MoNONYCHUS, as the name implies, has but one claw to each 

 tarsus, — a remarkable character which I believe will distinguish 

 it from all other Curculionidae. In stature and appearance 

 our genus resembles the Ceutorhynchi ; but, independent of 

 the single claws, the antennae are inserted before the middle, 

 and the tibiae are notched and somewhat spined towards the 

 apex. 



For the first specimens I possessed of this insect, I was in- 

 debted to Mrs. Griffiths of Torquay, Devon; and this autumn, 

 when botanizing in the Isle of Wight, I discovered its habitat 

 and oeconomy. 



By the name assigned to it by Fabricius, we should expect 

 to find it attached to the Iris Pseudacorus : whether such be 

 the case I am unable to say, but all that I found were amongst 

 the seeds of the Iris Jbetidissima : some capsules contained 

 two beetles, in which instances there were two seeds excavated, 

 like the one represented in the plate. Some seeds also con- 

 tained a maggot, others a pupa. 



It is somewhat singular that not one beetle could be found 

 upon the leaves or stalks of the Iris, every specimen being in- 

 closed with the seeds in the capsule ; but what is still more re- 

 markable, the perfect insects appear at the period when the seeds 

 are ripe. Where then do they deposit their eggs ? the beetles 

 must either remain during the winter buried with the seeds 

 amongst the herbage, or, what is equally probable, some of 

 them may remain in the larva and pupa states until the spring; 

 and although the Iris does not flower till June, its conspicuous 

 capsule may be easily perforated at that, or even an earlier 

 period. I trust that these observations will incite inquiry, to 

 ascertain whether the beetles can be found depositing their 

 eggs in the capsule of our plant, and also whether it can be 

 detected on the Iris Pseudacori. 



The flower of Iris fcetidissima (called Gladwyn and Roast- 

 beef Plant) has been figured in pi. 131, and the handsome 

 opening capsule is now represented. It is a local plant, but is 

 abundant on the under-cliff' at the back of the Isle of Wight, 

 atDartford in Kent, the bath-hills near Bungay, Suffolk, &c.; 

 and any discoveries relating to the insect might be made 

 known through the medium of Mr. Loudon's valuable Maga- 

 zine of Natural History. 



