190 RHYNCHOPHORA. 



S. capitatus, De Gr. (obesus, Marsh, asperifoliarum, Steph.). 

 Closely allied to the preceding but distinguished by not having the 

 abraded longitudinal black patch at base of suture of elytra ; the size is 

 more variable and on the average smaller; the thorax is rugulose-punc- 

 tate and has no trace of a dorsal channel which is often evident in S. coryli ; 

 the elytra are more oval with the shoulders much less marked ; the 

 striae on the elytra, moreover, are narrower and more shallow, with the 

 interstices natter ; the latter differences, however, are scarcely evident 

 except in denuded specimens; the colour is extremely variable, but 

 appears to be, as a rule, more often grey or dark grey than in S. coryli. 

 L. 3|-5i mm. 



On young hazel, oak, broom, &c. ; in woods and hedges; generally distributed and 

 common from the midland districts southwards; less common further north, although 

 generally distributed; Scotland, local, Solway and Forth districts ; Ireland, probably 

 occurring in many localities. 



S. fulvicornis, Walton. Very closely allied to both the two pre- 

 ceding, but differing in general form and in the fact that the antennae 

 and legs are entirely fulvous ; the absence of the black patch at base of 

 suture will separate it from S. coryli, and the longitudinally rugulose 

 head from both this species and S. obelus ; from the latter species it 

 may further be known by having the thorax subremotely punctured, as 

 well as by having the erect setas on the elytra much shorter and more 

 or less obsolete ; the depressed scales of the elytra, moreover, appear 

 when magnified to be of a subelliptical form, whereas in its congeners 

 they are subrotundate. L. 4-5| mm. 



" Taken by Mr. Curtis on heath in a fir plantation on Parley Heath in October, 

 and likewise I believe by Mr. Dale" (Walton); I have specimens which appear to 

 belong to the species which I took in the New Forest at the end of July, 1877. 



S. retusus, Marsh (squamulatus, Steph. Manual, aiternans,Schoi\\\.). 

 Short and broad, thickly covered with greyish and fuscous scales, which 

 in fresh specimens are arranged in more or less distinct longitudinal 

 lines, and have a more or less distinct coppery reflection ; head flat, eyes 

 extremely prominent ; antennas reddish, darker towards apex ; thorax 

 very transverse, short, rugosely punctured ; elytra fitting tightly to base 

 of thorax, not bordered at base, with fine and distinctly punctured striae 

 which meet more or less in front ; legs variable, rufous, pitchy or pitchy 

 ferruginous. L. 3 4| mm. 



Male with the anal segment furnished with two very fine parallel 

 longitudinal carinae. 



On Erica ; also on Ulex nanus ; according toMr/Champion on young oaks, &c., in 

 woods ; local, but very widely distributed from the New Forest to the Moray district 

 of Scotland; it is, however, rather rare in the midlands; Ireland, Waterford (Power). 



S. faber, Herbst. (pilosellus, Gyll., clicetophorus, Steph., sex>ten- 

 trionis, Steph.). The largest of our species ; black, clothed with ashy or 

 ashy-brown scales and thick erect greyish hairs ; head depressed, with 



