned some days after and renewed my search 

 without further success ; the place I have indicated is not far from Rornney, and 

 it forms part of Romney marshes ; considering the known habits of the insect, I 

 think there is little doubt but that it was carried by chance to the spot I have 

 described, and that if I had gone to the marshes and ditches which abound for miles 

 I should have taken more, but I did not then know its habits." * 



A chance occurrence of an insect like this in a locality quite distinct 

 from any previously recorded serves to show how very little we really 

 know as to the distribution of some of our most conspicuous insects. 



PHYTOPHAGA. 



This series contains a very large number of conspicuous and brightly 

 coloured insects of various forms and sizes, the greater number, perhaps, 

 being oval or rotundate- oval, and very convex ; in several of the families, 

 however, the shape is more or less elongate, and a large number of 

 species are darkly-coloured and inconspicuous ; the few groups and 

 families have a general appearance about them (or habitus, as some 

 authors call it) which is usually unraistakeable ; in spite of this, however, 

 they are exceedingly difficult to define or separate on any distinct 

 characters, and any attempt to do so will be found very unsatisfactory ; 

 some authors include the Longicornia under the group, and a large 

 number omit the Bruchidae ; these latter are now generally regarded as 

 coming nearest to the Sagrina, although not exactly agreeing with any 



* Since the above was written, I have been informed by Mr. J. J. Wnlkpr that the 

 species was taken last summer (1888) by Mr. Frank Norgate, near Downham Market, 

 Norfolk. 



