408 
Observations on the various Insects 
many leaves bitten, apparently by slugs, but I have no doubt 
really by these insects." 
It still remains to be ascertained where the eggs are deposited : 
this operation must take place, one would imagine, in tbe sum- 
mer or autumn, unless the Weevils hibernate, as they are ready 
to take the field in the early spring, and in April they abound 
on the broom and furze in Norfolk, Surrey, &c. It is equally 
remarkable that we are ignorant where the larva? feed ; but my 
friend Mr. Spence has informed me that, owing to the crops of 
beans in Yorkshire suffering from galls found upon the roots, 
there is some reason to believe that they are the nidus of the larvae 
of Curciilio lineatus, or an allied species. I have, however, ex- 
amined the bean-roots where the Weevils are abundant in this 
country, without discovering any of the galls; yet I hope this 
notice may lead to a more extended examination than I have 
been able at present to make, relative to such an important point ; 
for until we are in possession of the early economy of the insect, 
it is to a certain extent hopeless to find a remedy. 
These Beetles, or Weevils, are of the Order Coleoptetia, 
belonging to the Family Curculionid^, which embraces some 
of the greatest enemies the gardener, farmer, and maltster* 
have to deal with. The species before us was called by Linnaeus 
CuRCULio, but is now comprised, with about twenty others in- 
habiting this country,! in the Genus Sitona, and has been 
described as — 
1. Sitona lineata, Linnaus, the Striped Pea-weevil (fig. 1 ; fig. 2, the 
same magnified). It is more or less of an ochreous or light clay colour, 
elliptical in form and convex above, punctured and clothed witli minute 
scales, and when these are worn off by age or accident, tlie beetle has a 
black shining surface : the head (fig. 3, in profile) is deeply pimctured, 
the scales in some lights having a bright coppery tint; it is elongated; 
the face is concave, with a channL-l down the centre, and forms a short 
stout nose which is notched, and at ihe extremit}' the mouth is placed ; 
this comprises 5 pieces, 2 strong black mandibles for biting, notched on 
the inside (fig. 4, />) ; 2 maxilla; below them, the inside ciliated with 
spiny bristles, the outside producing each a short stout feeler composed 
of 3 joints, the 2 first subquadrate, the last oval (fig. c) ; between the 
maxillae is placed the chin (fig. rf), which is tridentate with two smaller 
triarticulate feelers, the basal joint is very stout, the 2nd semiovate, the 
3rd short and very slender ; the eyes are lateral, prominent, orbicular 
and black ; below them on each side is a deep angular groove to receive 
the 2 antennae or horns, which are inserted towards the tip of the nose; 
they are of a tawny colour, brownish at the extremity, which forms a 
spindle-shaped club ; they are 12-jointed, the 1st joint very long, clavate, 
* Royal Ajiric. .Tour., vol. vii. p. 95. 
•I- Cintis's Guide to an arrangement of British Insects, 2nd ed., Genus 
37'>. 
