COSSONUS TARDII AT CRANMORE. 253 



Robert Templeton, Esq., R.A. It was found by him 

 in June, 1829, on the under side of an alder which 

 lay in the farm-yard, and had been stripped of its 

 bark. This insect is one of the Curculionidce, or 

 weevil tribe. It was first discovered in July, 1822, 

 under the bark of decayed hollies near Powerscourt 

 waterfall, county of Wicklow, by the late James 

 Tardy, Esq., of Dublin, in company with N. A. 

 Vigors, Esq., who conferred its specific name in 

 honour of his friend. Mr. Curtis remarks — " It ap- 

 pears, like aU wood-feeding insects, to be extremely 

 local; for Mr. Tardy, in a letter, saj^s — ' I have in 

 vain sought for it in places abounding as much in 

 hoUy, and in similar situations, in the same county.'" 

 In fact, I believe the Irish Cossonus, for so it is 

 called, had not been detected in any locality except 

 that where it was originally discovered, until it fell 

 under the observation of Mr. Templeton. It is still 

 taken at Cranmore, in precisely the same situation 

 where it was first observed, and usually in little 

 groups of four or five individuals, ranged together 

 side by side. It is not, however, strictly confined to 

 the one spot, but has also been taken in the adjoining 

 garden, and is particularly abundant under the de- 

 caying bark of alders. 



The last instance I shall adduce of the seizure of 

 known insects in unexpected situations relates to one 



