419 
Mr. J. Walton on the genus Anthonomus. 
Three specimens of this, with other British insects, taken in 
Herefordshire by Mr. Doubleday, were given by him to Mr. 
Smith, one of which was kindly presented to me by the latter 
gentleman : it occurs on pines in the north of Sweden. 
5. Anthonomus Rubi, Herbst, Gylk, Germ., Steph., Schonh. 
Cure, ater et melanopterus, Marsh, sec. Mus. Steph. et Kirb. 
A. obscurus var., Steph. sec. ej. Mus. 
— brunnipennis var.. Curt. Ann. Nat. Hist. v. 280. 
This insect greatly varies in magnitude (length — 2 lines) 
and ifi colour, which two circumstances have led to its being 
separated into different species : the varieties may be subdivided 
as follows : — 
a. Black, with the basal joint of the antennae, the base and apex 
of the femora, the tibiae and tarsi fusco-piceous or fusco-fer- 
ruginous : Cure. Rubi of Herbst, and melanopterus of Marsh.: 
very common. 
b. Entirely black ; or black, with the basal joint of the antenna 
fusco-piceous : Cure, ater of Marsh. : not uncommon. 
c. With the head, rostrum and thorax piceous black or piceous ; 
the elytra and legs fusco-testaceous or fusco-ferruginous : 
Ant. obscurus of Steph., and brunnipennis of Curt. : not of fre- 
quent occurrence. 
I have examined the original specimen of Cure, clavatus of 
Marsham in the cabinet of Mr. Stephens, and I have no doubt 
it is a large female specimen of Balaninus {Rhynch.) Brassiere of 
Fab., with the apex of the rostrum morbidly tumefied and the 
palpus exposed* : Mr. Curtis gave me a specimen of Ant. brun- 
nipennis, I sent to M. Schonherr, who returned it as a variety 
(y) of Ant. Rubi, accompanied by Swedish examples which agree 
with it : there are similar specimens of this variety in the cabinet 
of Mr. Stephens, under the name of Ant. obscurus, which I have 
carefully examined, but not being able to discover sufficiently di- 
stinctive characters, I am compelled to consider them, as well as 
Ant. brunnipennis, merely as immature varieties. 
Widely dispersed throughout Great Britain, and found on 
various plants in many localities. 
* I beg to return my sincere thanks to Mr. Stephens, not only for the in- 
valuable privilege of inspecting his rich indigenous collection of insects (that 
of the late Mr. Marsham being now incorporated with his own), but for the 
facilities he has invariably afforded me in examining its rarities, which have 
been the means of enabling me to rectify many mistakes, originating in 
most cases from the great difficulty of distinguishing species from varieties. 
28 * 
