36 PLATE €Xxt. 
EG ur TV. 
-CURCULIO PYRL 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, 
AND 
SYMONLM S. 
+ Snout fhort. Thighs dentated. General colour bronze changes 
able to yellow red, brown, green, &c. Shells ftriated and punctured, — 
Curcuuio Pyri. breviroftris femoribus dentatis zeneo fufcus, 
Linn. Syft. Nat. 2. 615. 72. 
Fn, Sv. 623. 
Curculie breviroftris, antennis fraCtis rufis, corpore oblengo neo 
nitido, pedibus rufis *, Degeer Inf. 5.246. 34. s 
Curculig viridis opacus, pedibus antennifque magis fufcis, Linn. Jt. 
: Scan. 355 
qn<—-acenrso SESS 
It has been fufpeCted by fome Entomologitts, that this Infect fhould, 
only be confidered as a variety of Curculio Argentatus. Much of its 
beautiful appearance depends on the time we take it in; when firft 
hatched its colours are very rich and highly gloffed with gold, but i | 
gradually becomes dirty brown, or almoft black. 
The caufe of this alteration in its appearance is eafily perceived 
by the microfcope; the firft, or ground colour is dark brown, bu 
is entirely covered with oblong feales of various beautiful- colours,” 
particularly of a reddifh gold, or bronze, interfperfed with thofe of 
green, and brown colour; when the Infect is firft hatched, 
{cales lay over each other fo as to conceal the ground colour; 
but as they rub off, or are otherwife injured, the brown becomes 
the general colour. They vary alfo very much from red, t 
® Variat pedibus rufis et nigris, Fad, Spec. Inf 1. 198. 2196 
yellow, 
