THE NUT WEEVIL. 131 



in the well-known Diamond Beetle (Curculio impe- 

 rialis) of Brazil, and many other fine exotic forms, 

 Even amongst the British species we may find ex- 

 amples of a brilliancy almost equal to that of the 

 boasted Diamond Beetle, although on a much smaller 

 scale ; in the months of May and June every bank of 

 nettles swarms with specimens of a small Rhyncho- 

 phorous Beetle (the Phyllobius Pyri), measuring about 

 a third of an inch in length, and clothed with golden 

 green scales, which only require to be magnified to 

 rival those of some of its tropical relations in beauty. 

 Charming as some of these insects are, however, we 

 must not forget that their habits often bring what 

 they doubtless regard as their vested interests into 

 unpleasant collision with those of the lords of the 

 creation, who consequently show them but little 

 mercy. One instance of this, which, however, can 

 scarcely be regarded as of any very great importance, 

 must be familiar to every one who has ever been in 

 the habit of cracking nuts with his teeth. The reader 

 will probably remember that occasionally when thus 

 engaged, he has found his mouth in a condition 

 forcibly reminding him of that of Milton's devils, 

 when on biting into the fruits which showed so fair 

 outside, they chewed nothing but " dust and bitter 

 ashes." Sometimes the scene is varied by the dis- 

 covery of the cause of all this mischief, in the shape 

 of a soft, white, footless grub, with a horny head, lying 

 snugly ensconced in the remains of what should have 

 been a fine kernel. If this grub had been left to 

 arrive at the full period of his larval existence, he 

 would, on attaining maturity, have eaten his way 

 through the hard shell of the nut, and, falling to the 

 ground, have buried himself there to pass the winter 



