40 COLEOPTERA. 



Of this genus, which is very numerous, there 

 is one species more particularly injurious to 

 man ; it is the Curculio granarius or Weevil, 

 the female of which deposits an egg while they 

 last in each grain of wheat, to the utter destruc- 

 tion of the seed. The egg, which is very mi- 

 nute, in about a week produces a little white 

 maggot, that fattens in its farinaceous dwelling, 

 till it is ready to become a chrysalis. In about 

 eight or ten days after this, the insect appears 

 in its perfect form, of a dull reddish brown co- 

 lour, and scarcely one sixth of an inch long. 



Another kind infests the hazel nut, and to 

 our great disappointment, often leaves us little 

 but the shell. The insect, which is the Cur- 

 culio nucum, may be found in August, creep- 

 ing about the hazel-trees, and choosing such 

 nuts as suit her purpose. Into these she first 

 bores a hole with her proboscis, and then turn- 

 ing round deposits an egg in the cavity. Thus 

 she passes on from nut to nut, performing the 

 same operation, till she has emptied her ova- 

 rium. The nut, without being injured by the 

 wound, increases to maturity, while the mag- 



