434 MB. p. p. PASCOE ON THE CUKCULIONIDiE. 



Plate XVI. 



Pig. 7. Thomisus, $ ; ex, lateral view of cephalothorax, with puncta. 



8. Thomisus exiguus, $ , immature. 



9. Thomisus elegans, S; f-o, palpal organs. 



10. Thcridion ooncinnum $ ; e, oyos. 



11. T'heridion delicatum, (S \ e, eyes; p. o, palpal organs. 



12. Linyphia punctata, 2, immature; ex, cephalothorax to show 



puncta. 



13. Epeira amosna, $ , immature ; ab, abdomen in proille, to show the 



remarkable position of the spinnerets. 



Contributions towards a Knowledge of the CurcuUonidce. 

 By Fbancis P. Pascoe, F.L.S., E.Z.S. &e. 



Part I. 



[ReadJune 17, 1869.] 



(Plates XVII., XVIII., XIX.) 



It has been calculated that 30,000 species of Curculionida3 are in 

 collections*. The number is possibly greatly beyond the fact; 

 but it may be assumed as a certainty that not one half has been 

 described. The great work of Schonherr, the last volume of which 

 was publislicd in 181.5, contained descriptions of 0335 speciost ; 

 but although many new forms have since been added to collec- 

 tions, comparatively few genera liave been formed for their recep- 

 tion. I purpose, therefore, in this communication to endeavour to 

 meet this want by selecting, here and there, not only the more 

 remarkable, but also such obscure species as do not from their 

 appearance afford any ready clue to their systematic position. I 

 have also given descriptions of such new species of recognized 

 genera as from locality or any peculiarit}"^ of structure or characters 

 may be desirable. 



There is probably no other familyof insects where there is so little 

 correlation between habit and characters, or where two species 

 may almost exactly resemble one another, yet be in no respect 

 allied ; while on the other hand there are some species belonging 

 to the same genus, and in large genera it is the rule, which are so 

 dissimilar as to be utterly irreconcilable with all ideas of generic 



* Jekel, Ann. Soc. Fr. 1864, p. 538, note, 

 f Lacordaire, Gen. vi. p. 16, note. 



