252 RHYNCHOPHORA. [Plinthug. 



longer than broad, subovate, with large round variolose punctures which 

 are confluent at sides, smooth central line narrow, but usually distinct; 

 body behind thorax elongate oval, elytra connate, with rows of the same 

 large punctures as on thorax, third, fifth and seventh interstices more 

 or less raised, sometimes costiform ; legs brown red, femora with a sharp 

 tooth, tibiae sinuate internally at base. L. 5|-9 mm. 



Male with the anal segment of the abdomen truncate behind, and 

 leaving the apex of the last dorsal segment exposed. 



Under stones and in moss, on the chalk, clay and sand ; also under faggots, in 

 woods ; local, and almost confined to the London and South Eastern districts ; never 

 abundant, but not uncommon in these localities ; Charlton, Hampstead, Forest Hill, 

 Faversham, Shirley, Dartford, Chatham, Strood, Maidstone, Westerham; Kingsgate; 

 Dover; Folkestone,- Sandgate; Hastings, generally distributed but rare ; Brighton; 

 Portsmouth district. 



PISSODINA. 



The members of this tribe bear a strong relation to the Curculionina 

 with which they have been classed by many authors; they chiefly dift'er 

 in having the curved hook at the apex of the tibiae situated at the 

 apical external angle, a character which appears to be very artificial but 

 is of great use in distinguishing several of the tribes belonging to the 

 sub-family ; the tribe, together with the Trachodina, which can hardly, 

 perhaps, be separated from it, is allied to the Cryptorrhynchina, from 

 which it differs in not having the rostrum received in a groove on the 

 prosternum ; the species are roughly sculptured, dull insects, of moderate 

 or rather large size, which, however, varies considerably in members of 

 the same species; the colour is dark and the surface is variegated with 

 bands of greyish or yellowish scales ; the larvae attack pine and fir trees, 

 and in habits closely resemble those of Hylobins. 



PSSSO25ES, Germar. 



The species belonging to this genus are dull insects, in general 

 appearance somewhat resembling Curculio but much smaller ; they are 

 characterized by having the scutellum conspicuous and rounded at apex, 

 the femora fusiform and without teeth, and the prosternum not 

 emarginate at apex ; the rostrum is rather long and the antennae are 

 inserted at some distance from its apex ; the thorax is narrowed in front 

 and is as wide or almost as wide at base as the base of the elytra ; the 

 species are exclusively confined to" Coniferce ; the larvae, according to 

 Bedel, attack disc-ased trees ; they form burrows in the outer wood, or 

 if they come across small branches they bore right into their centre, like 

 the larvae of Magdalinus ; the genus contains about twenty species, 

 which are confined to Europe, Northern Asia and North America. 



I. Size larger ; thorax shorter in proportion, with the sides more 

 rounded and the posterior angles less prominent ; elj tra with 

 the punctures of striae inuuh stronger and move distinct ... }', PIJSI, L. 



