THE CEYPTORIIYNCniD^. 183 



'On June 10, in the previous year, in a ramble through the 

 New Forest, I observed that the leaves of the trees looked very 

 brown, and those of the beech were quite blistered. This I at first 

 attributed to the severe frost we had in the morning of May 6, 

 but on examining them I found a larva inclosed in each leaf, 

 wliich in a short time clianged to Orchestes fagi ; so that at 

 the period when Lord Farnham observed it in Ireland, this 

 Beetle seems to have been equally abundant in England.' 



Twelve species of this genus are known in England, and 

 most of them are named after the trees which they inhabit. 

 Many more species are described by the older entomologists, 

 but it has now been ascertained that many supposed species 

 are nothing but varieties, our present example having been 

 described under five names. The colour of this species is black, 

 with the exception of a reddish down scattered rather sparingly 

 over the elytra. It is, however, a variable insect, sometimes 

 having the downy clothing green instead of red. 



We now come to a family of Weevils called Cryptorhynchidae. 

 This name is composed of two Greek words, signifying ' hidden 

 snout,' and is given to this group of Beetles because they have 

 the beak bent downwards, and capable of being received into a 

 groove on the under side of the body. This attitude is as- 

 sumed when the Beetle is in repose or alarmed. On Woodcut 

 XIX. Fig. 4, is represented one of these insects, named Coeliodes 

 quercus, the head of which is shown at Fig. a. In this genus 

 the hollow in which the beak lies is between the first and 

 middle pairs of legs, and it is on account of this channel that 

 the name Coeliodes, or ' hollowed.' has been given to the genus. 



These are all very little, dumpy-bodied, sober-coloured 

 insects, and, when placed under the microscope, they bear a 

 curious resemblance to the apteryx, whose round body and long 

 curved beak almost exactly reproduce the form of the Weevil. 

 They are generally to be found on nettles, and can be taken with 

 the sweep-net. Owing to the rotundity of their bodies, they are 

 very diflBcult subjects for the setting board. Moreover, in 

 death, the head always bends itself downwards, and the beak 

 tucks itself so firmly into its groove, that to bring it out with- 

 out injuring the insect is no easy matter. 



Although this species is not a brilliantly-coloiired one, it ia 



