258 RHYXCHOPHORA. \_0rclicst PX. 



connate on vertex ; thorax bisinuate at base with a more or less distinct 

 dorsal channel ; elytra with rather fine punctured strife, with a large 

 triangular common patch (often more or less abraded) extending from 

 the shoulders to beyond the middle of the suture, densely clothed with 

 pale pubescence, the rest of the surface being less densely pubescent ; 

 anterior and intermediate femora each with a minute spine in the 

 middle, the posterior with a double series of six or seven spines on each. 

 L. 2|-3| mm. 



On oaks ; generally distributed and common throughout the greater part of the 

 kingdom. . 



O. scutellaris, Gyll. Longer and narrower than the preceding, 

 oblong, rufo-ferruginous above, underside and apex of rostrum black, 

 clothed with ashy pubescence, which is thick and lighter on scutellum ; 

 antennae inserted near base of rostrum, with the scape much shorter 

 in proportion than in the preceding species ; thorax rather strongly 

 punctured, obsoJetely channelled, with the sides narrowed in front 

 and slightly narrowed behind ; elytra with rather deep punctured 

 striae, interstices somewhat shining and rugose ; anterior femora nar- 

 rowed, posterior with a small tooth in the middle ; anterior coxae con- 

 tiguous ; pubescence of episterna of metasternum very close. L. 

 2'i-3 mm. 



On alder and wild cherry ; rare ; Coombe and Darenth Woods, Carlisle and Sketty, 

 near Swansea (Stephens) ; Norfolk (F. Smith) ; Lowestoft ; Bearsted (Gorhamj ; 

 Sandown ; Deal; Glanvilles Wootton (Dale) ; Stretford, near Manchester (Restou); 

 Northumberland and Durham district (Bold) ; Scotland, very rare, Sol way and 

 Dee districts (Sharp) ; Ireland, near Belfast (ETaliday) ; there has been some con- 

 fusion regarding this insect, and it is possible that mistakes may have arisen with 

 regard to some of these localities. 



V. semirufus, Gyll. In this variety the head and thorax and often 

 the legs are dark, whereas in the type form they are red ; the less, how- 

 ever, are very variable in colour ; according to Stephens the posterior 

 femora, which in the type have only a single small tooth in the middle, 

 are in the variety armed with several small teeth ; it seems possible 

 that it may be a distinct species. L. 2|-3 mm. 



On alder and wild cherry; very local ; St. George's Hill, Wej bridge (Stevens) ; 

 Woking (where Mr. Champion has taken it not uncommonly unaccompanied by the 

 type form). 



O. alni, L. Black, pubescent, with the antennae, tarsi, thorax, anal 

 segment of the abdomen and elytra rufo-testaceous, the latter with four 

 black spots, which are very variable, the apical ones being often united 

 at suture, often very obscure, and sometimes wanting ; antennae with 

 the scape long, inserted just behind middle of rostrum ; thorax closely 

 and rather strongly punctured, sometimes with an abbreviated black 

 patch in the middle of disc ; elytra with strong punctured striae ; pos- 



