StrophosomusJ] RHYNCHOPHORA. 189 



tremely prominent, appearing, in some species, as if almost detached 

 from the head ; this character, together with the large broadly trian- 

 gular head, will easily distingnish them from their allies ; the vertex is 

 constricted behind the eyes ; the scrobes are deep, sometimes slightly 

 deflexed, sometimes almost straight ; the thorax is transverse or sub- 

 transverse, as a mle, not much longer than the head ; in size they vary 

 from 3^ to G| mm. ; in the males the tibiae are terminated by a small 

 hook and the last abdominal segment is sometimes modified ; five species 

 are usually regarded as British, of which three belong to the sub-genus 

 NeUocarus, Thomson, above referred to ; as, however, Walton's species 

 S. fuhicornis is recognized by Dr. Sharp and apparently on the continent, 

 as it appears in the catalogue of Heyden Keitter and Weise as from 

 Britain and Germany, I have thonght it best to include it, although, if 

 my specimens are correctly named, they appear to come extremely close 

 to 8. capitatus, De G. (obesus, Marsh.) ; although the genus is a small 

 one, two or three of the species are often hard to distinguish, as they are 

 somewhat variable in si.":e, colour, &c. 



I. Elytra not fitting tightly into the base of thorax ; scrobes 



slightly but plainly deflexed (Strophosomus i. sp.). 

 i. Elytra with the suture denuck-d at base, forming a 



black longitudinal patch at scutelluui S. COBYLI, F. 



ii. Elytra with the suture not denuded at base. 



1. Erect hairs on elytra very distinct, if viewed side- 

 ways; thorax rngosely punctured S. CAPITATUS, De G. 



(obesus, Marsh.) 



2. Erect Lairs on elytra much less distinct, and often 

 more or less obsolete, even if viewed sideways ; thorax 



somewhat remotely punctured S. FTTLVicoRNis, Walt. 



II. Elytra fitting tightly into base of thorax; elytra and 



thorax slightly constricted at base (Srliocarvs, Thorns.) 



i. Base of thorax slightly but plainly emarginate just 

 before scutellum ; upper surface entirely clothed with 

 long outstanding hairs S. FABEH, Htrbst. 



ii. Base of thorax not emarginate before scutellum ; upper 

 surface without or with very short outstanding hairs. 



1. Upper surface entirely covered with scales . . . S. BETUSUS, tfarsJi. 



2. Upper surface mostly denuded, except at sides, black 



and shining S. LATERALIS, Payk. 



(limbatus, F.) 



S. coryli, F. (olesus, Thorns, nee Marsh). Black, with the antennaa 

 and legs ferruginous, thickly clothed with brownish or fuscous-ashy 

 scales, with a denuded black longitudinal patch at base of elytra near 

 scutellum ; rostrum bisulcate in front ; head longitudinally rugose ; 

 thorax granulate-rugose with three more or less distinct, often obsolete, 

 fuscous dorsal lines ; elytra with moderate puncture.-l stria3, interstices 

 convex, with short setae, legs robust, squamose and pubescent. L. 4|-6 

 mm. 



On various trees, hazel, oak, fir, &c. ; common and generally distributed throughout 

 the kingdom ; in quite f re^ih specimens the scales, as in many other allied species, 

 have a di-tinct coppery reflection. 



