30 MIOCENE FAUNA. 



where they obtain their nourishment from herbaceous plants. 

 The fossil species no doubt had a similar mode of life ; and most 

 of them are analogous to European forms : thus Cleonus specio- 

 sus, Heer (fig. 249) , resembles a Siberian species (C. pruinosus, 

 Schonh.), and probably found its habitation in the mud and 

 sedges of the Lake of (Eningeu. The numerous species of 

 Phytonomus found at (Eningen probably lived on the Polygona 

 and Rumices of the marshes, attaching their cocoons to the 

 lower surface of the leaves in the same way as their relatives of 

 the present day. The species of Lixus presuppose the existence 

 of marsh Umbelliferae ; L. rugicollis, Heer, is very nearly allied 

 to a species (L. gemellatus, Schonh.) living on the water-hemlock 

 (Cicuta virosa), the stems of which are perforated by larvae, 

 whilst the perfect insect suns itself on the flowers, but sometimes 

 descends into the water, where it can exist for a considerable 

 time. A second species (Lixus wningensis, Heer) visited the 

 thistles, at least if it adopted the diet of the nearest allied living 

 species (the widely distributed L. angustatus, Fab.) . 



The Brachyceri (fig. 247) very probably lived on the shore of 

 the lake ; and their existence betokens the blooming of liliaceous 

 plants. The three species of Clonus remind Prof. Heer of the 

 small globular weevils which occur on the mulleins ( Verbascum) 

 and figworts (Scrophularia) , and the Larinus of the yellow-scaled 

 species of the Swiss thistles and centauries. The genera Cryp- 

 tarhinus and Balaninus must be ascribed to the alders and 

 hazels, and the five Sitonce to the conifers. One of the latter 

 (Sitona atavina, Heer, fig. 248) is a very common insect at 

 (Eningen, and is very nearly allied to a species the larvae of 

 which take up their abode in fir-cones. The genus Naupactus 

 is quite foreign to Switzerland, being represented in tropical 

 America by species of numerous and beautiful colours ; a species 

 of considerable size (N. crassirostris, Heer, fig. 245) has been 

 discovered at (Eningen. 



Longicornes, recognizable by their long antennae, with thirty 

 species, take the seventh place among the eight most numerous 

 tribes of beetles in tlje Miocene fauna; in the present fauna 

 of Switzerland and of Europe they occupy the eighth rank, in 

 North America the fifth, in tropical America the third, and in 

 the Indian archipelago the fourth place. They are consequently 



