CURCULIONID.E. MERIONUS. lH 



in thickness to the club^ which is very distinct and oblong-ovate. Rostrum 

 rather short;, thick, incrassated at the apex, with a longitudinal groove : eyes 

 lateral, depressed : thorax nearly transverse, truncate anteriorly and posteriorly, 

 the sides rounded, the back with a longitudinal channel : elytra subovate, 

 slightly emarginate at the base interiorly, the shoulders prominent anteriorly, 

 the suture a little elevated behind : legs moderate : femora clavate, curved ; 

 tibiae armed with a very minute hook at the apex within. 



Merionus, wliicli Sclionlierr unites with Barynotus, differs from 

 that genus by having the middle of the rostrum and of the back 

 longitudinally grooved instead of carinated, and the contour of the 

 insects, as well as their habits, are evidently dissimilar. 



Sp. 1. obscurus. Nigro-piceus, squamulis fuscis cinereisque variegatus, rostro 

 glabriori unisulcato, foveolis ohlongis ruguloso, elytris ohsoletius punctato- 

 striatis. (Long. corp. 4^5 lin.) 



Cu. obscurus. Fabricius. — Me. obscurus. Steph. Catal. 171. No. 1748. 



Pitchy-hl&cV, variegated with fuscous and cinereous scales: rostrum rather 

 glabrous, with a single longitudinal groove and oblong rugulose punctures : 

 thorax punctured anteriorly, with the sides and hinder portion obsoletely 

 granulated : elytra rather obsoletely punctate-striate, the interstices thickly 

 and finely coriaceous, the alternate ones and the suture posteriorly slightly 

 elevated, and clothed with minute scales, and a row of cinereous hairs towards 

 the apex, thejifth and seventh striw connected near the shoulder: legs black, 

 with the tibiie and tarsi sometimes ferruginous. 



Not uncommon in dry sandy places among grass or beneath 

 stones, throughout the metropolitan district. " Under stones on 

 Crwmlyn-burrows ; and on the sand-hills not uncommon." — L. IF. 

 Dillwyn, Esq. " Raehills, frequent." — Rev. W. Little. 



Sp. 2. elevatus. Nigro-piceus, squamulis cinereis unicoloribus tectus, rostro 

 squamuloso quinque-sulcato, elytris profundius punctato-striatis. (Long. corp. 

 4—4^ lin.) 



Cu. elevatus. Marsham.—M.e. elevatus. Steph. Catal. 171. No. 1749. 



Pitcliy-\i\diCk, clothed with uniformly coloured cinereous scales : rostrum scaly, 

 with five sulci, a deep central one and two oblique shorter ones on each side : 

 thorax punctured : elytra rather deeply punctate-striate, clothed with uniform 

 ashy scales^ with the alternate interstices and the apex of the suture elevated, 

 the fifth and sixth strice united near the shoulders : legs black, with the tibiae 

 and tarsi pitchy. 



Var. (i with the antennae ferruginous, and the legs rufo-piceous. 



Somewhat rare : found in dry stony hedges, or in fields among 

 grass, within the metropolitan district, and also in Norfoliv, Suffolk, 

 Mandibulata. Vol. IV. 31st August, 1831. i 



