RHYNCHOPHOKA. 
257 
The Lixina comprise some of our most conspicuous 
species. 
In Cleonus the rostrum is longer than the head, 
robust, slightly arched, angulated, and sculptured on 
the upper side, with the antennae inserted near its 
apex, and the scrobes moderately separated, but not 
joined on the under side ; the tarsi spongy beneath, 
more or less flat ; the tibiae with a dagger-like spine 
at the apex; and the body oblong, cylindrical, and 
pubescent. Our species are large, variegated with 
grey or reddish scales, and found in waste places ; 
they feed in the stems of thistles, &c„ some of them 
being of excessive rarity. As in all the other mem- 
bers of this family, their integuments are exceedingly 
hard. 
The species of Lixus are usually very elongate, 
cylindrical, and narrow, with the grooves in the rostrum 
of very variable formation, but, as in Larinus, directed 
downwards, and usually commencing between the 
middle and the apex. In the latter genus they meet 
beneath. 
The I/ixi are rare iu this country, being found 
chiefly on the south coast. They live in water-plants, 
&c. ; one of them, and that the most beautiful, L. 
bicolor, breeding iu thistle-stems at Deal. When 
freshly disclosed this insect is clothed with very 
thick and bright scarlet and yellow down, which (as 
in the other members of the genus) readily rubs off, 
so that it is difficult to obtain good specimens for the 
cabinet. According to M. Lacordaire, they are 
able during life to renew this plumage to a certain 
extent. 
Another species, L. paraplecticus, is noteworthy on 
s 
