188 EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE 



by a line, and by comparing the basal joints with the oth- 

 ers, we see that this line is the real division, that the sum- 

 mit of the oval really forms the bottom of the succeeding 

 joint, and that the constricted part is no articulation at all. 

 The first, or basal joint (called the scapus), and the second 

 (called the pedicella), differ in form from the rest, here but 

 slightly, but often considerably. The whole of the remain- 

 ing joints are together termed the clavola. 



You may see a considerable diversity of figure and of 

 aspect generally in this tiny Weevil, which may be ac- 

 cepted as a representative of a great family of Beetles, the 

 Curculionidce. The manner of their insertion strikes us at 

 first sight as peculiar, as is in fact the aspect of the whole 

 head. Instead of a thick substantial solid front, with pow- 

 erful widely-gaping jaws, such as we saw in the Carabus, 

 here projects from between the eyes a long rod- like pro- 

 boscis, as long as the whole animal besides, curving down- 

 ward, and carrying at its very extremity a minute mouth, 

 with all the proper apparatus of lips, jaws, and palpi. 

 Moreover, the antennce are planted on the two sides of 

 this beak, about its mid-length; and they are curiously 

 elbowed, each projecting horizontally at a right angle to 

 the beak for a considerable distance, and then with a sharp 

 angle becoming parallel to it for the remainder of their 

 length. So that, supposing the terminal half of the beak 

 to be broken off just behind the insertion of the antennae, 

 the whole would compose the letter T. Now, the first 

 bend of this angle is composed of a single joint, the 

 scapus, which is, in this family, greatly lengthened; and 

 then the two or three final joints are much thicker than 

 all the others, and are as it were fused together into a 

 large oval knob, called the club. 



