120 RHYKC'HOPHORA. 



structed for them: in some cases several leaves are joined together with 

 the same object ; the method adopted by the insect appears to depend 

 on the size of the leaves ; our two species (which are the only two that 

 occur in Europe *) are very conspicuous and handsome insects ; they 

 may be distinguished as follows: 



I. Elytra with scanty whitish pubescence at apex ; upper 

 and under surface of the same colour (green, golden-green, 

 bluish-green or -violet), or if different, with the underside 



green; forehead simply impressed B. BRTULETI, F. 



(alni, Mull.) 



II. Elytra entirely glabrous ; upper surface green or golden- 

 green, under surface dark blue : forehead with a deep broad 



channel B. POPCLi, L. 



B. betuleti, F. (betulce, L., -j- alni, Mull.). Upper surface golden- 

 green or deep blue ; in the former case the under side is golden-green 

 and in the latter either green or unicolorous with the upper side ; legs 

 coppery, or golden-green, or deep blue ; head and rostrum rather strongly 

 sculptured, forehead simply impressed ; thorax very convex, distinctly, 

 regularly, and moderately thickly punctured, with a longitudinal central 

 channel ; scutellum moderate ; elytra sericeous, finely pubescent behind, 

 with not very regular rows of punctures and the interstices thickly and 

 finely punctured ; legs moderately long. L. 4f-7 mm. 



Male with a long projecting spine on each side of the front of thorax. 



In woods on young birch and hazel ; very local, but not uncommon where it occurs ; 

 Dareiuh Wood (Power from 1858 1875, Champion, &c.); Westerham, Kent; 

 Hastings; Portsmouth district; Southampton; Glanvilles Wot ton (very rare); 

 Swansea ; Bretby Wood, Repton ; Baron Wood, Cumberland, and Scotland (Stephens) ; 

 it is not, however, recorded by either Bold or Sharp in the Northumberland and 

 Durham and Scotch Lists. 



B. populi, L. Entirely glabrous, upper side bright golden-green or 

 coppery, under side, legs, and rostrum violet-blue, antennae black ; it is 

 very closely allied to the preceding, but is smaller, and may be known 

 by the colour of the under surface, and also by having the forehead 

 furnished with a broad deep channel ; the elytra, moreover, have no 

 pubescence behind, and the funiculus of the antennas is evidently 

 longer ; in the male tho thorax is spined as in the preceding species. 

 L. 4-5 mm. 



On young aspens; very local, but not uncommon where it occurs; London dis- 

 trict, not uncommon, Putney, Darenth and Lee Woods, Blenden (Kent), Coombe 

 Wood, Epping Forest ; Hastings district ; Fordlands, Devon. 



c Thomson formed the genus for the reception of these species, but Dr. Sharp has 

 lately recorded fix e from Japan, and says that he is acquainted with others from China, 

 the Indo-Chinese Peninsula and East India. 



f This name ought to be adopted were it not for the confusion caused between this 

 insect (Cut'culio betula, L.), and DepOfcntf betulce, which is the Altelabus betulcs of 

 Linue. 



