108 {October, 
racter which it may be remembered has been used also by Dr. Sharp in defining the | 
distinctions of G. vernalis and G. pyrenwus). The chief comparative characters fon 
the two species are as follows :— 
G. stercorarius: elytra with the striae not so well defined, and not quite so | 
closely punctured, and with the interstices slightly convex ; mandibles externally 
with only one slightly undulated emargination before the apex; apical teeth of the 
anterior tibiz in 9 not so large or sharp; segments of the abdomen equally pilose 
beneath. I have observed that, in a series, this species is the brighter of the two. 
In the ¢ (in which, as usual, the thorax is larger than in the 2 ) the posterior 
femora have a small, sharp tubercle near the base, beneath, on the hinder margin ; 
) 
the hind trochanters are produced to a point; and the front tibia» beneath haye a_ 
simple keel running near the front margin. 
G. mesoleius : strive of elytra better defined (though those between shoulder and 
suture are, as a rule, not so widely impressed at the base), more closely and cleanly 
punctured, with flatter interstices ; the thorax often punctulate ; each of the man- — 
dibles externally with two sinuous emarginations; apical teeth of front tibiz in ? 
sharper and longer; segments of the abdomen almost hairless in the middle 
beneath. 
In the ¢ the tubercle at the base of the posterior femora becomes a strong and ~ 
almost hooked tooth, and the hinder trochanters are produced into a hook at the 
apex ; the keel of the front tibiaa also is more medial, and is tuberculate at the base. 
The species seem equally common here. I have very small varieties of 
mesoleius.—ID. 
Weevil-galls on Linaria vulgaris.—Early in August last, Mr. C. G. Barrett 
found at Brandon, in Snffolk, reveral clusters of galls on the roots of the yellow 
toad-flax. The plant was growing on a light, sandy soil,and the galls were an inch 
or two below the surface They are about the size of small peas, monothalamous, 
of a yellowish-white color, generally growing in clusters, two contiguous galls fre- 
quently becoming confluent. Out of several galls I cut open on August 26th, two 
contained white larve, and ten others perfect insects, the latter varying in color 
(according to the length of time since they had assumed their perfect state). The 
name of the weevil (for which I am indebted to Mr. Rye) is Gymnetron linarie, 
Panz., the larva of which, according to Kirby and Spence, is said by Hammer- 
schmidt to reside in galls on thisplant. I have seen this gall before, but I do not re- 
member from what locality I received it.—H. W. Kipp, Godalming, August 29th, 
1871. 
[The ceconomy of this species is mentioned by Gyllenhal, Schnizlein, Panzer, 
Bach, Kaltenbach, and Brisout ; and has quite recently been fully discussed by Ru- 
pertsberger, in the last vol. (xx) of the Verhandl. Zool. bot. Gesellsch., Wien, p. 
839. Perris (L’Abeille, vii, p. 36), noticing Kaltenbach’s statement that the 
allied G. antirrhini (not yet found in this country) also lives on Linaria vulgaris, 
states that the species now usually known by that name lives in the capsules 
of different species of Verbascum (especially V. phlomoides). He considers that { 
Paykull’s original statement of the habitat is wrong, or that the modern (. antir- 
rhini is erroneously named. If it be rightly named, the difference in ceconomy of 
two closely allied species seems remarkable.—E. C, R.] 
a a. ee 
