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THE
''1^
fRANSACTIONS
OF THK
LINNEAN SO CIETY
Of
LONDON.
VOLUME IX.
LONDON
PRINTHD BY
R, TAYLOR AND CO., SHOE-LANE, FLiET-STREET.
SOLD AT THE society's HOUSE, NO. 9, GKRRARD-STREET, SOHO; AN1> BY JOHxV WHITE, I'LEET-STKEET.
MDCCCVUI.
( V )
CONTENTS.
!• The Genus Apion of Herbsi's Natiirsystem considered, its Characters laid down, and many of the Species described. By the Rev. "William Kirby, F.L.S. - - p. 1
II. Description of several Marine Animals found on the South Coast of Devonshire, By George Montagu, Esq. F.L.S. - - - - - p. 81
III. An Account of the Indian Badger; the Ursus indicus of Shaw's Zoology. By Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Hardwicke, F.L.S. - - - - p. 315
IV. A Botanical Sketch of the Genus Conchium. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. - p. 117
V. An Inquiry into the Genus of the Tree called by Pona Abelicea cretica. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. - - - - p. 126
VI. X>c-
vi CONTENTS.
VI. An Inquiry into the real Dancus Gingidium of LinncEus.
Bij James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. p. 131
VI r. Descriptions of Eight New British Lichens. By Daw- son Turner, Esq. F.R.S. A.S. and L.S. - p. 135
VIII. A?i Illustration of the Species of Lycitim which grow wild at the Cape of Good Hope. By Sir Charles Peter Thunberg, Kiiight of the Order of JVasa, Professor of Botany at Upsal, F.M.L.S. - - - p. 151
IX. Some Observations on an Insect that destroys the JVhcat, supposed to be the Wirewor7n. By Thomas Wallord, Esq. F.A.S. and L.S. With an additional Note, by Thomas Marsham, Esq. Treas. L.S. - - p. 156
X. An Account of the larger and lesser Species of Horse- shoe Bats, proving them to be distinct ; together with a Description ofVespertilio Barbastellus, taken in the South
of Devonshire. By George Montagu, Esq. F.L.S. p. l62
XI. Description of two new Species of Didelphis from Van Diemen's Land. By G, P. Harris, Esq. Communicated by the Right Honotirable Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B. Pres.R.S. H.M.L.S. - - - p. 174
XII. Description of a Species of Dimorpha. By Edward Rudge, Esq. F.R,S. and L.S. - - p. 179
XIII. Some
CONTENTS. vii
XIII. Some interesting Additions to the Natural History of Falco ct/aneus and pt/gargus, together with Remarks on some other British Birds. By George Montagu, Esq. F.L.S. - ~ - . _ p. 182
XIV. An Account of some new Species of Piper, with a few cursory Observations on the Genus. By Mr. John Vauglian Thompson. Communicated by the Right Hon. Lord Seaforth, F.R.S. and L.S. - -p. 2OO
XV. An Inquiry into the Structure of Seeds, and especially into the true Nature of that Part called by Gcertner the Vitelliis. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. ----- p. 204
XVI. Observations on Nauclea Gambir, the Plant producing the Drug called Gutta Gambeer, with Characters of two other Species. By William Hunter, Esq. Secretary to
the Asiatic Society. Communicated by the President, p. 218
XVII. Observations respecting several Bi-itish Species of Hieracium. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. - - _ . _ p. 225
XVIII. Specif c Characters of the Decafidrous Papilionaceous Plants of New Holland. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. - - - - p. 244
XIX. On the Variegation of Plants. In a Letter to Richard
Antliony
viii CONTENTS,
Anthony Salisbury, Esq. F.R.S. and L.S. hy Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. F.R.S. and L.S. - p. 2C8
XX. Characters of liookeria, a nexe Genus of Mosses^ with Descriptions of Ten Species. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. ' - - p. 272
XXI. Description of Notoclea, a new Genus of Coleopterous Insects from New Holland. By Thomas Marsham, Esq. Tr. L.S. - - - - p. 283
XXII. Sotne Remarks on the Plants now referred to Sophora, with Characters of the Genus Edwardsia. By R. A. Sa- lisbury, Esq. F.R.S. and L.S. - * p. 296
XXIII. Characters of Platylobium, Bossicea, and of a new Genus named Poiretia. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. - - - - p. 301
XXIV. Musci Nepalenses ; or Descriptions of se-oeral Jiew Mosses from Nepal. By William Jackson Hooker, Esq. F.L.S. - - - - ' V- 307
XXV. Extracts from the Minute-Booh of the Linnean So- ciety of London - - - "- P- 323
Catalogue of the Library of the Linnean Society, continned from Page. 362 of Vol. VIIL of the Society's Trans- actions ----- p. 326
List of Donors to the Library of the Linnean Society p. 529
TRANS-
TRANSACTIONS
OF THE
LINNEAN SOCIETY.
I. The Genus Apion of Herbst's Natursystem cotisidei-ed, its Cha- racters laid down, and many of the Species described. By the Rev. JVilliam Kirby, F.L.S.
Read June 4, 1S05.
X HERE are certain tribes of insects, the species of which are so slightly marked by any apparent difference of size, shape, or colour, that, for want of sufficient examination, many are set aside as mere varieties, which, when thej' are minutely inspected, exhibit characters very strong and discriminative. Amongst these there are none more liable to be confounded, or that occa- sion more trouble to the entomologist, who wishes to be accu- rately acquainted with them, than those minute Weevils, which, in Herbst's Natursystcm, under the name of Apion, are consi- dered as a separate genus from Curculio*: they constitute Mr. Marsham's second section of his first division of his first family of that genus-j-, and are arranged by Fabricius, and after him
* Tom. vW. p. 100. tab. 102, 103. and Q, Jig. 6. 7. 8.
t Viz. A. a. * *. Longirostres Antennis integris femorilus simplicihus abdomine ovato acuto, rostrojiliformi, thorace teretiusculo. Nudiusculi.
VOL. IX. B by
2 Mr. KiRBY oti Ilerbst's Genus Apioiu
by Latreille*, Pajkull, Panzer, &c. under Attelabus, from whicli, however, they essentially differ.
Every collector must have observed the insects of which I am speaking, for they abound every where upon plants; but, from the extreme similarity of the species to each other, in all the particulars mentioned above, most would be disposed to con- found them together. There are, however, a great many distinct species of them ; of which, although a considerable number have already been described, many still remain that have hitherto escaped notice.
Having, for some time, been accustomed to examine these mi- nute insects with close attention, I found myself possessed of several nondescript British species; and, in addition to these, my collection has been enriched by the liberality of an ingenious and learned correspondent, major Gyllenhal, (to whom Paykull •was under very great obligations) with several specimens from Sweden, which have enabled me to ascertain many of those de- scribed by Fabricius, Paykull, and others, concerning which I was before in doubt. Add to this the happy opportunity, in- dulged to me by the kindness of our President, of inspecting the Linnean Cabinet. All these circumstances induce me to
* I cannot mention the name of this learned entomologist and not notice the re- markable coincidence which, without any previous communication between us upon the subject, is observable between his excellent Division des Abeilles {Hist. Nat. des Fourmis, p. 401 — 38.) and my Monograph upon the same genus. That both of us, with little variation, should fix upon the same general divisions and subdivisions, is a strong proof that our only aim has been to trace the labyrinth of nature; and that, as far as our researches have been carried, we have succeeded in our attempt : or, to use the words of this gentleman upon the occasion, " Une telle ressemUance dans le fruit des nos recherches prouve evidemment que la Nature, qui est une, a etS notre guide." {Hist. Nat. gen. et parlic. des Crustaces et des Insectes, torn. iii. p, 369 — 371. note 1. where gee our respective methods compared.)
hope
Mr. KiRBY 071 Ilerbst's Genus Apion. 3
hope that I may render some small service to entomology, if I offer to the Linnean Society a few observations upon this diffi- cult genus or family, accompanied by more elaborate descrip- tions than have yet been given of such of the species as 1 am acquainted with ; for it has been the fate of the smaller and less conspicuous insects, to be described, generally speaking, with less care and minuteness than the larger, or those that are di- stinguished by more prominent features ; whereas, in fact, the former, that they may not be confounded with their affinities, stand most in need of having all their peculiarities noticed : on this account, and to prevent future mistakes, I have described anew all the species that have come under my eye.
In general, these insects are distinguished by a slender subcy- lindrical rostrum ; which, when unemployed, is not pressed close to the breast between the fore-legs, as is the case with many ge- nuine curculios*, but stretches out from the head, or is porrect (if I may employ such a term) and arching downwards: their antennae are not broken, as in the cognate genus just mentioned, but entire ; and terminate in a lanceolate knob, consisting of three closely joined and scarcely visible articulations ; the thorax inclines to the figure of a truncate cone, but now and then it is rather spherical, and often nearly cylindrical ; and the abdomen is more or less ovate ; so that the whole insect, in shape, bears considerable resemblance to a pear, the rostrum being regarded as the stalk.
More particularly, the species afford to the describer the fol- lowing circumstances for distinctive characters : —
The Rostrum is either shorter than the head and thorax taken together, of the same length, or longer; and with respect to this circumstance I term it — Rostrum brevius, mediocre, longius : its
* e. g. Rhynchxnus Fair. Syst. Eleuth. ii.
B 2 thickness
4 Mr. KiiiBY on Herbst's Gejjiis Jpion.
thickness or tenuity will furnish other notes of difference, and whether either of these is partial or general.
The AntenncE, also, compared with the rostrum, are breviores, 77icdiocres, lougiorcs; and their insertion is either behind the apex, at the middle, behind the middle, or at the base of the rostrum ; on which account they may be denominated anticce, mcd'ue^ posiica.
The Head. The space between the eyes affords some very good, though very minute, characters, hitherto unnoticed, ex- cept by Herbst, and by him only with respect to a single spe- cies*: it is either punctulate, rugulose, canaliculate, or striate; and, besides this, it is now and then hollowed out into a con- cavity-f.
The Ei/es are sometimes prominent, at others subimmersed.
The Trunk often forms nearly a perfect cylinder, but more commonly a truncate cone; now and then it approaches to a spherical figure ; it is usually rough, with very minute impressed points; and, besides, it is often distinguished by a dorsal chan- nel or furrow running nearly its whole length ; or an abbreviate one; or a larger excavate point just above the scutellum.
The Abdomen, covered by the elytra, is either globose, obcu- neiform, ovate, obovate, oval, or oblong.
The Elytra are either furrowed or striate ; and the furrows, or sti'ia, are punctate or impunctate, with intei^stices either plane or convex.
Add to all these circumstances pubescence and the varia- tions of colour ; and there will appear no want of characters to discriminate these little insects from each other.
* Viz. Apion sulcifrons, torn. vii. p. 132. n. 25. tab. 103. fig. 12 — M. •)■ N. B. To see these minute characters, it is often requisite to use two of the glasses of a pocket microscope.
Having
Mr. KiKBY on Ilerhst's Genus Apion. 5
Having mentioned the peculiarities which most strikingly cha- racterize the species, I shall next inquire with what propriety they may be regarded as belonging to a distinct genus.
Linne considered all insects furnished with antennae seated upon a rostrum (a few of his Attelabi excepted) as belonging to one genus ; but whoever studies the species attentively, which will arrange under his Cuj'culio, will be convinced that this cir- cumstance is characteristic of a section of the order o{ Coleoptera, rather than of a natural genus. To name no other part, the an- tennae, confessedly of the greatest importance in determining the genus of insects, vary surprisingly in this numerous tribe : thus in Calandra, Hhynchcenus, Livus, Cossonus, and Curculio, of Fabricius's Sy sterna Eleutheratorum, and in the insects we are now considering, they are subcapitate or terminate in a knob : in Brent us, of the same work, they are moniliform: in Anthribus and the genuine y/ <^e/a6/, they are subclavate, with a distinctly jointed clava: in Rhinomacer they are either setaceous or filiform; and in Brachycerus they grow gradually larger from the base to the apex. Great differences are likewise observable in those that have capitate antennae; in some the terminating knob is jointed, for the most part transversely, with an acute summit ; in others it is solid ; of this description I remember noticing a very singu- lar one in the cabinet of the ingenious Mr. Donovan, in which this part, compared with the size of the insect, was immensely large, transverse, and oblong*. Another and striking difference takei place in antennae of this description : in those which I consider as genuine curculios, the first joint is nearly as long as
* In C. Palmarum, Linn, the knob is of a singular shape; it is solid, calceoliform, transverse, and connected with the stalk, at one end : the upper part at first sight ap- pears truncate, but if it be closely examined it will be found prismatic, or, in Linne's words. Antenna apice quasi lifariam truncatce,
all
6 Mr. KiREY on Ilerbst's Genus Apion.
all the rest put together, with Avhich it forms an angle, so as to make the antenna'; wear the appearance of being broken ; while in the genus "bf which I am now treating the first joint is not so remarkably longer than the rest, and is always in the same line with them.
If these circumstances be allowed their due weight, we shall feel disposed, I ihink, to give Fabricius credit for great discern- ment, when he considered the Linnean character of Curcul/o as indicating the division of an order rather than a genus: whether he has with equal propriety placed the little insects in question in his genus Attelabus must be our next inquiry.
Attelabus of Linne is an intermixture of genera scarcely, if at all, related to each other, concerning which that great father of Natural History himself observes : Genus Attelabi etiamnum inter obscura est nee aptlus rcperi*. Fabricius, with great judg- ment, has excluded At. surinamensis, melanurus, formicarius, si~ villus, apiarius, mollis, ccramboides and buprestoides, which cer- tainly have no connection with it, and in their place introduced all the curculios which constitute Mr. Marsham's two first fami- lies-K and these are evidently more nearly allied to At. Coryli, AvellancE, curculionoides, &c. than those just mentioned : still, however, At. Coryli and Avellance (which are certainly distinct species, though Fabricius has united them) differ essentially not only from CurcuUo Betulce,Populi,Bacchus,&c. Linn., but also from At. curculionoides and Betulce; so that there seems to be some reason for Herbst's making a distinct genus, as he does, under the name of Rynchites, of many of the Fabrician Attelabi, In these insects, I mean At. Coryli and Avellance, the clava of the antennae is not so distinctly jointed, the head is elongate, nearly obconical, and connected with the thorax by a narrow neck; the
* Syst. Nat. Ed, 12. f. 619. Note, t Vix. A. a. *. **
eyes
Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Gemts Apion. 7
eyes are very prominent ; the trunk is obversely funnel-shaped ; and the tibiae, at the apex, are armed with a single crooked spine : on the contrary, in At. Bet nice, curculionoidesy and the curculios of Mr. Marsham's first family, the antennae have a subperfoliate clava with very distinct joints ; the head has no separate neck, nor is it elongate or obconical ; the trunk, in most, issubglobose; and the apex of the tibiae without spines: but in At. curculionoldes, Avhich seems intermediate between ylt. Coryli and BetulcEy Populi, &c. the trunk inclines rather to a square form ; and the apex of the tibiae is armed with two spines. But these insects are all more nearly related to each other than they are to the tribe of which I am now speaking, although Fa- bricius and most others have confounded them together. Mr. Marsham and Herbst seem to be the only entomologists whose penetration has detected the difference between them*. I shall
therefore
* The ingenious author of Entomologie Helvetiqiie, whose work I had not had an opportunity of consulting when this passage was written, has separated the species that belong to Mr. Marsham's first and second families of Curculio from Altelabus, Fabr. and given them, after GeofTroy, as a distinct genus {Rkinomacer) which he has divided into three families. The first contains the greater proportion of the species of Apion; the second, those that have a rostrum attenuate at the apex, like Ap, Craccce ; and the third, the species that constitute Mr. Marsham's first family j e. g. Cure. Populi, Bac- thus, &c.
M. Latreille also, in the work before quoted, (of which I had then only seen .those sheets which relate to my Monograph upon Apis, Linn.) divides Altelabus, Fabr, int» two families, each of which he further subdivides into two sections. Thus,
" Genre. Attelabe. Antennes de onze articles, dont les derniers forment une massue perfoli6e. Penulti6me article des tarses bilobc.
" * Jambes anterieures terminees par ime ou deux fortes epines, Trompe tr^s courte, epaisse, retrecie au milieu.
" t Tfite along^e, retrecie et degagee posterieurement. Corselet tubule eu devant,. presque conique, recevant le ecu qui est en forme de genou. Exemple. Altelabus Co' T^U, linn.
« tt Tete
8 Mr. KiRBT on Herbst's Genus Apion.
therefore compare them with the Fabrician character of Attela- biis, and point out in what particuhus they vary from it*.
AVith respect to the Imtrumenta cibaria, it is doubtful whether Fabricius, -or any other entomologist, ever saw distinctly those of the insects of which I am speaking ; the rostrum, in which they are hidden, is so very slender and minute, that it is scarcely possible to extricate them from it, at least my endeavours to do tl;is, which have been employed upon some of the largest species 1 know, have not as yet been successful: the maxillae {MandibuUc, Fabr.) when it accidentally happens that one is exerted, may just be discerned under a strong magnifier ; they appear to be acute and incurved, and I believe there may be four palpi; but their shape and number of joints 1 have not been able to ascer- tain, therefore I cannot say whether they are filiform or not, or the valvule {Maxilla, Fabr.) bifid. The remaining particulars (viz. " Rostrum elongatum incurvzim, AntenncE exU-orsmn crassiores," if we consult his Essential Character in the scale of genera, or "Antenna moniliformes rostro insidentes," which is part of his Ar- tificial Character at the head of the genus) we can more readily compare Avith the characters which our insects exhibit. The
" ttTete sans retrecissement posterieur, s'enforiQant plus ou moins dans le corselet, qui est presque carre ou trHpezoide. Ex. ^tl. curcuUonoides, Linn,
" ** Jambes anterieures sans epine remarquable a leur extremite.
" t Trompe elargie au bout. Autennes inserees plus en dessus qu'en dessous. Ab- domen carre. Ex. Cure. Bacclms, Linn.
" tt Trompe plus etroite au bout, ou n'etant pas plus large qu'aiUeurs. Antennes inserees plus en dessous qu'en dessus. Abdomen presque globuleux. Ex. Attel. CracccE, flavipes, frumenlar'ms, F."
Hht. Nat. gen. et part, des Crustaces et des Insectes, torn, iii, p. 196, 197.
* Char. Essent. Rostrum elongatum, incurvum. Maxilla bifida. AntenncB ex« trorsum crassiores. Syst. Eleuth. i. xi. Char. Artific, Palpi filiformes. Maxilla bifida. Antennce moniliformes, rostro insidentes,
term's
Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Geiuis Apion. 9
terms by which he has defined the rostrum apply better to them than they do to the true Attelabi, Att. Coryli, &c. (whose rostrum cannot, with propriety, be called either elongatum or in- curvvin) ; but antennce extrorsum crassiores will by no means agree with the antennae of Apion, which terminate in a little head or knob, although it may suit Attelabus tolerably well, in which the knob is not so distinct ; yet Tanne's term for the antennae of Ciirciilio {subdavata) would better define them. The term moni- liformes, if applied only to the stalk of the antennae, appears to be tolerably accurate ; yet even in this part the joints, if very closely examined, will be found somewhat conical, or subtur- binate, rather than spherical. Besides these differences, the rostrum of our insects is not dilated, as in the other Attelabi, at the apex ; the trunk is not spherical ; and the elytra, taken to- gether, are rarely, if ever, quadrangular. The Attelabi likewise, for the most part, inhabit trees and the taller shrubs ; whereas herbs and under-shrubs, and more particularly the class Diadel- phia, are the most usual food of the species of Apion.
Whether it be advisable to separate this genus from CurcuUo will admit of another question ; but, since this is the connecting link between that genus and Attelabus, it seems to me that it ought to be considered as distinct from both : the most essential character of the genuine CurcuUo is its broken antennce, whose ten last joints form an angle with the first or elongate one; where- as these little insects, though they borrow the terminating knob from the latter genus, have unbroken an ten naj like the former. There are a few curculios* (to show how the genera shade into each other) which are intermediate between that genus and Apion, whose antennae, though the first joint is elongate, can
• C. atramentarius, Marsk. Ent. Brit. \. 293. 16. C. Cerasi, Hid. 265. 83. and C. Pruni, ibid. 247. 24.
^o^- IX- c neither
10 Air. KxKBV on TJerhst's Genus Apion.
luitlior be calli d entire nor broken, but between both, suhfractce. 'J'liis eonlinns an observation wliieh I made in a former work, " that the eonnecting links between two proximate genera usually borrow tlieir characters from both*."
IJeibst has called this gewua Apion, because, in shi^pe, it some- what resembles a pear; 1 retain this name from my dislike of change, although a Greek termination in a Latiniijed word is rather awkward. Apium, indeed, was before engaged in botany, but perhaps its diminutive, Apioliim, might have done. I once had called this little genus Eurhjnchusy from iv bene, and 'fvyyjg rostrum.
JJerbst gives no generic character of Apion, but details most of its pec uliari ties -f. 1 shall therefore endeavour to supply this deficiency, by constructing its Essential, Artificial, and Natural Characters.
APION. '
Character Essentialis. Antenna integrae, subcapitatas: capitulo ovato-lanceolato acute subsolido, rostro elongato insidentes.
Character Artijicialis.
Antenna integrse, subcapitatae : capitvdo subsolido. Rostrum sa^piiis porrectum, elongatum, subcylindricum. Truncus teretiusculus. Tibice apice inermes. Corpus pyriforme *.
Character Naturalis.
CORPUS pyriforme, saepiiis glabrum, interdum at subpubescens, crust4 cataphractum.
* Monogr. Jp. Angl. tom.\.p,46. f Nalursyst, &c. tom.VH.p. 100.
Caput
Mr. Kinnv 07i Herlst's Genus Apion. 11
Caput thoraci inscrtum, parvum.
0$ in rostrum produc4um plrrumquc attenu£itum, arcuatum, subcjiindricuiii, porrectum.
Maxillce sub roslri apice insertte, retractae,
brcvissimfie, simpliccs, incuna?, arutie. Lhigiia, uni cum valvulis palpisque quatuor, . intra rostrum latitans baud conspicua. AntenncE rostro insidentes capitata?, nitidiuscula;, pdosulas ll-articulatae : articulis duobus bascos crassioribus ; prinio clavato elongation, secundo conico, proximis sex brevissimis a^qualibus ex conioo rotundatis seu subturbinatis, ultimis tribus majoribus, arctissim^ connexis capitulum ovato- lanceolalum acutuni formantibus. Oculi laterales, rotundi, convexi, reticulati. I\iucha glaberrima, retractilis. Gula tumidula, glaberrima, retractilis. Truncus angustus, teretiusculus.
Thorax, trunci dorsum, punctulatissimus.
Fectux, trunci pars prona antica, suturd nulld
a Uiorace distinctum. Sternum acutuni integrum, inter pedum interme-
diorum basin delitescens. Epigastrium*, trunci pars proria postica, dilatatum, a pectore incisure profundi separatum, abdo- mini arctiiis incumbens, vald^ convexum : puncto internitdio majori sou umbdico notatum ; ely- troruni dimidio anteriori supcrnc tectum.
* I have adopted this anaiomical term to denote a part which has generally l)eeii confounded with the Ptctvs, but which is separated'from it by a deep incisure, and frequenily, in other genera, requires distinct notice.
c 2 Pedes
12 Air. KxRBY oft Hcfbst's Genus Apion.
Pedes elongati, cursorii, anteriores intermediis, in- termcdii posteiioribus sub-breviores : apophysi seu coxEc biarticulatae ; avticulo primo conico niajori, secundo obconico minori, insidentes ; an- teriores duo seu manus pectori inserti antrorsum tendunt, posteriores autem quatuor ex epigastrio provenientes anuin versils.
Femora clavata.
Tibics subcompressae, tenues, a basi sensim crassi- ores, apice inermes*.
jTflj'sj omnes 4-articulati, subtus pulvinati: articu- lis duobus primis conicis, penultimo majori ob- cordato bifido, ultimo minuto ascendente gla- bro unguiculato: unguiculis duobus incurvis.
Scutellum minutissimum, subtriangulare.
Elytra rigida, acuta, convexa, sulcata vel striata: striis exterioribus et iuterioribus saepi\is postic^ contiuentibus.
Ala membranaceae, corpore longiores, transverse
plicata; : plicis tribus ; antic^ biuervia: nervulis
longitudinalibus, basi et apice approximatis)-.
Abdomen ovatum: segmentis5seu 6; duobus anticis ma-
joribus, intermediis angustissimis, ultimo longiori acuto.
* De Geer {tom.y. p. 201), speaking of Curatlio Linn., makes the following ob- servation : " Lesjambes de touies les trois paires ont cela de parllculier,que, dans toutes ks espc-ces, elles onl en dessous de Icur extremlte tm angle ou un crochet pointu, ires dur
et courhe en dessoui Ce crochet des jamles pourroit fort lien entrer dans le carac-
iere generique de ces insectes." This observation must have been made after a partial examination, since we have seen above that some Attelabi have two spines, and all the species of Apion have none.
t Obs. " In quilusdam nervuli insuper duo {sed hand facile conspiciuntur) a medio alee usque ad ejtis apicem divergunt,"
Obs.
M7\ KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Apion. 13
Obs. — Mas vix a fem'mii differty nisi rostra breviori et pauld eras-
siori. LARVA apoda, anticfe subtus loco pedum tuberculis tribus
utrinque instructa, mollis, annulata, plicata*. PUPA f'olliculata, ovata, laevis. VICT US LarvcE plantarum seniina saepiCis diadelphicarum, Lna-
ginis autem folia. TEMPUS inter sequinoctem vernalem et autumnalem.
Linne, in his Fundatnenta Entonologice, defines the Truncus to be that part *' qui pectus seu thoracem comprehend it, inter caput et abdomen cui pedes inserti ;" yet in all coleopterous insects, and many of the other orders, the part which I have here called Epigastrium, to which the four posterior legs are affixed, seems rather to belong to the abdomen than the trunk; with the former it is closely connected, but from the latter it is separated by a deep incisure, so tliat what should in strictness be called the legs (for the anterior pair having a different direction, beino- ap- plied often to different uses, and inserted in a different part, I Avould rather denominate hands or arms)> the Elytra and Epi- gastrium, are parts of the abdomen: yet in hymenopterous in- sects the incisure is between the abdomen, properly so called and the trunk: in these the anterior legs are affixed to the un- der-side of the neck, and their direction is likewise towards the head.
With respect to Families, I have as yet been able to find no clue for a natural subdivision of this genus, except the fol-
* Fabricius says of Mlelahu, Luna 6-poda, this remark probably bclongs-to the true Attelaii, and so furnishes another proof that ^pion is essentially different. Mr. Markwlck (Linn. Trans. v\. p. 143. tab. b. fig. a— A.) observed three tubercles only on each side, near the head, in the larva of one Apion, which supplied the place of legs. De Gcer could discover none upon the larva of Ap, Craccce, (Tom, v. p. 254.. lab., vi. fg. 35, 36.).
lowing,.
14 Mr. KiRBY on Jlerbst's Genus Apron.
lowinw, which separates one or two species only fiom the great niajority.
* lioslro sul)inflf:xo. Avtennis rostro basi subtus insertis. ** Jlostro po.rrcclo. Antennis rostri latere insertis.
A PI ON.
Synopsis Specusuum. *
1. A. Ulicis. Nigrum cincreo-villosuluni, rostro longissiino de-
tlexo atro, ]>eclibus anterioribus lenugiiieis.
2. A. melaiiopum. Nigricans villosuKini, elytris fuscis: strig^ obliquA baseos cinere^, pedibus rufis: plantis atris.
* *
3. iS. Malva. Nigrum cinereo-villosulum, elytris antennis pe- diljusque testaceis.
4. A. vernule. Fusco-nigricans cinereo-villosulum, elytris fasciis
duabus fuscis, pedibus rufis.
5. A. Ervi. Atrum, antennis testaceis: apice nigris, coleoptris subglobosis.
6. A. Laihyri. Atrum, antennis totis testaceis: clav^ distinct^ articulata, coleoptris subglobosis.
7. A. Ononis. Atrum piloso-subincanum, antennis totis nigris, fronte striatul^, thorace canaliculato, coleoptris subglo- bosis.
8. A. vicinnm. Atrum subpilosum, antennis totis nigris, fronte punctata, thorace postice lined exarato, coleoptris sub- globosis.
9. A. vorax. Atrum villoso-canescens, antennis basi testaceis,
libiis anticis femineis subtlexuosis, coleoptris oblongis atro- cajruicis.
10. A. cceruf
Mr. KiKny on Ilerbst's Genus Apion. 15*
10. A. carulescens. Atrum villoso-subincanuni, rostro crassius-
culo: apice subiilato, coleoptris obovatis atro-ca;ruleis.
11. A. mhulutum. Atrum subpilosuni, rostro apice attenuate,
coleoptris subglobosis.
12. A. Craccct. Atrum villoso-subincanuni, rostro crassiusculo :
apice attenuate, antcnnis basi testaccis, coleoptris subglo- bosis.
13. A. riijicorne. Atrum villoso-incanum, rostro crassiusculo : apice subulato, antennis totis testaceis, coleoptris subglo- bosis.
14. A. Vicice. Atrum villoso-canescens, subtus niveo-pubescens, antennis pedibusque testaceis, coleoptris globoso-ovatis.
15. A. obscurum. Nigrum albido-villosulum, pedibus quatuor
anterioribus rufis, coleoptris globoso-oblongis obscur^ nigro- aeneis.
16. A. Malvartim. Atrum cinereo-subvillosum, subtus piloso-al-
bicans, pedibus testaceis: plantis nigris, coleoptris ovatis nigro-aeneis.
17. A. rufirostre. Atrum, subtus piloso-albicans, rostro dimidiato
antennis pedibusque ru6s, coleoptris ovatis nigro-feneis.
18. A. iiigritarse. Atrum glabrum, rostro dimidiato pedibusque
testaceis, antennis clava tarsisque nigris, coleoptris oblongo- "ovatis.
19. A.Jiavipes. Atrum glabrum, pedibus flavis : plantis nigris, antennis basi rufis, coleoptris ovatis.
20. A. pallipes. Nigrum, pedibus testaceis : plantis nigris, fronte
canaliculata, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis.
21. A. Fagi. Atrum ghibrun), antennis basi femoribusque palli- dis, coleoptris oblongis nigricantibus.
22. A. assirnilc. Atrum glabrum, femoribus omnibus tibiisque
anticis testaceis, coleoptris subellipticis;
23. A.fla-
l6 Mr, KiRBY on Hcrbst's Gtnus Apion.
23. /\. flavifemoratiim. Atrum glabrum, femoribus omnibus tibi-
isque anticis testaceis, coleoptiis globoso-ovatis gibbis.
24. A. Jilirostre. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris subglobosis, rostro
pedibusque elongatis.
25. A. Sorbt. i^ trum glabrum, coleoptris globosis virescenti-cjE- nilcis, rostro jemineo longissiino.
26. A. suhsukatiim. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris subglobosis cie- :.' ■ ruleis, rostro mediocri, capite inter oculos ruguloso.
27. A. fovcolatum. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris subglobosis caeru-
leis, rostro mediocri, fronte impressa striata, thorace canali- culato.
28. A. punctifrons. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris subglobosis caj- rulcis, rostro mediocri, capite latiusculo inter oculos punc- tulato.
29. A. sulcifrons. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris subglobosis caeru-
leis, rostro mediocri : basi crassiori, capite inter oculos trisulco.
30. A. striatum. Atrum piloso-subincanum, coleoptris globosis sulcatis, thorace canaliculato.
31. A. immune. Atrum piloso-subincanum, coleoptris globoso- cuneiformibus sulcatis.
32. A. virens. Atrum, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis caeruleis virides- centibusve striatis : stri4 suturali profundioFi, thorace laevi- usculo.
33. A. marchicum. Atrum, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis atro-caeru- leis striatis : stri^ suturali profundiori, rostro breviori crassi- u«rulo.
34. A. ebeninum. Aterrimum nitidum, coleoptris ovatis sulcatis, thorace lateribus subgibbosis postice latiils canaliculato.
35. A. Astragali, ^neum nitidum, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis cyaneis, thorace canaliculate.
36. A. -Spar-
Mr, Kiiinv oti Herbst's Genus Jpion. If
26. A. Sparta. Atruin glabruni, coleoptris ohovatis atro-ca?iu-
leis, fronte punctata, rostro niediocri. •S7. A. Spe?icii. Aivum piloso-obsciirum, thorac-e canaliculato,
coleoptris oblongis atro-caeruleis, fronte striatil, rostio piloso!
38. A. LotL Nigriun piloso-subincanum, coleoptris obovatis. rostro longiori.
39. A. miicolor. Atrum subpilosum, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis. rostro mediocri medio subincrassato.
40. A. atomarium. Atrum piloso-incanum, coleoptris ovatis, ros-
tro longiori, thorace brevi.
41. A. atcrrimum. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris subovatis nitidius-
culis atro-caeruleis, rostro mediocri.
42. A. tenue. Aterrinium angustum sub-glabrum nitidiusculum, coleoptris oblongis, rostro mediocri.
43. A. Senimlus. Atrum angustum piloso-canescens, coleoptris ovato-oblongis, rostro longiori.
44. A. confluem. Atrum angustum piloso-subincanum, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis, fronte bisulco, antennis posticis, rostro me- diocri.
45. A. Gylknhalii. Atrum subangustum piloso-obscurum co-
eoptns oblongiusculis, antennis piceis, rostro longiori '
46. A. MMoti. Atrum subangustum, coleoptris obovatis viri-
descenti-ca-ruleis, antennis mediis, rostro lonoiori
47. A. vwlacetcm. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris oblongo-obovatis
violaceis, rostro brevi crassiusculo.
48. A. Hydrolapathi. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris oblonoo-obova
tis cseruleis viridescentibusve, rostro brevi crassiusculo
49. A Rumias. Atrum sub-glabrum nitidiusculum, coleoptri^ obovatis obtusis violaceis nigrisve, rostro mcdioci-i
50. A affine. Atrum glabrum nitidiusculum, coleoptris obovatis obtusis viridescentibus, rostro breviori crassiusculo
VOL. IX. T^
^ 51. A. bre.
18 Mr. KiRBV on Herbst's Genus Apion.
51. A. brcvirostre. Atrum obscurum subpilosum, coleoptris sub- ovatis, rostro breviori ciassiusculo.
52. A. Hookeri. Atrum obscuriusculuni, thorace globoso.
53. A. IcEtigatum. Atrum laeviusculum, coleoptris ovatis viola-
ceis obsolete striatis.
54. A. Onopordi. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris ovatis nitidt; viridi-
jeneis caerulescentibusve, thorace scabro.
55. A. cai-duorum. Atrum, coleoptris ovatis obscuris viridescenti- bus caeruleisve, rostro basi utrinque gibbo.
56. A. Radiolns. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris ovatis acutis nigro- eeneis, antennis posticis, rostro mediocri.
57. A. oxuriim. Atrum, coleoptris ovatis acutis caeruleis virides-
centibusve, antennis posticis, rostro mediocri.
58. A. ceneum. Atrum glabrum, coleoptris ovatis acutis aeneis vi- ridescente-caeruleisve, fronte canaliculate.
59. A. hcematodes. Rufum, oculis nigris, rostro brevissimo,
60. A. frumentavium. Sauguineum, oculis nigris, thorace subglo-
boso postic^ canaliculato.
' 1. APION ULICIS.
A. nioTum cinereo-villosulum, rostro longissimo deflexo atro, pe-
dibus anterioribus ferrugineis. Tab. i. Jig. 1. Curculio Ulicis. Forst. Cent. 31. Gmel. 1754 165.. Marsh. Ent.
Brit. i. 256. 54.
I^ong. Corp. {Rostro excluso) 14- lin.
Habitat in Anglise Ulice per totum fer^ annum frequentissimum.
Mus. nostr.
DESCR.
Mr. KiRBY on Herhst's Gams Apim. 19
DESCR. CORPUS nigrum, pilis decumbentibus cinercis in- canuni.
Caput. Rostrum corporis ferb longitudine, tenue, filifor- me, levissinic arcuatuni, atrum, nitiduin. Antenncc bre- viorcs, postica**, basi rufae. Occiput atrum glabrum. Oculi majusculi, prominentes. Truncus subglobosus, postict; paulci latior. T/ioraj: pos- tic^ (pilositate scil. abrasd) canaliculatus, anticfe sub- niarginatus. Pedes anteriores ferruginei : femoribus basi nigris, posteriores quatuor iiigri : tibiis obscure rufis. Scutellum mimitissimum. Co/tOjfj/raoblongiuscula, convexa, striata : striis punctatis. Var. /3. pedibus quatuor anterioribus ferrugineis. — y. pedibus omnibus nigris. Obs. — Mas rostro vix thorace longiori.
This insect has much of the habit of Mr. Marsham's family A.b.*, yet, since the antennae are not broken, it certainly be- longs to this genus. It is remarkable that this species should not be known upon the continent, with us it is one of the most common of the tribe. It is entirely confined to Ulex europceus, but not, as Forster affirms, to the flowers, nor does it ap- pear in the spring only, but may be met with all the summer, and sometimes even in the winter.
2. APION MELANOPUM.
A. nigricans villosulum, elytris fuscis : striga obliqua baseos ci- nerea, pedibus rufis : plantis atris.
Curculio nielanopus. Marsh. Eiit. Brit. i. 248. 2?. Attelabus fuscirostris. Fabr. Ent. Sijst. Em. i. b. 389. 24. Si/st. Ekutli. ii. 424.40. Curculio fuscirostris. Gmel. 1743. ]02.
• For my sense of these and similar terms see p. 3, 4.
D 2 Apion
20 Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Apton.
Apion albovittatuni. Herbst. Natursyst. vii. 126. l6. L 103.
/.4.-D?
Long. Corp. 14 Im*
fl«fti^«^ ill Sp«rfio inter rariora. Mus. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS nigricans, cinereo-viilosulum, subtiis al-
^'"^'"c.ruT. Rostrum brevius, subdeflexum, sa^pe porrectum, "filiforme, tenue, la^ve, nitidissimum, levissmi^ arcua- tum, pone antennas crassius obscurius. Antennce ^o.- ticoe, fer^ mediocres, rufe : capitulo fuscescenti. Ocuh magni, subprominuli. TauNCOS. Thora, posticfe paulo latior et canahculatus, nigricans : lateribus ex pilis decumbentibus albidion- bus Perfes rufi: fcmoribusbasitarsisquenigris. Scu- /eW«mminutissimum. Co/eop ^ra oblonga, sub luce n.gro- ^nea, striata: siriis punctatis, apud basin utnnque stngi obliqua margine que laterali piloso-albidis. Obs.-I" qtdbusdam striga obliqua albida deteritur.
3. APION MALV^.
A. nigrum cinereo-viUosulum, elytris antennis pedibusque testa-
ceis Tab. i. fig' 2. t-, ,
AttelabusMal... Fair. En,. Sy^t. E,n. lb. S9l. S^- S,js,.Eleu,k.
ct'^Malv.. Marsk.E,„.BrU...2,6.,S. G,„.i. 1743. 101. ViU. Ent. Eur. i. 188. 49- iv. 268. 49- Long. Corp. 1 lin. rr »,v./ in An^liee Malvis frequentissimum. Mus. nostr. MSCR tolipUS „>gru„,, pUis decumbentibus a,b,d,s .„-
canum. Caput.
Mr. Kir BY on IJcrhst's Genus Apion. 21
Caput. Uos^/v^/h brevius, crassiusculum, villosulum, apice glabruni. Antenna longiores, pone medium rostii in- sertae, testaceae, crassiusculae: clavA majuscule. Oculi magni, subprominuli, TiiuNCus. Thorax posticb paul6 latior. Pedes testacei. Coleoptra oblonga, testacea, striata: striis vix punctatis. Elytrum utrumque iuteinb apud basin obliqub nigri- cat. Fabiicius, and after him Mr. Marsham, have regarded Curcii- lio Pined of Paykull (Man. Cure. 6l. 58) as synonymous with this insect, being led into this opinion by the error of the latter author; who, in that work, has confounded two insects essen- tially different. In his Fauna Suecica, however, (iii. 252. 72.) Paykull acknowledges his mistake. " Minime Attel. Malvse Fa- ir icii (says he) quod olim putavi, quia omniiio liujus generis est." Herbst's Rynchites Malvce is Paykull's insect, which, in the work last mentioned, that author names Curculio Indigena ; it is found upon the Scotch fir {Pinus Sylvestris). Apion Malvce is extremely common upon the mallow in this country, and is found upon no other plant.
4. APION VERNALE.
A. fusco-nigricans cinereo-villosulum, elytris fasciis duabus fuscis, pedibus rufis.
Herhst.Nafursi/st. vii. 123. 12. t. 102. f. 12. — M.
Attelabus vernalis. Fabr. Ent. Si/sf. Em. i. b. 392. 36. Sust..
Ekuth. ii. 427. 60. Payk. Faun. Suec. iii. 183. 18.. Curculio vernalis. Payk. Man. Cure. 138. 129. Curculio concinnus. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 248. 26.- Curculio urticarias. Herbst. Arch. 74. 30.- Gurculio Lythri. Panz. Faun. Germ. Init. 17. t. 8.
I^ng.
22 Mr. KiRBV on Herbst's Genus Apion.
Long. Corp. 1. lin.
Habitat tempore vernali in Ballofa, Lamio et Urticis hand rarum.
Mus. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS angustum satis, fusco-nigricans, albido-pi- losum. ^
Caput cinereo-pilosulum. Rostrum mediocre, filiforme, leviter arcuatum, glabrum, nitidum, pone antennas in- crassatum. Antennce mediocres, posticae, testaceee. Oculi prominuli, pilis densis albidis undique cincti. Truncus. r/iorfl.r piloso-cinerascens : lateribus albidiori- bus, postice paulo latior et canaliculatus. Fedes tes- tacei: tarsis articulo unguiculari nigro. Cohoptra ovato-oblonga, striata : striis subpunctatis, ex pilis de- cumbentibus cinerea: fasciis duabus obliquis, undula- tis, fuscis, glabris, primd ad medium, secunda pone me- dium parvo intervallo. Mas minor, rostro breviori pilositate cinered tecto. Obs. — Elijtrorum pubes cinerea interdum abraditur, et tunc fusca seu fusco-picea evadunt.
I received this very minute insect amongst the Swedish Cole- optera sent me by Major Gyllenhal, for Attelabus vernalis of Fa- bricius, and upon comparing it with that author's description no doubt can remain of its being the same. It is common in Eng- gland in the spring, feeding principally iipon black ballote {Bal- lota nigra), sometimes it is found on white dead-ilettle (Lamimn alburn), and often upon the common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), a circumstance which seems to indicate that the latter plant possesses some further affinity with the former than the mere shape of the leaves*.
5. APION
* I mention this fact that it may not be lost, without wishing to build any hypothe-.
sis
Mr. KiRBY 071 Herbst's Genus Apion. 23
5. APION ERVI. A. atrum, antcnnis testaceis: apice nigris, colcoptris subglobosis. Attelabus Ervi. Mus. Dom. Gyllenhal. Long. Corp. I-J- lin.
Habitat in Anglia, Suecid. In vico dicto Brent-UIeigh prope Lavenham in Suffolcia, Jul. 14, 1804 (et iterum apud Barham, Jul. exeunt. 1805), in Lathyro pratensi legi. Mus. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, pilis albicantibus, nisi sub lente vix conspicuis, respersum.
Caput inter oculos striatulum. Kostrum longius, ante antennas nitidum, basi obscuriusculum. Antenmesvih- longiores, pone medium rostri insertae, testaceae; clavA nigr^. Oculi subprominuli. Truncus subcylindricus. Thorax postice lineolA im- pressS. Tibice tenues admodum. Scutellum minutissi- mum. Coleoptra ex obovato subglobosa, subsulcata : sulculis punctatis. Obs. — Li altera sexu rostri apex pauld dilatafus. Thorax per totam ferl longitudinem canaliculatus.
I originally received this insect from Major Gyllenhal, under the name of Attelabus Ervi. I have since taken it both at Bar- ham and elsewhere upon Lathyrus pratensis.
The Swedish specimens are more hairy than our English ones.
sis upon it. It is further remarkable, that Curculio Scrophularice and bipustulatus, (Marsh. Ent. Brit, n. 117. 121.) both of which feed upon water betony {Scrophu- laria aquatica), attack, in great numbers every year, Buddleia occidentalis in my garden. It is observable that these plants, though of different classes and orders, are all te- trandious.
6. APION
24 Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Gemis Apion.
6. APION LATIIYRI.
A. atrum, antennis totis testaceis: clav^ distinct^ articulata, co- leoptris subglobosis.
Long. Corp. li lin. Habitat in Anglia cum praecedente. Mas, nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, ex jiilositate albidA baud dens^ levi- ter incanum.
Caput inter oculos bistriatum. Bostrmn brevius, pilosu- lum, apice nitidum. Antennce longiores, mediae, totae pallidfe testaceae : clav4 tenui admodum; articulis sub- distinctis. Oculi subprominuli. Te UNCUS dorso longitudinaliter canaliculatus. ScutcUum niinutissimuni. Colcoptra ex obovato subglobosa, sub- sulcata : sulculis punctatis. Obs. — Maris rostrum vix pilosum. Antennae clavi majuscula : articulis arctfe connexis. Thorax postic^ puncto impresso, nee canaliculatus.
This species so nearly resembles the preceding, that it is not without considerable hesitation I give them as distinct : since, however, I possess the sexes of each, and the males differ in the shape of the rostrum, and the females both in the proportion of the clava of the antennae and the connection of its joints, these cir- cvmistances will, I think, warrant my separating them. That they feed upon the same plant, though a presumptive, is by no means a demonstrative, evidence of their identity, since it often hap- pens tliat the same plant furnishes food to several species in this genus. Major Gyllenhal, however, sent this amongst specimens of Ap. Ervi, considering it, I suppose, as merely a variety.
7. APION
M}'. KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Apion. 25
7. APJON ONONIS.
A. atrutn piloso-subincanuin, antennis totis nigris, fronte stria- tul^, thorace canaliculate, coleoptris subglobosis.
Long. Corp. 1^ lin.
Habitat in Anglia? Onone. Julio mense 1806 frequens. Mus. D. Spence. Nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, ex pilositale subincanum,obscurius- culum.
Caput longum satis, inter oculos striatulum. Rost7-um sublongius, filifornie. Antennce mediae, sublongiores, totae nigrae. OcuU subprominuli. Tr UNCUS ferfe cylindricus, angustus, dorse canaliculatus. Scutellum minutissimum. Coleoptra ex oblongo globosa, sulcato-striata: striis punctatis; interstitiis planiusculis. Obs. — Maris rostrum brevius, paulo crassius, magh pilosum.
This species resembles the two preceding in almost every re- spect, except the colour of its antenhae, which are entirely black. Since, however, it inhabits a different plant (It is never found upon Lallujrus prafensis, nor, vice versa, Ap. Ervi and Lathyri upon Ononis), 1 think I am justified in giving it as a distinct species.
8. APION VICINUM.
A. atrum subpilosum, antennis totis nigris, fronte punctata, tho- race posticfe lineii exarato, coleoptris subglobosis. Tab. i. Jig. 3. Apion Loti. Miis. Dom. Gyllenhal.
Long. Corp. li lin.
Habitat. In Sueciag TMo {cornicidato?) D. Gyllenhal. In Anolia
semel a Dom. Spence lectuni. Mus. D. Spence. Nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, subpilosum, obscuriusculuni. •
VOL. IX. E Caput
26. M}\ KiRBY on Hcrbsi's Genus Apion..
Caput breve admodum, inter oculos punctatum. Kostrum loiigius, filiforme, satis arcuatuin, basi paul6 incrassa- turn. Antennae posticae. Oculi prominuli.
Truncus brevis, ex globoso teretiusculus, postic^ lincol^ dorsali brevissiina et nisi sub lente forti vix conspicua leviter exaratirs. ScutelUun niinutissimum. Culcoptroh ex oblongo globosa, sulcato-striata : striis punctalis ; interstitiis planiuseulis..
Tiiis insect much resembles Ap. Ononis, but seems sutficiently distino-uished from it by having a shorter and wider head, puncta instead of striis between the eyes, instead of a longitudinal channel a very sliort faintly impressed line upon the thorax just above the scutellum, a rostrum more arched, and a less hairy body. It comes nearer to Apion Loti (n. 38), but it is a shorter insect, with a shorter rostrum, a wider head, elytra taken toge- ther of a different shape, and interstices of the striae flat.
9. APION VORAX.
A. atrum villoso-canescens, antennis basi testaceis, tibiis anticis femineis subflexuosis, colcoptris oblongis atro-caeruleis. Herbst. Natursi/st. vii. 129. 20. t. 103. /. 8— H.
? Curculio villosulus. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 250. 34.
<? Curculio fuscicornis. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 244. 17.
Long. Corp, ? If hn. <? 1-l lin. Habitat in Sueci^. In Angliae Fraxino scrpius legi. iHws. D. Mai'-
sham. Nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, totum pilis albidis^ decumbentibus
iucanum.
Cafut
Mr. KiKDY OH Herbsi's Geiiiis Apioii. '2f
I^APrr elongatiiisculinii, inlcM'ociiIos iMstriattiin. Uox/i-Khi longius, ante anti'iinas nitidum, basi obsruiiusciiliim. Antenna mediocvcs, media", basi tesHaceui. Oculi sub- immersi, niagni. TiuJNCUS. Thorax Icvitcr punctulatus, poslice lineolil ex- aratiis. Sciifellnm niinutuni. Coleoplra oblonga, atru- ca?rulca, subsulcata : sulculis punctatis. 'Obs. — Femincc rostrum mediocre. Antenncc pone api'ccm ros'iri in- scrtic capitiilo tenui. Tib'ue antcriores basi et medio sithattcnuata ^indi siibjiexuoscE evadiint.
What I have given as the two sexes of this insect (which is evi- dently Apion vorax of Herl3st, and wliicli has been sent to nic as such from Sweden) stand in Mr. Marshain's cabinet as his Ciirculio fnscicornis and villosidus ; and once, led by the shape of tlie an- terior tibiae in that which I take to be the fcniaie, I retrarded them as distinct ni3'self; but upon reconsidering the subject, I .'find that they agree together so exactly in e\ery circumstance, -except such as are conmion sexual characters in this genus, that I have scarcely any doubt of their identity.
10. APION C^UULESCENS.
•A. atrum villoso-subincanum, rostro crassiusculo: apice subulato,
coleoptris obovatis atro-cajruleis. Tab. i. Jig. 4. Curculio ca^rulescens. Marsh. Ent. Ih-it, i. 245. 20. Attelabus Pomona;. Fabr. SiippL l64. 27 — 8. Syst. Eleiith. u. 425. 48.
TaT. /S. Curculio glaber. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 245. If). Long. Corp. S Ij lin. ? 2^ lin.
Habitat in Anglise Oti/acantha. " In Kiiiai Pomona." Fabr. Mits. nostr.
E 2 DESCR.
28 Mr. KiRBV on Ilerhst's Genus Aplon.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, totum pills albidis subincanum.
Caput punctulatuni, inter oculos rugulosuni. Itostrum brevius, crassum, pilosuni, punctatum, apice subulatum deflcxum, subtus medio dilutatum et quasi incisum, antennls ex incisura; tbssula provenientibus*. Antenna: mediocres, postica;, OcuU proniinuli.
Tkuncus cx nigro paululi^m coerulescens, postict; latior, apice submarginatus niargine paruni reflexo, ante scu-^ tellum lineold exaratus, punctatus pilo, quod soepiiis fit in hoc genere, cx singulis punctis prodeunte. Scutel- htin minutum. Coleoptra obovata, ca?rulcscentia, sul- cato-striata : striis punctatis; interstitiis planis.
Mas feminne simillimus, sed rostri apex glaber, nitidus, niagis et subitc!> attenuatus-f-. Frons inter oculos sulculis duobus. Antennae articulo primo basi obscure rufo.
Var. iS. Adultior glaber, elj'tris vix colore caeruleo infectis.
Mr. Marsham's Cure, ccerulescens is clearly synonymous with Attel. PomoncE of the Supplement of Falaricius. The latter au- thor quotes Herbst's Apion rujicorne as a variety of his insect, but in this I think him mistaken; that insect, which I shall shortly describe, being quite distinct, and more nearly related to Apion Craccce. Curculio glaber was admitted into Mr. Mar- sham's useful Avork upon my authority : I am now convinced that it is merely a variety of the male of Apion carulescens (which I had not then seen) that has lost its pubescence and colour through age.
n. APION SUBULATUM.
A. atrum subpilosum, rostro apice attenuate, coleoptris subglo- bosis. Tab. i. jig. 5.
Long. Corp. l-l- lin.
* Tal.i.fg.^.a. t Ilid.b.
Habitat
Mr. Kiunv on Ilerhst's Genus Apion. 29
Habitat in Angliae Lathyro prateusi. Mense Julio 1805 tria cepi.
Mas. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, opacum, pilositate parvS, nisi sub lente vix conspicuA, respersum.
Caput punctulatum, inter oculos stiiatulum. Rostrum mediocre, basi incrassatum obscurum, apice attenua- tum nitidum, subtus vix dilatatum*. Antennce medio- cres, pone medium rostro insidentes : articulo primo basi obscur^ rufo ; clav^ majuscula. OcuU subpromi- nuli. Truncus linea dorsali antice abbrcviata cxaratus. Scu~ tellum minutissimuni. Cokoptra ex obovato subglobosa, striata: striis punctatis; interstitiis planis.
Var. [3. Rostro acumine breviori, basi crassiori. An Sex. alt.? Tins species a good deal resembles variety /3 of that last de- scribed ; but it is smaller, the rostrum is not dilated underneath, its acumen is longer, and The elytra are shorter in proportion.
12. APION CRACCiE.
A. atrum villoso-subincanum, rostro crassiusculo : apice attenu- ato, antennis basi testaceis, coleoptris subglobosis. Herbst. Natursyst. vii. 102. 2. t. 102. Jig. 2— B. Curculio Craccae. Linn. Si/st. Nat. Ed. 12. 6"06". 6. GmeL
1743. 6. Marsh. Eiit. Brit. i. 245. 18. Vill. Ent. Eur. i. 174. 3.
Payk. Man. Cure. 131. Curculio Vicia?. Be Geer. v. 253. 43. t. 6. f. 31, 32. Attelabus Craccae. Payk, Faun. Suec. iii. 177. 11. Walck,
Faun. Paris, i. 236. 11.
* Tal.i.fg.5. a.
Long.
so Mr. KiRBY on Herhst's Genus Apion.
Long. Corp. iJ- liii. llahilat in Europte septentrioiialis Vicicc Craccce seminibus et llo-
ribus. Mus. Linn. Nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atium, obscurum, ex pube albida leviter in- Ccuunn.
Caput punclulaluni, inter oculos rugulosum. Rostrum bvevius, coniprcssum, basi valde incrassatum rugu- losum depressun), a[)ice attenuato-subulatuni heve, ni- .tidum, subtus carinatum, ab apice basin versus sensini dilatatum ct quasi sacculiforme; dein incisum*. ylii- 'Icnncc longiorcs, posticae, basi tcstacere : clav^ nitidfi, in fossulil rostri insertte. Octtli prominuli, niagni. TuuNCLfs ex globoso tcretiusculus, leviter punclulatus, dorso linea longitudinal! utrinque abbreviata. exaratus, antict; submarginatus. Scutclliim minutissimum. Colc- optra subglobosa, sulcato-striata.: striis punctatis; dn- tcrstitiis planiusculis. Amono-st the synonyms of Jpien Craccce I have not referred to Tabricius, because he appears to haVe mistaken a different in- sect for it. Eh/fra ohsaire cccriika and Rostrum apice depressum are terms wliich will not at all agree with the true Apion Crricca; the original specimen of which still remains in the Linnean Ca- binet. Panzer, likewise, has figured an insect under this name ivhich has no relation to ours, for it differs from it both in size, (being considerably larger,) shape, and colour, and it wants the subulate rostrum, the most prominent i'eature of this speciesf.
13. APION RUFICORNK. A. atrum villoso-incanum, rostro crassiusculo : apice siibulato, antennis totis testaceis, coleoptris subglobosis.
•* Tab. I'Jig' 4. c. t Faim. Genu. Init. 20. -t. 10.
Ilerbst.
Mr. KiiiBV 071 TIerbst's Gem/s Apion. 31"
Herbst. Naturstjst. vii. 110. 8. t. 102. f. 8— II. Long. Corp. 1^ lin. Habitat in Anglid, Borussid rarissime. In Corylo legi Jun. er 1805. Mus. D. Hooker. Nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atruiii, obscurum, piloso-incanmn.
Caput pube albA densiCis obsitum: linca intermedin gla- brA. Rostrum brevius, totum ex pilis decumbentibus niveum, basi incrassatum, apice subulatiim acuuiiue breviusculo, subtils ferh ut in specie preecedenti. An-- tetmce longwres, mediae, tenues admodum, totae testa- ceae. Oculi prorainuli, magni. Tkuncus niinutissime punctulatus, lineA dorsali- antic^ abbreviate obsoletiCis exaratus. Scutclliun minutissi- nium. Coleoptra subglobosa, sulcato-striata : striis- punctafis; interstitiis planiusculis. This little insect, although very nearly related to Apion Craccee, ■ is, I think, distinct from it : the hair on the body is thicker ; the rostrum has a shorter acutnen, and is covered, from the base to the tip, with white hairs ; the antennae, likeuisc, are entirely tes- taceous. Fabricius regarded it, as I observed before, merely as a variety of his Atfdabus Pomona:, but from that insect it differs not only in the colour of its elytra, but also in their shape, beino-. proportionally shorter, so that, when taken together, they are subglobose. Ilerbst never saw but one specimen of it; and three only, that I know of, have been taken in England, one by Mr. W. J. Hooker, of Norwich, a most ingenious and indefati- gable entomologist, and two others by myself.
14. APION VICIiE.
A. atrum villoso-canescens, subtiis niveo-pubescens, antennis pedibusque testaceis, coleoptris ovatis.
Attelabus
3.2 Mr. KiKBY on Herbsi's Genus Apion.
Attelabus Vicise. Faijk. Faun. Suec. iii. 181. l6.
Apioii difficile. lierbst. Natursyst. vii. 124. 13. t. 103.
f. 1— A ?
Long. Corp. I4- Hn.
Habitat in Anglioe et Siieciae Vicid Craccii. Mas. D. GjUenhal,
Nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, supra pilis albis subincanum, subtus ex piibe densa niveum.
Caput inter oculos striatulnm. Rostrum brevius, ex pi- lositate niveum, summo apice glabro nitido. Antenna longiores, mediae, tota? flavo-testaceae. OcuU subpro- minuli. Truncus brevis admodum, ex globoso tcretiuscidus, le- viter punctulatus, lincola dorsali postice impressus. Pedes flavo-testacei : tibiis quatuor posterioribus tar- sisque omnibus nigricante-rufis. Scutellum minutum, apice rotundatum. Colcoptra ex globoso ovata, sulcato- striata : striis punctatis ; interstitiis planiusculis. Obs. — Alter sexus rostro mediocri tenuiori, basi stibincrassafo ob- scuro, ante antennas glabro nitldo. Ant ennis pone medium rostri insertis.
This insect was described by PaykuU from specimens furnish- ed by my learned correspondent Major Gyllenhal, Avho likewise sent it to me. He met with it upon Vicia Cracca; I have since found it very plentiful upon the same plant. I once thought that this might be the true Cure. TrifoUi of Linne, but the cha- racters nostrum thorace longius and Thorax excuvato-punctatus will not at all suit our insect. I have refei'red to Apion difficile of Herbst with a mark of interrogation, because he makes no men- tion of the white down which covers the underside of the body, a circumstance not likely to be omitted by so minute a describer, yet his insect in other respects is certainly nearly related to ours.
15. APION
Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Apion. 33 ^
15. APION OBSCURUM. A. nigrum albido-villosulum, pedibus quatuor anterioribus rufis, coleoptris globoso-oblongis obscurfe nigro-aeneis. Cuiculio obscurus. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 244. l6. Long. Corp. I4 lin. Habitat in Anglia rarissim^, a D. Lambert lectum. Mus. D. Mar- sham. Nostr. DESCR. CORPUS nigrum, pilis albidis subcinereum.
Caput inter oculos excavato-punctatum : punctis con-
fluentibus. Rostrum longius, pone antennas crassius.
Antenna pone medium rostri insertae, nigrae: articulo
primo obscur^ rufo.
■« Tkuncus punctatus: punctis valde excavatis confluenti-
bus, linea dorsali intermedia postic^ exaratus. Pedes
quatuor anteriores rufi : genubus nigris. Scutellum min
iiutum, medio excavatum. Coleopira ex globoso ob-
longa, obscur^ nigro-aenca, striata: striis subpunctatis;
interstitiis planis.
This is the largest species of this minute genus that I have jet
seen ; it has been noticed by no author besides my ingenious
friend Mr. Marsham in his excellent Entomologia Britannica.
Two specimens were found amongst a parcel of insects given
him by Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq., and these are the only
ones that have yet been seen,
16. APION MALVARUM. A. atrum cinereo-subvillosum, subtiis piloso-albicans, pedibus testaceis : plantis nigris, coleoptris ovatis nigro-ceneis. Curculio Trifolii. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 246. 22. Long. Corp. H lin. Habitat in Angliae Malvis frequens. Mus. nostr,
^<>^- ^^- f DESCR.
54 ilfr. Kninv oh Herbsl's Genus yipion.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, pilositate subcinercri levissim6 in- cauum, subtus, praecipue ad latera, pilis densioribus lacteum. Caput leviter punctulatum. Rostrutn longius, nitiduiu,
basi pauli ciassius. Antennce breviores, posticae, totag
nigroe vel piceo-nigrae. OcuU parum j)roiniiiuli, ex
parte inferiori cilio longiusculo albulo ciucti. Truncus ex globoso teretiusculus, leviter punctulatus,
lineol^ dorsali brevissimd posticfe obsoletii\s exaratus.
Pedes testacei: tarsis nlaris. Scutellum minutissimum.
Co/eop^ra ovata, nitidiuscula, nigro-aenea, striata: striis
subpunctatis ; interstitiis planiusculis. This insect stands in Mr. Marsliam's cabinet as Ciirculio Tri- folii of Linne, and it certainly agrees with the description of the illustrious Swede better than any other of these yellow-legged Apions; so that my ingenious friend's error, since he did not know the true habitat of the insect in question, furnishes, in effect, a proof his accuracy, especially when it is considered that he had been informed by Mr. Markwick of the devastation committed upon TrifoUum pratense by a species, which from the description of that gentleman seemed synonymous Avith it. I say error, because I think this species is not C. Trifolii of Linne, and clearly distinct from that to Avhich Mr. Markwick so justly attributes the damage often occasioned to crops of clover-seed. Linn6 informs us that his insect feeds upon TrifoUum montanum, whereas Apion Malvarum is confined to the mallow, and is never. to be met with upon any diadelphous plant: the former, except the abdomen and thighs, appears to be all black, but the elytra of the latter are nigro-seneous : in that the thighs only are de- scribed as of a pale colour (pallida); in this the whole leg, ex- cept the tarsus, is testaceous. Yet had this insect fed upon TrifoUum, and been synonymous with Mr. Markwick's,
' these
Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Apion. S5
these differences might have been regarded as. accidental ; and, since Linne, does not always use his terms rigidly according to their strict definition, and in his descriptions often omits to notice many peculiarities of the subject he is treating of, it might have been thought tliat in the present instance latitude of this kind was taken: but our insect is quite distinct from the clover Weevil; the shape of the thorax and that of the elytra taken together is different, the former being more spherical, and the latter more oblong. The Apion of the mallow is also hairy, especially un- derneath, which gives the whiteness to its breast and abdomen, whereas Mr. IMarkwick's insect has no-hairs upon it, and is quite black underneath. That gentleman, indeed, in his description, speaks of his specimens as having " a whitish belly," (a circum- stance which naturally induced Mr. Marsham to regard the two insects as synonymous) but in a letter with which he favoured me, in answer to some queries I put to him upon this subject, lie says, " I well remember that when this insect was first ex- cluded from its chrysalis state, its belly was whitish, as I have de- scribed it, but I think I afterwards discovered that its belly soon (in a day or two) changed to black, which may account for tlie difference in Mr. Lehmann's description and mine."
17. APION RUFIROSTRE.
A. atrum, subtils piloso-albicans, rostro dimidiato antennis pedi-^ busque rufis, coleoptris ovatis nigro-aeneis.
Hevbxt. Natursyst. vii- 111. 10. ^ 102,/. 10— K,
Curculio rufirostris. Fab. Si/st. Ent. 132. 25. Sp. Ins. i. I67. 35.
Mant. i. 100. 46. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 246. 21.- Gmel. 1744. 107.
Viil. Ent. Eur. i. 187. 44. iv. 267. Ross. Faun. Etrasc. i. 122.
293. Hcllw. 293.
i- ♦ Attelabus
S6 Mr. KiKBY on lierhsl's Genus Apion.
Attelabus rufirostris. Fabr. Ent. Syst. Em. i. b. 390. 26. Syst. £/fHM. ii.4'24.43.
Long. Corp. I4. lin. Habitat in Anglife Malvis cum prjecedente. Mits. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum,obscurum, supra albido subpilosum, subtCis totum pilis densis lacteum.
Caput inter oculos rugulosum. Rostnnn brevius, cras- siusculum, basi nigrum, ante antennas rufum, apice summo iterum nigro. Antemice mediocres, testaceae, posticae: clavd crassiuscuM. Oculi vix prominuli. Truncus ex globose teretiusculus, leviter punctulalus, lineol^ postica brevissim^ suprt\ obsoletii^s exaratus. Pedes testacei: tarsis articulis duobus extimis nigris. Scutellum minutum. Cokoptra ovata, nigro -aenea, striata : striis vix punctatis ; interstitiis planiusculis. Abdomen. Anus testaceus. This insect certainly bears, in many respects, considerable re- semblance to Apion Malvarum \ yet it differs so materially in Others, that I cannot help regarding them as distinct : its rostrum rufous at the end, its rufous anus and antennae are differences too striking to be regarded as merely indications of sex, unless stronger evidence could be adduced than the mere circumstance of their inhabiting the same plant. 1 have therefore, notwithstanding an observation of Hellwig's recorded by Herbst which intimates that they are varieties, ventured to continue them as distinct.
18. APION NIGRITARSE.
^, atrum glabrum, rostro dimidiato pedibusque testaceis, anten- nis clav^ tarsisque nigris, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis. Tab. I -Jig- 6.
Long. Corp. i lin.
• Habitat
Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Apion. 37
Habitat in Angliae Cort/lo, apud Nacton prope Gippovicum a nobis et Dom. Sheppard bis lectum, iterum'a Dom. Spcnce in Comitatu Eboracensi. Mus. Dom. Sheppard, Spencc, nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS totum aterrimuin, et, capite excepto, gla- briini.
Caput inter oculos punctulatum, pilis ajbicantibus sub- incanuiii. Rostrum mediocre, ante antennas pallid^ testaceuni. ^«Ye??n«longiores, mediae, pallid^ testaceae: clava nigrA. Oculi promiriuli. Tkuncus niinutissimfe "punctulatus, dorso canaliculatus.' Pedes pallid^ testacei: tarsis nigris. Coleoptra ex ob- longo-ovata, striata : striis punctatis^ Obs. — Caput interdum nudum. Thorax vix caTialiculat us.
My valuable friend, the Rev. Revett Sheppard, first found this insect. I afterwards took a specimen upon the hazle-ni^it, and Mr. Spence met with it upon the same shrub in Yorkshire.
It is considerably smaller than Apion rujirosire : the body is without hairs; the knob of the antennae,.the tarsi, and the elytra, are black; in other respects it much resembles that species.
19. APION FLAVIPES. A. atrum glabrum, pedibus flavis : plantis nigris, antennis basi
rufis, coleoptris ovatis. Herbst. Natursyst. vii. 106. 5. t. 102. f. 5— E. Curculio flavipes. Fair. Stjst. Ent. 133. 13. Sp. Tns. i. I69. 47. Mant. i. 102. 63. Gmel. 1745. 11, Payk. Mon. Cure. 144. 135. A ttelabus flavipes. Fabr. Ent. Syst. Em. i. h. 391. 33. Syst.Eleuth. ii. 427. 57. Payk. Faun. Suec. iii. 182. I7. Walck. Faun. Paris. i. 236. 13.
Long. Corp. I4. lin. Habitat Larva in Anglise Trifolii repentis capitulis, Imago in se- pi bus per to tam astatem obvia, et in tempore inflorescentiee
in
38 Mr. KifttJY on llerhsfs Genus Aplon.
in plantA supradictA frcquens uterque sexus. Mus. nostr. Var. /3. Mus. Dom. Marsham. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, subnilidum, glabriusciilum.
Caput panl6 longius qnam in hoc geiicre mos est, pimc- tulatum, inter oculos striatuluni. Jlosirum brevius ni- tidum, basi et apice paul6 crassius. yjH^CHHff longiores, pone medium rostri inserta;, basi testacea;. Oculi sub- pvominuli. Tiiuxcus angustus, subcylindiicus, punctulatissimus, posticb linea dorsali leviter CMaratus. PeJcv tiavi : apophysibus tarsisque nigris. Sciitellum minutissimum. Co/fop^ra globoso-ovata, striata: striis punctatis; inter- stitiis planixiscubs. Var. iS. Tibiis omnibus piccis. Obs.— In altero sexu rostruvi mediocre, Coleoptra ohlongo-ovata.
This insect, which I received from Sweden as Aitelabiis fiavipes of Fabricius, is not unconmion in this country : it may frequent- ly be met with, early in the spring, in hedge-rows and warm situations, but it deposits its eggs in the heads of wliite or Dutch clover {Trifolinm repens), in which the sexes may coiiimonly be found. I took it last summer (1805) in great numbers upon this plant in Suffolk, and afterwards in Middlesex; and Mr, Markwick, near Tunbridge. The insect which does so mucli damage to common clover is a distinct species from this, and it is remarkable, that so far as my observation has extended, these two species confine themselves each to its own kintl of clover^ without interfering the one with the other.
20. APION PALLIPES.
A. ninnmi, pcdibus testaceis: plantis nigris, iVontc canaliculata,
colcoptris oblongo-ovatis. Tab. \. f'g- 7.
Apion
Mr. KiRDY 071 llerhst's Gcnw Apion. 39
Apion pallipes. Mtis. D. Gyllenhal.
Long. Corp. 1^ lin. Habitat in AngliiB sepibus rariCis. Etiam in Suecii. Mus. nostr. DJiSCR. CORPUS nigrum, obscuriusculum, pilosulum.
Caput latum, punctulatum, inter oculos canaliculatum. Rostrum subn)ecliocre, glabrum, nitidum, apice pauli dilatatum. Antennce longiores, posticae, basi obscurfe riifae. OcuU prominuli. Tkuncus ex globoso teretiusculus, punctulatissimus, li- iieolA postic^ dorsali obsoletiuscula. Pedes testacci : tarsis nigris. Scutellum minutum. Cokoptra oblongo- ovata striata: striis punctatis; interstitiis planiusculis.
Var. iS. Rostro breviori, punctulato. An sex. alt.? Unless it be very closely examined, this insect is very liable to be confounded with Apion Jtavipes, yet it exhibits some very discriminating characters, which in a larger insect would at first sight establish its claim to be considered as a distinct species. The head is much wider in proportion; a single channel or fur- row, drawn longitudinally, distinguishes the space between the eyes; the rostrum is thicker and a little wider at the apex; and, to name no- other circumstance, the thorax is not nearly so nar- row, and of a different shape.^ Since I have both sexes of Apioi^. fiavipes, I can see that these are not sexual characters ; and froni the rostrum being shorter in variety /3 of Apion pallipes (a usual sexual distinction)' I may presume that I possess the sexes of the latter insect, in which case no doubt can remain of their being distinct. In the Swedish specimens of this insect, the channel between the eyes is not so visible as it is in the English onea.
21. APION.
40 Mr. KiUBY on Herbst's Getius Apion.
21. APION FAGI.
A. atrum glabrum, antennis basi femoribusque pallidis, coleop-
tris oblongis nigricantibiis. Tab. 1. Jig. 8. Curculio Fagi. L/hw. Sysf. Nat. Ed. 12. 6U. 44. Faim. Suec. 609.
If. Scan. 111. Gmel. UOl. 44.
Long. Corp. 1 J- lin. Habitat in Sueciae Fagi foliis. Linn. Mus. Linn, nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glaberrimum.
Caput punctulatum. llostrum longius, pone antennas "paul6 crassius et punctulatum. AntcnucE longiores, ■mediae, basi pallida. Oculi majusculi, parum pronii- riuli.
Truncus subcylindricus, punctulatissimus. Thorax pos- tic^ obsoletiils canaliculatus. Fcdes nigri : femoribus luteo-pallidis. ScuteUum minutissinium. Cokopira ob- 'longiuscula, nigro-picea cum levi tinctura viola;, sul- cato-striata : striis punctatis; interstitiis planiusculis.
Vat, /3. Tibiis anticis etiam pallidis.
This is one, amongst many, of the original Linnean insects, which appears not to be known by the entomologists of the present day. PaykuU candidly owns (Faun. Suec. iii. 268. 90.) Olim in Mon. Cure, sub nomine Cure. Fagi a me determinatus, {viz. Cure. Populi Fahr.) sed descriptio Linnceaua Cure. Fagi non quadrat, mihi igitur ille adhuc ignotus est.
I should conjecture, from Fabricius's altering the terms of Linne's description, that he had seen an insect which he took for Cure. Fagi, but since the true one would be an Attelahus ac- cording to his system, and he has kept his in Cui-culio,{Rhi/ncha'nus .Si/st. Eleuth.) and amongst the saltatorii^ — hence, I imagine,
that
Ml. Kiunv on Hahst's Genus yipkn. 41
that as yet he is unucquaiiitcd with it; and on this account I have not referred to him.
It will be expected that I assign my reasons for giving the in- sect here described as the genuine Cv.rculio Fagi of I/inne. INly dcscri()tion was taken from the original speciujcns still preserved in the Linnean Cabinet. These are fastened with gum upon a piece of paper inscribed by Linn6's own hand, which placed their identity beyond all question ; since the name, being written upon the same paper on which the insects are fastened, cannot have been changed even by accident.
That naturalists should have been at a loss about this species appears not so wonderful, when we consider that I-inne has placed it in an order to which it does not belong, namely amongst his Saltaioi-ii, femoi-'ibus posticis aassis. There is one circumstance mentioned in the description of Favti. Suec, which, if it had been observed, would have pointed out that this insect was in a wrong place — viz. Antenna: — infimo articiilo — vix reliquis longiore. In the curculios of that family, and indeed in all the genuine curculios, the first joint of the antennse is nearly as long as all the rest taken together, and forms an angle Avith them. Whether this insect be a jumper, having never seen a living spe- cimen, I cannot positively say; yet none of the species of the genus Jpion, that are known at present, are of that description ; and the posterior thighs of Apion Fagi are scarcely thicker than the four anterior, and therefore are not particularly adapted to such a mode of motion.
Scopoli has a Curculio Fagi, and Linne refers to him f«r it, hastily it should seem, and without sufficiently attending to his description. Totus 7iige7; villo brevi pubescens. Caput' gerit rostra niliilo brevius — neque dicendus longirostris. These are characters which are quite at variance with the genuine insect and his own description.
VOL. IX. G 22. APION
42 Mr. Kir BY on Herbst's Genus Apion.
22. APION ASSIMILE.
A. atrum glabruni, femoribus omnibus tibiisque anticis testaccis, coleoptris subellipticis.
Long. Corp. H lin. Habitat in Angliae TrlfoUi ochroleuci capitulis et foliis. Mus. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glabrum, obscuriusculum, tenue ad- modum.
Caput inter oculos striatulum. Roslnim mediocre, punc- tulatum, apice nitidum, pone antennas crassius. Anten- ncE longiores, mediae, basi picese. Oculi subimmersi. Truncus subcylindricus, angustus, punctulatissimus : punctis confluentibus, dorso postic^ subcanaliculatus. Pedes atri ; femoribus omnibus, apophysibus tibiisque anticis, his obscurb, rufo-testaceis. Scutelhim minutis- simum. Coleoptra aterrima, subelliptica, leviter striata : striis obsoletiiis punctatis; interstitiis planiusculis. Obs. — Alter sexus rostro longiori, thorace postice magis conspiciic canaliculato.
23. APION FLAVIFEMORATUM.
A. atrum glabrum, femoribus omnibus tibiisque anticis testaceis,
coleoptris globoso-ovatis gibbis.
Herbst. Natursyst. vii. 125. 14. t. 103. /. 2— B. Curculio Trifolii var. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 246. 22. Trans. Linn.
Soc. vi. 142. t. 5.f. a— d. Curculio ochropus. Miill. Zool. Dan. Prod. 9. 1018. Act. Nidros.
4—15. Gtnel. 1757. 203. Attelabus flavipes. Panz. Ent. Germ. 298. 22. Fau7u Germ. Init.
20. t. 13.? Le Becmare noir a pattes fauves. Geoffr. i. 272. 8.
Long. Corp. li— It lin.
Habitat
Mr. KiRBY 0)1 Ilerbsi's Genus Apion. 43
Habitat in Angliae TrifoUi pratensis satis, Larva semina cxedcns, Imago ubique frcqucntissiina per totum icvh annum.
DESCR. CORPUS atmm, glabiuni.
Caput punctulatuni, inter oculos rugulosum. Rostrum longius, filifornie, nitidum, punctulatum, nicdio paul6 ■crassius. Af>fe7mce mediocres, mediae, basi testacese. Oculi subrmmersi.
Truncus punctulatus, posticfe lineola dorsali exaratus. Pedes atri: femoribus omnibus, apophjsibus tibiisque anticis, at hi obscuriils, rufo-testaceis. Scutellum mi- nutissimum. Colcoptra subglo' osa sen ex globoso ova- ta, fornicata et ferfe gibba, nitidiuscula, nigra, nigrore saspius aeneo leviter infecto, striata: striis punctatis; interstitiis convexiuscailis.
Var. 0. Minor, antennis totis nigris. — y. Tibiis omnibus nigricantibus: annulo testaceo. Obs. — Sexus alter rostra mediocri.
The two insects last described, (namely Apion assimiie, and fiavifcmoratitm,) from their extreme similarity to each other, are very liable to be confounded; if, however, they be carefully examined, they will be found to possess characters sufficiently striking to entitle them to rank as distinct species. In Apion <tssimile (an insect which seems peculiar to Triflmm ochroleucum) the body is much narrower than is the case with the other, and not so shiniflg; the space between -the eyes, which are scarcely at all prominent, is furrowed, but not very distinctly; the an- tennae are piceous at the base; the trunk is nearly cylindrical; and the elytra subelliptical, with furrows slightly drawn. In Apion flavifemoratum the space between the eyes is rugulose; the body is wider in proportion than in the preceding; the elytra are
G 2 shining,
44 Mr. Kir BY ofi Hcrbst's Genus Aplon,
sliiiiing, black with a very slight asneous tinge, taken together they arc subglobosc, extremely convex, vaulted, and almost gibbous, with furrows deeper than those of yipioii asshnile; in evciy other respect it is the counterpart of that species.
Having said what appeared to me necessary to prove that these arc distinct species, I shall confine myself in what I have further to observe, to the one last described, Apion flavifemoratum, which is by far the most interesting of all, on account of the loss which it occasions to the agriculturist by the havoc it fre- quently makes in his crops of clover-seed ; for the account of which, and of the history and economy of this insect, I must refer the reader to the ingenious letters of Messrs. Markwick and Lelmiann contained in the 6th volume of the Linnean So- ciety's Transactions*; and next proceed to inquire whether this has a better claim to be considered as the Cure. TrifoUi of Linne, than Apion Malvaritm. I must observe that my specimens iden- tify with those sent me by Mr. Markwick as his insect.
The principal reason for regarding Apion flavifemoratum as Cure. TrifoUi, is taken from both of them feeding upon a species of the genus Trifolium ; but this circumstance, although it may furnish considerable presumptive evidence, is by no means a po- sitive proof that they are synonymous ; for we must recollect that Linn^'s insect feeds upon T. montanum, which is not a na- tive of Great Britain, whereas ours is confined to T. pratense, attacking no other species: now since, as we have seen above, both T. repens and T. oekroleucum supply each a peculiar species with food, so probably may T. montanum : therefore, before we can be clear as to the identity of the tAvo insects, we must com- pare ours with Linne's description of his : in this there are two circumstances that will not well accord with Apion jiavifemora-
* P. 142—150.
turn
Mr. KiRiiV on Ilcrbst's Get} us Apion. 4.5
turn — viz. femora jxillida — abdomen niveum : upon tlie former of these I will not lay much stress, (though Liniie elsewhere* ex- plains the icvm j)allidiis hy albiclo-flaviis, and the thighs of the clover weevil are riifo-testaceous,) but tiie latter will not by any jneans suit our insect, which has a naked black abdomen ; and in the many hundreds of specimens which I have examined, this part has never vaiied from that colour.
Whether what I have given above as such, or the insect now under consideration, be the tmc Jttelabus flavipes of I'abricius seems uncertain; his Nomen Specijicum defines it fcmoribus.ltilcis, but in his description (which is to be found only in his early work, Si/stema Entomologia 133.33.) he says pedibus Jiavis. In his later Avoiks he refers both to Geoffroy and Paykull, the for- mer of whom, b}' his Becmare noir a poties fatives, evidently in- tends J pio?i Jiavifemoratum, since he nays Tout r animal est d'un noir luisant, <) Vcxception des cuisses qui sont rougeatres. Whereas the latter as evidently had in his eye that which I have before synonymized with J//e/ai«s ^ai;/peA-; this appears by the terras employed in his Nomeii Specijicum, femoribus tibiisque flavis : since this last was sent me as Fabricius's insect by my learned and liberal correspondent Major Gyllenhal, avIio has better op- portunities than 1 have of knowing his sentiments, I have there- fore given it as Att.jiavipes. It is most probable, however, that Fabricius, in common with other entomologists, has confounded the two species.
I have added a mark of interrogation to the synonym of Pan- zer, because it seems to me uncertain Avhether his figure belono-s " to Apionflavifemoratum, or jipion flavipes^
Herbst's Apion jiavifemoratum (sent also by Major Gyllenhal) is synonymous with my variety /3.
* Faun. Suec. 180. C09.
^ 24. APION
46 Mr. KuiBY 071 ITcrhst's Genus Apion.
24. APION FILIROSTRE. A. atrmB glabrum, coleoptris subglobosis, rostro pedibasque
elongatis.
Long. Corp. 1-j- bn.
Habitat in Anglia rarissiraum. Mus. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glaberrimuni, vix nitidum.
Caput inter oculos striatulum. Twstrrm longius, subfih- forme, nitidum, levissimfc punctulatum, ante antennas subattenuatum. Antenn<z breviores, pone medmm ros- triinsertse. OcH/i subimmersi. Tpuncus subcybndricus, levissinlfe punctn atus, ante scutellum lineola obsoletius impressus. Tedcs elongati. Scutellum nnnntnm. Colcoptra ex globose ovata, striata: striis subpunctatis; intcrstitiis planiuscubs. Obs -Sexus alter rostro mediocri ; antennis mediis.
This insect very much resembles Apion fiavifemoratran, but xs at first si.ht to be disth^gmshed from it by its ontnely black egs I hlJ^t^ken two specimens only of it, upon what plant I d.d not observe.
25. APION SORBI. A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris globosis virescenti-cceruleis, rostra
^''IhrhT^^atursy.t. vii. 111. 9- /• 102. /• 9-1- eximia. A ttelabus Sorbi. L. Ent. S>jst. Em. i. b. 390. 29- Srjst. EleuiJu tt^52. Payk. Faun. Suec. uu nS. 12. Fan. Faun. Gernu
Init. 20. t. 11. .. . • o.n o,
Curculio viridescens. Mar.h. Ent. Bnt. .. 249- -1- Curculio l^evigatus. Fayk. Man. Cure. 133.
Long. Corp. 2 lin. rj i, ,
= '^ Habitat
Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Apion. 47
lluhitiit in Angliii tempore vernsili e rarioribus unum. Etiam in SucciA, ct GennaniA. Victus — Sorbi Ancupai'ue florcs, fructus, succus. Dom. Herbst. Mits. nostr. cJ. D. Spence, noslr. DESCR. CORPUS atriini, glaberrimum, nitidiusculum.
Caput brevissimurn, inter oculos rugulosum. Rostrum vix corpore brevius, apice paul6 dilatatum, ubi anten- nae inseruntur utrinque tumidulum. Anteiince breviores, pone medium rostro insidenles. Ocuii immersi. TiiuNCUs subglobosus, punctulatus: punctis confluenti- bus, posticc; dorso profunde canaliculatus. Scutdlum mihutissimum. Coteoptra globosa, viridescenti-caerulea, striata : striis quasi acu ductis, subpunctatis : intersti- tiis latis, planis.
Obs. — Mas fmmina dilfert rostro rniilto breviori, crassiori; antennis brevioribus ; elytris obscurioribus iiigris : nigrore ceneo aut viridi- <tneo pauliilum tincto.
Mr. Marsham's description of this insect was made when he was staying with me, from a specimen in my cabinet : seither of us at that time discovered it to be Attelabus Sorbi of Fabricios. I have since received it as such from Major Gyllenlial, and upon comparing it with the description of Fabricius, I am convinced that his specimens are rightly named. It is well figured in Panzer, and admirably by Herbst. CiircuUo Sorbi of Eittomolo- gia Britaniuca is quite a distinct insect, which I sliall hereafter describe. I have looked for this insect upon Sorbus Aiici/paria, where it was growing wild, but could never meet with it tiierc. I have generally found it in grass: but this circumstance probably was merely accidental. It is a rare insect, particularly that which, upon the authority of Major Gyllenhal, I have given as the male, which has been taken in Britain but once by Mr. Spence.
26. APION
48 Mr. KiuBT 0)1 TIerbst's Genus Ap'ion.
2(5. APION SUBSULCATUM. A. atram glabruni, coleoptris subglobosis cteruleis, rostro nie-
diocri capite intei* oculos ruguloso. Curculio subsulcalus. Marsh. Ent. Brit. \. '249- 32. Apion caTuleuni. Htrbst. Natiirsi/sf. vii. 123. 11. t. 10?:. f. 11— L?
Long. Corp. H lin. Habitat in Angliae Vicid Sepium. Miis. nostr. Dom. Spence. 13. y. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glabemmum, obscuriusculiim.
Caput longiusculum, inter oculos rugulosuni. Rostrum mediocre, filiforme, leviter punctulatuui. ylntenncE me- diocres, medice, attenuata; : clavil elongatiuscula. Oculi subimmersi. TiiuNcus angustiis, brevis, fere cylindricus, excavato- punctatus, dorso postice vix, ac ne vix, canaliculatus. Scutellum minutissinium. Cokoptra subglobosa, anioe- r\h caerulea, subsulcata: sulculis jucunde punctatis ; interstitiis planiusculis. Obs. — Thorax interdum posticc iiiagis conspicut canaliculatus. Van (o. Eljtris sulcoruni interstitiis convexis.
y. Thorace fossula aut linea nulla exarato.
S. Capite inter oculos trisulco.
Herbst's figure makes the rostrum longer than it is in our spe- cimens ; on this account I have added a mark of interrogation to his synonym. f2. may be distinct, but it differs in nothing but the convexity of the interstices of the strice. I took 5 upon the bean ; it may perhaps be distinct, but it differs in scarcely any point, except the furrows between the eyes.
27. APION FOVEOLATUM. A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris subglobosis caeruleis, rostro nie- diocri, fronte impress^ striata, thorace canaliculato.
Long.
Mr. KiRBY on Ilerhst's Genus Apion. 49'
Long. Corp. H lin. Habitat in Suecia : ex Mus. Dom. Gyllcnlial. /3. In Anglia : ex Mus. Dom. Lathbury. y. ex Mus. Dom. Spencc.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, obscurum, subglahrum.
Caput inter oculos foveA impressum, et in fovea striatu- lum. Rostrum submediocre, crassiusculum, punctula- tum. AntenncB mediocres, mediae : clavci crassiusculd. Oculi subprominuli.
Truncus anticii submarginatus scu coarctatus, excavalo- punctatus, dorso posticb canaliculatus. Scutdlum mi- nutissimum. Cokoptra ex obovato subglobosa, caerulea, pilositate qii&dam brevissima, et nisi sub Icnte forti vix conspicuA, obscurata, subsulcata: sulculis punctatis; interstitiis planiusculis. Var. jS. Frontis fove^ impressiori canaliculata, antennis ros-
tro longioribus, corporis pilositate magis conspicud, tiio-
race antic^ vix coarctato. An idem ? . y. Rostro longiori nitido, in medio supra inter antennas
puncto impresso, corpore glabriori. Obs. — Frontis fovea nisi a latere vix conspicienda.
This insect is very similar to Apion subsulcatum, but the head is wider, the eyes more prominent, and the space between them hollowed out into a concavity with one or more furrows ; the thorax or trunk, also, is of a shape rallier different and wider, with a much stronger dorsal furrow. A. differs from /3. and y. more than the sexes usually do, and may possibly be distinct; yet they are so extremely similar to each other, that I judged it best not to separate them. The former was sent me from Sweden as Attelabus cyanetis of Fabricius, and Apion sulcifrous of Herlwt, but I cannot think it is either. 'J'he character of At. ci/ai.eus — • thorax ntrinqtie tubercuto elevato — evidently does not belong to
VOL. IX. II this
50 Mr. KiRBV 071 Ilerbst's Genus Apion.
this species, and it certainly is not Herbst's insect, \vhich we shall shortly describe, whose admirable figure clearly points out the species he meant. The impressed point on the rostrum of Var. y. may perhaps be accidental.
28. APION PUNCTIFRONS.
A. atrum glabruni, coleoptris subglobosis ca:ruleis, rostro me- diocri, capite latiusculo inter oculos punctulato. Tab. 1. fig. 9-
Long. Corp. H lin. Habitat in Anglid semel lectum. Mas. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glaberrimum.
Caput longius et latins qu^m in plerisque praecedentibus, posticfe nitidum la;ve, inter oculos excavata-punctatum. 'Rostrum submediocre, punctulatum, crassiusculum. Antenna mediocres, mediae. Oculi prominuli. Truncus discretb excavato-punctatus, posticfe dorso ca- naliculatus. Scutellum satis conspicuum. Cokoptra sub- globosa, caerulea, sulcata: sulculis jucund^ punctatis; interstitiis convexiusculis. The insect I have here described is of the same habit with the two preceding ones, yet \ery distinct from either. The head is both wider and longer; the space between the eyes is punctu- late; and the furrows of the elytra are wider and deeper with convex interstices.
29. APION SULCIFRONS.
A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris subglobosis caeruleis, rostro rae- xliocri : basi crassiori, capite inter oculos trisulco,
Herbst. Natursi/st. vii. 132. 25. t. 103. /. 12— M. exirnia. Attelabus punctiger. Pai/L Faun, Siiec. iiu 179- 13-
Long.
Mr. KiiiBY o» Hirbsl's Genus Apion. 51
Long. Corp. 1-^ lin.
JIabitai in Angliae Viciit scpium., tempore vcrnali obvium. Mus.
nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, gUibcrrimum.
Caput inter oculos sulcato-striatum ; sulculis circiter tri-' bus. Rostrum mediocre, pone antennas crassius ob- scurius, apice nitidum. Aiitemne mediocres, pone me- dium rostri insertae : clava majuscula. Oculi promi- nuli. Truncus subcjlindricus, punctulis sine lente forti vix conspicuis levissijii^ notatus, unde laevior, quam in pie- risque, evadit, anticfe paulti angustior, dorso obsoletii^s canaliculatus. Scutelluin minutum. Coleoptra ex glo- boso obovata, nigro-ceerulea, striata: striis punctatis; interstitiis convexiusculis. ,
Obs. — In altera sexu rostrum hrevhts.
Herbst's figure so happily expresses the characters of this little insect, that it seems not easy to mistake it; yet his description would agree perhaps as well with Apion foveolatum, which, as I observed before, was sent me for it from Sweden. It is princi- pally distinguished from the three preceding species by having its rostrum thicker from the point where the antennae are insert- ed to the head (a circumstance not omitted in the figure above quoted); by its thorax so slightly punctulate as to appear nearly without points under a single lens ; by its elytra, which, taken too-ether, approach more to an obovate shape : besides this, three furrows are very conspicuous between the eyes. It is not un- common upon Vicia sepiitm, and I do not find it upon any other plant. Major Gyllenhal sends it as Attel. punctiger of Paykull : 1 had before regarded that as synonymous vfithAp. aterrmim,
but 1 yield to his authority, '
H 2 30. APION
52 Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Jpioit,
30. APION STRIATUM. A. atruni piloso-subincanum, coleoptris globosis sulcatis, thorace
canaliculate. Tab. Ti-ftg- 10. Curculio striatus. Marsli. Ent. Brit. i. 249. 30. Attclabus Pisi. Tabr. Sijst. Elcuth. ii. 425. 50.
Long. Corp. H 1J"« Habitat in AngliS, rarissimuui. Mas. noslr. DESCU. CORPUS atrum, pilositate parvfi albicanti obscurum. Caput latiusculum, inter oculos ruguloso-punctatum. Rostrum mediocre, nitidiusculum, leviter punctulatum. Antennce mediocres, pone medium rostro insidentes. Oculi subprominuli. Truncus coleoptris mult6 angustior, punctulatus, dorso canaliculatus. Scutellum minutissimum, et vix sub lente conspicuum. Coleoptra globosa, profundi sulcata : sul- cis punctatis; interstitiis planiusculis.
31. APION IMMUNE.
A. atrum piloso-subincanum, coleoptris globoso-cuneiforaiibus
sulcatis.
Long. Corp. 1 — li lin.
Habitat in Angliae Sparlio et Ulice. Mus. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, ex pilositate parvd albicanti sub-
obscurum.
Caput inter oculos striatum. Eostriim mediocre, leviter punctulatum, nitidum. Antenna mediocres, pone me- dium rostri inserlte. Oc«/J subprominuli. Truncus ex globoso teretiusculus, punctulatissimus : punctulis fer6 confluentibus, baud canaliculatus, sed puncto majori impresso ante scutellum notatus. Scu- tellum minutissimum. Coleoptra ex globoso obcuneata:
ano
Mr. KiKBY 0)1 Ilcrbst's Gcmis Apion. 5Z
ano obtusissimo, sulcata: sulculis punctatis; interstitiis niodice convexis. Var. )3 minor ; rostro breviori. This little insect is very nearly related to the preceding; it is however considerably smaller, the head between the eyes has two or three little furrows, the thorax has no dorsal channel, and the elytra, taken together, are longer in proportion. Var. /3. is scarcely half the size of «.
32. APION VIRENS.
A. atrum, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis caeruleis viridescent.busve striatis; stria suturali profundiori, thorace laeviusculo.
Var /3. Herbst. Natursysf. vii. 128. 18. t. 103. /. &—E?
Long. Corp. 1^5 — l^. Habitat in Angliae sepibus. Mits. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glabriusculum, nitidiusculum.
Caput vix punctatum, inter oculos rugulosum, in recenti insecto atrum cum levissimA tincturi aened. Rosirum mediocre, nitidum. Antennce mediocres, pone medium rostri insertae. Oc«/i subprominuli. Truncus ater, nigrore, in recenti insecto, leviter aeneo infecto, nisi sub lente forti vix conspicue punctulatus, puncto majori dorsali ante scutellum notatus. Scuiel- lum minutissinium. Colcoptra ex oblongo obovata, cae- rulea, sulcata: sulculo suturali in medio rcliquis pro- fundiori, in sulculis puncta impressa, interstitia sul- culorum convexiuscula. Var. /3. minor, capite thoracequc nigro-oeneis, elytris virides- centibus. ■ It is not easy to judge from figures of these minute insects,
the
54 Mr. IviRcy on Ilcrbsi's Genus Apion.
the distinctions of which cannot always be represented by the pencil, what species the author intends : that which Herbst has given o? Apion vircus, would agree equally well with several others; but, in his description, he mentions one circumstance which seems to justify my referring to him for the insect now before us. The head and thorax, he says, have a slight metallic tint, a character observable in both varieties of our Apion vi- renSf and not common in the genus ; in a. it fades, in the dead specimens, to nearly a black, but in /3., which appears to be Herbst's insect, it is more permanent.
. 33. APION MARCHICUM.
A. atrum, coleoptris oblongo-ovatis atro-caeruleis striatis : strii suturali profundiori, rostro brevi crassiusculo.
Herbst. Natiirsi/st. vii. 128. 19- t. 105. f. 7— G ?
Long. Corp. 1-^ lin. ■ Habitat in AngliA. Mus. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glaberrimum, nitidiusciilum.
Caput inter oculos trisulcum. Rostnim brevius, crassius-
culum. Antennce longiores, media?. Oculi prominuli. Truncus subcylindricus, leviter punctulatus : puncto majori dorsali posticfe insuper notatus. Scutellum mi- nutissimum. Colcoptra ex oblongo obovata, caerulea, sulcata: sulculo suturali in medio profundiori, in sulcis puncta impressa. Obs. — Sulculi frontales nisi sub triplici lente vix detegendi, inter- dum omnino absunt.
This little insect is so similar to the one before it, that T su- spect it may be only a sexual variety. The principal difference lies in the thickness and shortness, of its rostrum, and in the
three
Mr. KiRBY on Jlerhst's Germs Apion. 55
three little furrows usually observable in the space between its eyes. It answers tolerably well to Herbst's figure and description of his Apion tnarchkum, which, he observes, very much resembles Apion virens.
34. APION EBENINUM.
A. aterrimum nitidum, eoleoptris ovatis suleatis, thoracc lateri-
bus subgibbosis posticc latii!is canaliculato. I'ab. I. Jig. 11. Apion ebeninum. Mas. Dom. Gyllenhal.
Long. Corp. 1-j- lin.
Habitat in Suecifi, Anglia. A pud Blakenham Magnam prope Gippovicum julio medio 1B06 bis lectum.
DESCR. CORPUS aterrimum, nitidum, glabemmum.
Caput inter oculos, sed vix conspieu6, striatum, punc- tulis insuper quibusdam notatum, postie^ transversa elevatum. Rostrum mediocre, apice et medio subdi- latatum, leviter arcuatum, sub lente forti punctula mi- nutissima per totam ejus longitudinem sunt conspicien- da. Antennce subbreviores, medige. Oculi subimmersi. Truncus angustus, anticfcet posticfe subattenuatus, utrin- que anteriils gibbus, discrete punctulatus, ante scutei- lum sulco latiori quam in rehquis exaratus. Scutcllum minutissimum. Coleoptra ovata, sulcata : suleis punc- tatis ; interstitiis vix ipsis suleis latioribus valde con- vexis.
Obs. — Maris rostrum brevius robusiius.
35. APION ASTRAGALI.
A. aeneum nitidum, eoleoptris oblongo-ovatis cyaneis, thorace canaliculato. 2ub. I. Jig. 12.
Attelabus
56 Mr. KiUBV OH Herbst's Gams Apion.
Attelabus astragali. Pai/k. Faun. Succ. iii. 180. 15.
Lo»g. Cor|). 14- lin.
Habitat in foliis Astragali gli/cijphi/lii in KinnakuUe Westro-Go- thise. Dom. Gi/llenhal. Mas. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS feneum sen viridi-oeneum, glabrum, nitiduni. Caput inter oculos ruguiosuni. Rostrian mediocre, atrum, nitidum. Aiitenme mediocres, pone medium rostri in- sertai. Ocitli vix prominuli. Tkuncus discrete punctiilatus, dorse in medjo canalicu- latus. Tarsi nigri. Scutellum minutissimum. Coleoptra ovata, amoenfe cyanea, interdum violacea, striata: striis punctatis interstiliis vix convexis.
Var. /?. Elytris viridibus. This is one of the most elegant species of this gsnus ; it was sent me from Sweden by Major Gyllenhal, from whom Paykull oriffinally received it. Astragalus glycyphyllus is common in my neighbourhood, but I have not yet met with this little insect upon it.
36. APION SPARTII.
A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris obovatis, atro-caeruleis, fronte punctata, rostro mediocri.
Long. Corp. 1 lin. Habitat in Spartio sed rariiis. Mus. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glaberrimum, minimis nitidum.
Caput latiusculum, inter oculos punctulatum : punctis confluentibus. Rostrum mediocre, filiforme, nitidius- culum, per totam longitudinem punctulatum. Antennce mediocres, mediae. Oculi subimmersi.
Truncus
Mr. KiRRY on Ilcrbst's Genus Apion. 57
TuuNCUs vix capitc latior, subcylindricus, discl•et^!; sed leviter punctatus, puncto insuper niajoii ante scutcl- lum notatus. Scutellum ininutuiii. Cokoptra obovata, posticc gibbosiuscura, striata: striis impress^; puncta- tis ; iuterstitiis convcxiusculis.
37. APION S PENCIL
A. atrum piloso-obscuruni, thorace caiialiculato, colcoptris ob- longis atro-caeruleis, fronte striata, rostio piloso. Tab. I. Jig. 13. Long. Corp. 1^ lin. Habitat in Anglia. A Doni.Spence semcl lectum. Mm. D.Spencc. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, ex pilositate albidii obscurum.
Caput inter ocalos trisulcum. Rostrum suljmediocrc, cras- siusculum, reliquo corpore niagis pilosuni. AntenntE pone medium rostri in fossuld insertae, longiores. Oculi magni, ovales, prominuli.
Truncus brevis, antice angustior, ex globose teres, punc- tatus : punctis impressis subconfluentibus, supra medio canaliculatus, postic^ utrinque fove^ obsoletiuscula. Colcoptra obovato-oblonga, atro-caerulescentia, striata : striis concinnfe punctatis; interstitiis planis.
This species bears considerable resemblance to the preceding, but it is much larger, and hairy ; the eyes are proportionally larger, between which, under a good lens, may be discerned three little furrows, not discoverable in Apian Spartii. The tho- rax also is canaliculate, with lavger puncta, and more deeply im- pressed. It stands unique in the collection of my friend Wil- liam Spence, Esq. F.L.S., whose name it bears ; a tribute justly •due to one of the most acute and learned entomologists of this island.
VOL. IX. I 38. APION
38 Mr. KiRDY 071 llerhst's Genus Apion.
38. APION LOTf.
A. nigrum piloso-subincanum, coleoplris obovatis, lostro longioii.
Long. Corp. 1^ lin.
Habitat in Anglite Lofo coniiculato. Mas. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS nigrum, nitidiusculum, ex pilositatc parvti subincanum.
Caput punctulatum : rugulis 2 seu 3 inter oculos. Ro,s- fntm longius, arcuatum, filiforme, nitidissirauni. An- ten)i(£ breviores pone medium rostri insertoe. OcuU subimmersi.
Tr UNCUS ex globoso teretiusculiis, confluenter punctu- latus, puncto majori excavato ante scutellam notatus. Scutellum minutum. Coleoptra obovata, striata: striis punctatis ; interstitiis convexis.
39. APION UNICOLOR.
A. atrum subpilosum, coleoptris oblongis, rostro mediocri sub- crassiori.
Long. Corp. li lin.
Habitat in AngliA. Mas. Dom. Spence.
DESCR. CORPUS angustum satis, atrum, subpilosum.
Caput thorace paul6brevius, punctulatum, inter oculos bistriatum: striolis approximatis. Rostrum mediocre, crassiusculum, leviter punctulatum, reliquo corpore ma- gis pilosum, apice nitidum, medio paul(!> inciassatum et subtils tumidulum seu gibbum, supra inter antennas puncto gemino elevato notatuni. Oculi subimmersi. AntenniE submediocres pone medium rostri insertse.
Truncus antice capitis latitudine, postic6 transversa sub-
depressus
Mr. Kii^^V 0'* Herfjst's Genus Apion. 59
depressus et l^tiqr, ej^cavatq-punctatus, lineola ante scutellum exaratus. Coleoptra oblonga, apice obtusfe subacuminata, sulcato-striata : striis punctatis; inter- stitiis convcxis. This insect comes very near to yl. Loti, but the rostrum is con- siderably thicker, somewhat tumid in the middle, and under- neath (just before the insertion of the antennae) gibbous; it is distinguished likewise, if this circumstance be not accidental, by a pair of minute elevated points between the antennae. The head, viewed from before, has, two little striae between the eyes,; and the thorax has not the smajlest tendency to a, globose figure.
40. APION ATOMARIUM.
A. atrum piloso-incanum, coleoptris ov.atis, rosti'o longiori, tho-
race brqvi. Tab. l.fig. 14, Apion atomarium Mus. Dom. Gyllenhal.
Long. Corp. 3- lin. Habitat in Suecia. Mus. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, totum pilis albicantibus incanum. Caput breve. J?os/r?/;n longius, valde arcuatura, filiforme, laeve, nitidum, glabrum, basi linea transversa elevatius- culcl. Antenna postica^ breviores. Oculi magni, subim- mersi. Truncus brevissimus, ex globoso teretiusculus, postic6 paul6 latior, lineolfl punctove dorsali ante scufellum aut obsoleto aut nullo. Coleoptra ovata, striata: striis punctatis; interstitiis convexiusculis. This is the most minute species of this genus, with v.hich I am at present acquainted. It was sent me by my liberal friend Major Gyllenhal, and is clearly distinct from every other.
I 2 41. APION
6'0 31): KiKBY on Ilerbsl's Getius Apion.
41. APION ATERRIMUM.
A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris subovatis nitidiusculis atro-cifiru- leis, rostro mediocri.
Curculio aterrimus. Linn. Si/.tf. Nat. Ed. 12. 6O7. 10. Favn.
Snec. 582. Apion ^Ethiops. Herbst. Natursi/sf. vii. 130. 21. f. 103./. 9. I. .
Long. Corp, 14- lin. Habitat in Sueci4, Germania. Mus. Linn. DESCR. CORPUS aterrimum, glabrum.
Caput thoracis ferfe latitudine, inter oculos rugulosum. Rostrum mediocre, filiforme, pone antennas punctula- tum, apice nitidiusculum. Antenna mediocres, medige. Oculi subimmersi.
Truncus punctulatus, lineola dorsali nuM. Coleoptra subovata, nitide nigra sen potiCis atro-caerulea, subsul- cata : sulculis concinne punctatis ; interstitiis planius- culis.
The label affixed to the specimen of this insect preserved in the Linnean cabinet appears to be the hand-writing of the younger Linne ; it agrees, however, so well with the father's de- scription of his Ctirc. aterrimus, that I' have little doubt of its being synonymous with it. That which Fabricius has given for C. aterrimus is a very different insect*, belonging to the Linnean division, Longirostres femoribus dcntatis, which appears to be the same with Mr. Marsham's Cure, atramentarius-^, Herbst's descrip- tion of his Apion JEthiops answers to our insect in every particu- lar. Mr. Marsham's Cure, aterrimus is a different species, which
* Ent. Syst. Em. i. b. 439. 189. Syst. Eleuth, ii, 4«a. 225. Rhynchaenus. t Marsh, Ent. Brit, i. 293. 163.
I shall
Mr. KiuBY on Herbst^s Genus Apion. 6l
I shall soon notice. Gmelin has omitted Apioji aterrimum alto- getiier.
42. APION TENUE.
A. aterrimum angustum subglabrum nitidiusculum, coleoptris oblongis, rostro mcdiocri.
Long. Corp. 1 lin. Habitat in Anglic rariils. Mus. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS tenue, nitidiusculum, aterrimum, nigrore pube quadam parvd (nisi sub lente forti vix distinct^ conspi- '• cuk) paululi^m obscurato.
Caput thorace paul6 brevius, punctatuni punctis con- • fluentibus. Rostrum mediocre, nitidum. Antennce sub- longiores, pone medium rostro insidentes. Ocu/^pro- minuli.
Truncus cylindricus, vix capita latior, punctulatus, puncto majori dorsali postic^ notatus. Scutelluvi mi- nutissimum. Coleoptra oblonga, striata: striis sub- punctatis; interstitiis planiusculis.
43. APION SENICULUS.
A. atrurti angustum piloso-canescens, coleoptris ovato-oblongis,
rostro longiori.
Long. Corp. I4. lin. Habitat in Anglid semel lectum, in Suecid frequentiiis. Mus.
nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS tenue, atrum, pilis brevissimis decum- bentibus albidis incanum.
Caput thorace brevius, inter oculos vix punctatum. Ros- trum longius, nitidum. Antenna mediocres, pone me- dium rostri insertae. Oculi prominuli.
Truncus
63 Mr. Ktrby on Herbs f's Genus Avion.
, ■ .1. . ". \ 'V •',>■'■■".. -.-^ . '
Truxcus postice paul6 latior; antice maro-ine ex piUs tenuissimfc albo, levissinife punctulatus, puncto insuper majoriantescutellum notatus. Scutellum niinutissimum. Coleoptra oblongo-ovata, leniter striata: striis subpunc- tatis ; interstitiis planiuscuUs. Obs. — Alter scxus rostro mediocri.
This insect and the preced,ing are very nearly related, but the species now described is quite hoary with do\vn or ha,ir; its hea,d is shorter than that of Anion teniie ; its thorax proportionally
wider, and the rostrum longer. The body of both is remarkably
.. I'll'. Ml, .\ ;• I 1 ?i 1 1 ..',i(n (.* .ni r. i;i,j;;ji! .'...uu-' slender.
44. APJON CO,NF]^yENS. A» atrum angustum piloso-subincanum, coleoptris oblongo-ova- tis, fronte bisulco, antennis posticisj rostro mediocri. Tab. 1.
fg.l5. ' . .
l^ong. Corp. 1-1- lin.
Habitat in Anglic semel lectum. Ex Mjus. Dom. 3heppard. Di^SCJ^,. CORIi*,yS atrum, tenue, pilositate parva. leviter iu- canum.
Caput lajviusculum, inter oculos sulculis duobus postice approximatis, vel.fert; in litertc V figuram conflucntibus profundius exaratum. Rostrum mediocre, nitidijm.' AntcnncE postice, sublongiores. OcuU prominulj. Truncus capite vix latior, leviter punctulatus, lineohi dorsali postica exaratus. Scutellum minutum. Coleop- tra oblongo-ovata, subnitida, striata: striis levissimtj punctatis. In habit this little Apion agrees Avith Ap. ^en?<e.and Sgniculus, it is nevertheless quite distinct from them. It was taken by my indefatigable friend, and the pleasant companion of many an entomological walk, the Rev. Kevett Sheppard, F.L.S-
,ar..o.q ..0. ^ ^^:-^ ^- ^^ 45; aPION
3/r. KiRBY on Ilerbst's Genus Aphiu 63
45. APION GYLLENHALII. A. atrum subangustum piloso-obscurum, coleoptris oblongiiis-
culis, antennis piceis, rostro longiori. Apion Pisi. Mus. Dom. Gyllenhal. Curculio flavipes (3. y. Fayh Mon. Cure. 144. 135. Attclabuj flavipes (2. y, Payk. Faun. Suec. iii. 18'2. J?.
Long. Corp. 1 ! lin. Habitat in Suecia, in fbliis Betulce albce. Dom. PaykuU. Mus. D.
Marsliani. M'Leay. Nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, subangustatum, pilositate quadam cinerascenti obscurum.
Caput valde angustum, vi'x rostro latius, elonga'tum, corifluenter punctulatum, inter oculos ruguloso-striatii- luni, pbstice transverse elevatuni. Rostrum longius, filiforme, leniter arcuatum, punctulatum. Anhnn<e mediocrcs, mediae, nigro-piceae ba'si rufescentes. Octili immersi. Teuncus brevis admodum, ferc^ cylindricus, excaA^ato- punctatus: punctis subconfluentibus, lineola dorsali postice exaratus. Coleoptra ex ovato oblonga, striata : striis punctatife ; interslitiis planiusculis. Yar. 13. Corpore miniis piloso, elyt'ris atro-Caeruleis. Major GyllenhJtV serids itld this' insect" for A'ttelabiis PiU of Fabricius, and likewise regards it as synonymous with ylpmi Mthiops of Herbst : yet, with all deference to the authority of so judicious and skilful an entomologist, I must venture to dis- sent from him upon this occasion, for this insect does not appear to me to answer the description of either of these authors. Fabri- cius says of his Att. Pisi "coleoptris globosis," a character A^liMi' will liotSvell suit j)jion'G^//e«//rt7», whose elytra, taken ' - together,
64 Mr. KiEiiY on Herhst'n Genus Apion.
together, are oblong rather than globose, but agrees perfectly Avilh Apion striatum, which I have given above as synonymous Avith it. Ilcrbst's dcscrii)tion oi' Apion JEthiops agrees better with Apion aterriminn, to which 1 have referred it, than with the insect before us, for, he says, the thorax has no impressed stria; and, moreover, so accurate and minute a describer would not have overlooked the hair on the body, or the unusual colour of the an- tennae. On these accounts I have given this as a new species, and named it after the kind and liberal friend and correspondent, as well as learned and experienced entomologist, who sent it me.
Paykull has considered it as a variety of Apion Jlavipes, ex- pressing, however, a suspicion that it may be distinct: it has certainly no relation, except being of the same genus, to that species. Major Gyllenhal regards Var. /3. (which is Attel. Jla- vipes y of Paykull) as Herbst's Ap. marchiciim; the insect ■which I have given above under that name, is more nearly re- lated to Ap. virens, which makes me consider my reference as most correct, since Herbst says that it is uncommonly like that species.
46. APION MELILOTI.
A. atrum subangustum, coleoptris obovatis viridescenti-caeruleis, an tennis mediis, rostro longiori.
/3. Apion angustatum. Mus. Dom. Gyllenhal.
Long. Corp. 1^ lin. Habitat in Angliae Trifotio Meliloto rariiis. /3. in Suecid. Mus.
nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, tenuiusculum, pilositate parvS ra- riiis conspersum.
Caput vix thorace brevius, punctulatum, inter oculos
rugulosum
Mr. KiuijY on Ilerhsi's Genus Apion. 65
iiigulosum fovcola iiisi a latere vix conspicua subim- pressuni. Rostrum longiiis, fili forme, valdc arcuatuni, iiitiduni. Antenu(c mediocres, media?. OcuU subpromi- nuli.
TituNCUS puiutulatiis, jjostice litieola dorsali exaratus.
Scutcllum niiiuitissimum. Coleopfra oljovata, viridcs-
centi-crerulea, sulcato-striata : striis punctatis ; intcr-
stitiis planiusculis.
^'ar. /3 piloso-subincanum, eljtris corpori coiicoloribiis. An
idem ?
47. APION VIOLACEUM.
A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris oblongo-obovatis violaceis, rostro brevi crassiusculo. Tab. 1. Jig. 16.
Apion cyanevim. Ilerhst. Naiursijst. vii. 108. ?. t. 102. /, 7 — G.
ArcJi. iv. t. 24. /. .5. Curculio Fagi Var. Mus. Linn.
Long. Corp. Ia lin. Hahitai in Angli^i, Suecid. Apud Kesgrave prope Gippovicum in terram apud Hunstanton in Norfolci^ in Itutnke lectum. Mus. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glaberrimum.
Caput thorace paulA brevius et angustius, inter oculos ex punctis confluentibus rugulosum et obsolete canali- culatuni. rws/rum brevius, crassum magis quam in hoc generc plerumque accidit, punctulatum: apice summo la3\i nitidissimo. Antenna: posticaj, sublon- giores: clava admodum crassi). Oc«/i subprominuli.
TitUNCUS cjlindricus fere, punctulatissimus, puncto in- super excavato dorsali ante scutcllum notatus. Scu- tellum minutissimum. Coleoptra ex oblongo obovata, amrcnl' violacea, moliiuscula, ex pubc parv4 (nisi sub vor,. IX. K lento
66 Jl/r. KiRBV on TIerhst's Genus Jpion.
Icnte forti baud conspicuu) obscura, sulcato-striata : striis punctatis ; interstitiis convexiusculis. Herbst's Jpion cyaneum aj^pears to be a variety of this insect ■vvitli blue elytra. It cannot be Attcl. ci/aneiis of Fabricius, as this author indeed suspects, because it wants the tubercles on the thorax, peculiar to that species ; which also is clearly not Cure, cyaneus of Linne, though given as such ; for two cha- racters mentioned in Faun. Suec. (581) are quite at variance with the Fabrician insect, viz. Pedes fcrrnginei. Scutcllum piivc- tum album. There is no specimen of Cure, ctjaneus now in the Linnean cabinet. Aplon v'lolaceum, in that collection, is gummed upon the same paper Avith Apion Fagi, from which it should seem that Linne regarded it (although he no Avhere notices it) as a variety merely of that insect. It certainly agrees M'ith it in habit and shape, but the different colour of the legs and elytra seems to furnish a sufficient distinction. There are no beech trees in the neighbourhood of the place Avhere I first took it.
48. APION HYDROLAPATHI.
\\. atrum glabrum, coleoptris oblongo-obovatis caeruleis virides-
centibusve, rostro brevi crassiusculo. Tab. I.^fig. 17. Curculio Ilydrolapathi. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 249. 33.
Long. Corp. H — H. Habitat in Angliae Rumicibus Lapaihis frequens. Mus. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glaberrimum.
Caput thoracis fer^ longitudine et latitudine, punctatum, inter oculos ex punctis confluentibus confertim stria- tum. Rostrum, pro hoc gencre, brevissimuin, ncc capite longius, punctulatissimimi, obscurum, supra planius- culum. Antenna pone medium rostri insertae, longiores: clavA crassiuscula. Oculi subprominuli. Troncus subcylindricus confluenter punctulatissimus,
lineoU
Mr. KiRBY on Herbst's Genus Apion. 67
lineolci dorsali, posticc impression, longitudinaliter exa- ratus. Scutellum minutissiinuni. Coleoptra ex oblongo obovata, caerulea aut viridescentia, nitidiuscula, stri- ata : striis punctatis ; interstitiis planiusculis. This insect is nearly related to the preceding species, but the rostrum is shorter in proportion ; the thorax, instead of an im- pressed point, has a longitudinal furrow ; the elytra of the malfe are blue, and those of the female green ; the furi'ows also of the elytra are more lightly drawn, with flat interstices. When I originally sent this species to Mr. Marsham, I had observed it only upon water dock ; I have since taken it, and more plenti- fully, upon the common dock, so that perhaps its trivial name might better be Apion Lapathorum.
49. APION RUMICIS.
A. atrum subglabrum nitidiusculum, coleoptris obovatis obtusis violaceis nigrisve, rostro mediocri.
Long. Corp. H lin. Habitat in Angliai Rumice obtiisifolio. Mm. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, subglabrum, nitidiusculum.
Caput breve, punctulatum. Rostrum mediocre, punc- tulatum, crassiusculum. Antennce mediae, sublongiores: clavA crassiuscula. Oculi vix prominuli.
TuuNCus discrete punctulatus, lineol^ dorsali postic^ exaratus. Scutellum minutum, at satis conspicuum. Coleoptra obovata, atro-violacea, obtusa, striata : striis punctatis ; interstitiis planiusculis.
Var. f2. Totum atrum, rostro quam in « crassiori et paul6 breviori.
K y
50. APION
68 Mr. KiRBY on Hcrbst's Genus Apion.
50. APION AFFJNF.
A. atruin glabrum niticliiisculum, coleoptris obovatis oljtuyis viridescentibuSj rostro brcA-iori crassiusculo. • Long. Corp. i± I'm. Habitat in Angliii a Dom. Spence Tectum. Miis. D. Spence. Nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glabrum, nitidulum.
Caput magnum satis, punctulatum. Hostrum brevius, admodilm crassum, subfiliforme. Antenna medife me- diocres; clava crassiuscula. Oc(/ /i subprominuli. Truncus ex globose teretiusculus, excavato-punctulatis- simus, ante scutellum puncto majori seu lineol^ exa- ratus. Coleoptra ex globoso obovata, viridescentia, apice obtiisa, striata: striis punctatis ; interstitiis planis.
Obs. — Alter sexus rostro mediocri tenuiori.
This species is closely allied to the preceding ; it differs prin- cipally in size, being considerably larger ; the head is bigger in proportion ; the thorax inclines more to a globose form, and the elytra are of a different colour, and proportionally wider.
51. APION BREYIROSTRE. A. atrum obscurum subpilosum, coleoptris subovatis, rostro
breviori crassiusculo. Ihrhst. Natursijst. vii. 130. 22. t. 103. /. 10— K ?
Long. Corp. H lin. Habitat in Anglid, Suecid, Germania. Mus. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum obscurum, pilositate parv4 leviter iqcanum.
Caput punctatum, inter oculos ex punctis confluentibus rugulosum. Rost rum hrevius, crassiusculum, punctatum,
apice
\
Mr. KiifBV on TIerhd's Gams Apion. 69
apice nitiduni. ylntenncc nxeAivei, longiores : clavA cras- siiisciilii. OcuU vix promiuuli. 'J'uuNcus suhcylindriciis, excavato-piinctatus, lincolii dorsali posticc exaratus. Sciitelluin miiiutissimum. Cokoptra subovata, sulcata: sulculis punctatis; inter- stitiis planiiisciilis.
There is considerable affinity between the pi'esent species and that which precedes it; but it is hairy, the rostrum is shorter and thicker, and the furrows of the elytra are more deeply drawn. It was- sent me by Major Gyllenhal as the Apion brevirostrc of Herbst, yet it does not altogether agree with that author's de- scription ; for he says of his '. " The thorax is rather broad, Avith- out the impressed stria. The elytra have a viridi-aeneoiis tint, and fine furrowed striae — it is not easy to. sec whether they are punctured." These characters are not to be found in our insect, in which the thorax is narrow, Avith an; impressed stria behind. Its elytra have no viridi-a;neous tint, and the punctures of the striae are sufficiently visible..
■ 59. APION HOOKER!.. A. atrum obscuriusculum, thorace globoso. Tab. V. Jig. 18.
Long. Corp. \\ lin.
Habitat in Anglic, a Dom. W.J. Hooker bis lectum. Mus. D. ^looker, Nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, ex pube parv4 haud facil^ con- spicuii obscurura.
Caput brevissimum, inter oculos laeviusculum. Roatrum mediocre, pone antennas paul(i incrassatum. Antenna mediocres, posticee. Oculi subimmersi.
Truncus globosus, puDCtulatissimus postic6 lineola vix
bene
70 Mr. KiRBY on TIerbst's Genus Apioii.
bene conspiciiA exaratus. Coleoptra oblongiuscula, certo situ et sub luce viriditate levissimi imbuta, stri- ata: stiiis punctatis ; interstitiis planis. This species seems nearly related to a North American Apion, described by Herbst under the name of Apion nigrum, (Natur- syst. vii. 13'2. 24. /. 103. /. 1 1— L.) but if, by the temi "granu- lated," he means that the thorax is covered with elevated points, his insect is materially dift'erent from ours.
I am indebted to the kindness of an excellent naturalist, Mr. W. J. Hooker of Norwich, who iirst discovered it, for this spe- cies. jNIany other nondescripts have been taken by him and his brother Mr. J. Hooker, and I name this insect after them as a memorial of my sense of their ability and exertions in the service of my favourite department in natural history.
53. APION L^VIGATUM.
A. atrum laeviusculum, coleoptris ovatis violaceis obsolete stri- atis.
Long. Corp. 1\ lin. Habitat in Anglia rarissim^. In arenario quodam prope Gippo-
vicum a Dom. Sheppard bis lectum. Mus. D. Sheppard. DESCR. CORPUS lanceolatum, glaberrimum, Ifeviusculum, atrum.
Caput inter oculos striatulum: striolis 4 seu 5. Rostrum longius. AntenncB longiores, posticae, nitidiusculae : clav.1 parvd admodi^m. Truncus cylindricus : dorso leevi ; lateribus punctulatis. Pedes pilis albidis rariiis adspersi. Scutellum minutissi- nium. Coleoptra obovata, araoen^ violacea, substriata : striis levissimfe impressis attamen punctatis.
This insect, taken only by Mr. Sheppard, is one of the most
distinctly
Mr. KiuBY on Ilei'lat's Genus Apion. 71
distinctly marked, and at the same time one of the most elegant, species of the genus. It appears never to have been noticed before.
54. APION ONOPORDI.
A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris ovatis nitide viridi-ajneis ca^rules- centibusve, thorace scabro.
Long. Corp. I4. lin. Habitat in Anglian Onopordo frequens. Mas. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glabrum, nitidiusculum.
Caput breve, punctatum, posticfe elevatum, antic^ de- pressum, inter oculos rugulosum sen punctatum punctis confluentibus. Rostrum mediocre, apice nitidum, pone antennas paul^ incrassatum. Antenna sublongiores, posticse : clav4 ovat^. Octdi prominuli. Truncus subcylindricus, punctis niagnis valde excavatis confluentibus scaber, posticfe lineola dorsali profundiCis exaratus. Scutellum minutissimum. Colcoptra ovata, vi- ridi-aeneo nitidula, sulcata: sulculis subpunclatis ; in- terstitiis planiusculis.
Obs. — Alt. Sex. Rostro longiovi..
Var. /3. Elytris viridi-ca^rulescentibus.
y. atro-caerulcis.
Panzer's figure of wliat he gives for Attelahus Cracca of Fa- bricius {Faun. Germ. Init. 20. t. 10.) is very similar to this in- sect; but since his is found upon Vicia Cracca and other vetches, and ours only upon Onopordum Acanthium, I imagine we mean distinct species. Sometimes the hinder part of the head is drawn into the thorax, in which case it does not show the ele- vated part.
55. APION
7- Mr. KiUBY on IJcrht's Genus Apion.
i
55. AVION CARDUORUM.
A. atruni, ct)leoptris ovatis obsciiris viridcscentibus ca'rukis\e,
rostro basi utrinque gibbo. l\il>. \. Jig. 19. Curculio Sorbi. Marah. Ent. Brit. i. 244. 13. Ciiiculio cjaneus. Dc Gecr. x. 2.52. 41. Ath'labiis ;tiicns /3. Pr/y/r. Taun. Siiec. hi. 180. 14. Apion gibbirostrc. Mtis. Djuu. Gj/Ilenhnl. Apion Alliariie. Ilcrbst. Natiirsyst. vii. 104. 3. t. 102./. 3— C.^
liOng. Corp. li lin. Habitat in Angliiv; Carduis f'requens, item in Suecia. Miis. nostr. DX^SCR. CORPUS atrum, pilositate parv& obscurum.
Caput inter oculos striato-rugulosuni, fovefi levitcr ini- pressuni. Rostrum longius, pinictulatum, apice nitiduni, basi latins, et insnper utrinqne dente brevi sen tu- berculo acutiusculo, quo insidunt antennae, munitum. Antciince longiores, posticse. Ocitli subprominuli. Trtncus cylindricus, leviter pnnctulatus, postice lincola dorsali exaratus. Scutellum niinutissimuni. Co/coptra oblongo-ovata, viiidescentia ant caerulea, ex pilositate obscura, striata : striis punctatis ; interstiliis planius- culis. That this is the Curculio cyanciis of De Geer, and Attduhus (eneus, variety /3, of Paykull, appears not only from their re- spective descriptions, but also from the circumstance of their finding it upon the thistle; (it is the only species I find upon that plant in this country) yet is it neither Curculio cyuneus of Linnc, (for reasons before assigned) nor a variety rtf Attclabus ceiieus of Fabricius, for it is considerably smaller than the latter insect, and wants the remarkable furrow between the eyes which distinguishes it; its elytra also are of a difl'crent colour, with
punctured
-^.
Mr. KiRBY on Ilerhst's Genus Apion. 73
punctured stria;. The Apio7i Ilcrbst has given for Ciirailio AUi- uv'uc Linn., comes very near to this ; but he describes the furrows of the elytra as not being punctured, which renders his synonym dubious.
56. APION RADIOLUS.
A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris ovatis acutis nigro-aeneis, antennis posticis, rostro mediocri.
Curculio Radiolus. Marsh. Etit. Brit. i. 247. 25.
Long. Corp. 14- lin. Habitat in Anglia. Domina Hill. Mas. Dom. Marsham.
DESCR, CORPUS atmm, glabrum, radium textoris quodam- mod6 referens.
Caput inter oculos rugulosum. Rostrum mediocre, mo-
dich crassum. Antennce posticse. Tr UNCUS levissim^ punctulatus. Cokoptra ovata, acuta,
nigro-ajnea, subsulcata : sulculis vix conspicu^ punc-
tatis ; interstitiis convexiusculis.
57. APION OXURUM.
A. atrum, coleoptris ovatis acutis caeruleis viridescentibusve, antennis posticis, rostro mediocri.
Curculio aterrimus. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 244. 14!
Long. Corp. 2 lin. Habitat in Angliie Mulvis frequens. M«5. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS atrum, nitidum, pilositate parvA rariils adspersum.
Caput inter oculos ex punctis confluentibus rugulosum. Rostrum mediocre, nitidum, punctulatum, medio sub- attenuatum. Antenna longiores, posticae. Oadi sub- prominuli.
'^^^^ ^^- i " Trcncus
74 Mr. KiRBY on Herhst's Genus Apion.
Tjuincus levissime et creberrime punctulatus, poslict;
lineolA, dorsali exaratus. ScuicHum minutissiinuni. Co-
leoptra ovata, acuta, atFo-ci^nilea, striata; striis sub-
punctatis ; interstitiis convcxiuscuiis.
Obs. — Alter sexiis variat corpore i)iag)s piloso, capife pimctiihito, et
inter octilos insiiper obsolete canalicnlato, rostra subjilifonhi piinc-
tnlis admodum conspicuis obscurato, et, postremo, eli/tris virides-
centibus.
Mr. Marsham entertained doubts, whether this Avas the Cnr- aiUo ate'rrimus of Linn6 : in my opinion, that wliich I have de- scribed above from the Linnean cabinet possesses a stronger claim to be considered as the true one ; but the description in Fauna Suecica, unless the original specimen had existed, is too general to decide the question. Linne says, however, Eli/tra punctis striata, which will scarcely agree with Apion oxurum, in which the punctures in the furrows of the elytra are not easily discoverable. The term punctis striata, taken in strictness, should signify that the elytra had no furrows, but merely punc- tures arranged in lines, a circumstance observable in no insect of this genus, that I have ever examined.
58. APION ^NEUM.
A. atrum glabrum, coleoptris ovatis acutis aeneis viridescente-
ceeruleisve, fronte caijaliculata.
Herbst. Natursyst. vii. 101. 1. t. 102./^-. 1— A. Attelabus eeneus. Fubr. Ent. Si/st. Em. i. b. 389- 23. Syst. Eleut/u
ii. 423. 37. Panz. Ent. Germ. 296. 11. Pay k. Faun. Suec. iii.
179- 14. Curculio Eeneus. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 243. 13. Gmel. 1748. 132. nil. Ent. Eur. i. 187- 41. iv. 267- Payk. Mon. Cure. 134.
Var. /3.
Mr. Kiimv on Ilerhst's Genus Apion. 75
\i\T. (3. Curculio chalceiis. Marsh. Ent. Brit, i, 243. 12. Attelabus cyancus. Panz. Faun. Germ. Init. 20. t. 12.
Long. Corp. 2 Jin. Habitat in AnglifB Mulvis et Columniferis. Mus. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS atrum, glaberrimum, nitidiusciiluin.
Caput postice laevissimum, inter oculos punctulatum, siilco intcrmedio profundius exaratum. lio^trum paul6 brevius, crassiiisrulum, piinctulatissimum, apud an- tennaruni insertionem utiinque tumidulum. Antenmc paulc) longiores, pone medium rostro insidcntes. Oculi subprominuli.
Thuncus lenitcr et creberrim^ punctulatus, antice sub- marginatus, postice lineola ante scutellum exaratus. Scutellum minutum. Coleoptra ovata, a;neo nitidula, striata: striis impunctatis; interstitiis convexiusculis. ' Van ,3. Rostro breviori quam in «, thorace postice puncto mipresso uec lineolti, elytris viridescente-caTuleis. Mr. jNIarsham observes under his Curculio aneus, speaking of its resemblance to tlie preceding species {Curculio chalccus)—An .specie, (hsiincia? An scads differentia? When we consider that these are in almost every respect the counterparts of each other, even to the little channel drawn visibly between the eyes differing scarcely in any thing except- a slight variation in the colour of the elytra, we shall be inclined to adopt the latter opinion, especially when the following circumstance, that they feed together upon the same plants, is taken into consideration. Infiuenced by these reasons, 1 have given them ..s varieties Va- riety /3 IS evidently Panzer's Attelabus cyancus, who took it upon Alcea rosea, a plant upon which it abounds, as well as on other
^ ^ Columnifcr(F,
76 Mr. KiRBY on Berhst's Genus Apion,
Columuifcm, in our gardens. Had it the tubercles upon the thorax, I should consider it as the Attelahus ajaneus of Fabricius, to whose description in other respects it answers, and for the hiihitat of which he gives the mallow.
59. APION IliEIMATODES. A. rufuni, oculis nigris, rostro brevissinio. Curculio coccincus. Mus. Led: 18. 381 ? Ginel. 1742. 558 ?
Long. Corp. U — U lin. Ihibitat in AugYiii. In gramine sub UUce Europao scniel plura
inveni. Mus. nostr. DESCR. CORPUS nifuni, obscurum, pilis brevissimis, nisi sub lente vix conspicuis, rarius consitum.
Caput thorace vix brevius, punctulatum. Bostruin bre- vissimuni, (in hoc genere) crassiusculum, punctulatum, apice nitidum. Antennce longiores, mediie : clava rna- juscula. OciiU nigri, prominuli. Truncus subcylindricus, leviter punctulatus, lineola aut puncto majori nullo. Sciitellum minutissimum. Cole- optra oblongiuscula, striata : striis punctatis ; intersti- tiis vix striis latioribus, convexis. This species, which is noticed by Herbst as a variety of Apion frumentmium, appears nevertheless distinct from it, not only on account of difterences of character, which I shall notice here- after, but also from the different situations in which they are usually found ; this, namely, upon the ground, and the other upon the dock : such is Herbst's remark from Hedwig, which is confirmed by my own observation, for J usually find Apion Ike- matodes upon the earth ; the other is common upon the dock ia this neighbourhood, and Mr. Dillwyn finds it upon the same plant in Wales. ^^^ ^p^^^
Mr. KiRBY on Ilerhst's Genus Apion. 77
60. APION FIIUMENTARIUM.
A. sanguineum, oculis nigris, thoracc subgloboso : posticc ca- naliculate.
Ilcrbst. Nalursi/st. vii. 10?. 6. t. 102. /. 6 — F.
Curculio frumentavius. Linn. Si/st. Nat. Ed. 12. 608. 1.5. Faun.
Suec. 586. Mars/i. Ent. Brit. i. 242. 11, Gmel. 1745. 15. VilL
Ent. Eur. i. I77. 12. Act. Nidros. iii. 391. 10. Faun. Etrusc.
301. Ilelta. 301. Faun. Fr id. 10. 94^. Payk. Mon. Cure. 130.
ylct. Stockh. 1750. 186. 1. Lewenh. Arc. 183. Aug. 6. p. 83./. 1. Curculio sanguineus. De Geer. v. 251. 40. Attclabus frumentarius. Fabr. Ent. Syst. Em. i. b. 392. 35. Syst.
Elcuth. ii. 427. 59. Faijk. Faun. Suec. iii. 177- 10. Faun. Ing.
320. Panz. Ent. Germ. 298. 24. Fau7i. Germ. Init. 20. ^ 14.
Walck. Faun. Paris, i. 237. 15. Latr. Hist. Nat. 4-c. xi. 90. Rhinomacer frumentaiius. Ent. Helv. IO9. 1. /. 13./. 1, 2.
Long. Corp. 24. lin. Habitat in Europa frequens. In frumento diutius asservato pes-
simus. Linn. Imago in Lapathis passim obvia. Mus. nostr.
DESCR. CORPUS laet^ sanguineum, ex pilositate quddam^ parvd obscurum.
Caput vix thorace brevius, punctulatum. Rostrum bre- vius, crassiusculum, basi punctulatum, apice ]a?ve niti- dum. Aiit enn c£ ]ongio\es, pone medium rostri insertae i clavse articulis subdistinctis. Oculi nigri, prominuli. TiiUNCUS subglobosus, anticfe marginatus, punctulatissi- mus, postic^ canaliculatus. Scutdlum minutissimum. Cokoptra ex oblongb obovata, sulcata : sulculis puuc- tatis ; interstitiis convexis vLx sulculis latioribus. Van /3. ex sanguineo flavicans. Tliis insect, although very similar to the last, differs from it in some material characters. The colour is more of a blood
red;
78 Mr. KiUBV on HcrL.st's Genus Apion.
red ; the rostrum is longer in proportion ; the thorax is of a dif- ferent shape, channelled behind, with a margin next the head ; the clava also of the antennae is more distinctly jointed ; besides this, it is three times as bio; as the otl)er.
Fabricius, in his St/sfeina Eleutheratoriun, has placed Curcidio purpitreus yf Linne in the synonj/my of Attelabiis frumentarius, regarding, I suspect, my A [non frumeutariuin as that insect, and Apion hamatodcs as the Linnean Curcidio frumentarins, the for- mer beinsf of a much bri(>;hter colour than the latter: but neither of these will agree with the term b}^ which Linne defines ihe ros- trum of his C. piirpureus — " longissimum," since both of them have a very short rostrum. What the true C. purpitreus is, seems not now to be known : there is no specimen of it in the Linnean cabinet. Petiver's specimen was found in England, but it does not appear to have been taken since his time. According to Linne, Apion frumentarium is very destructive to the grain of wheat. I generally find it upon the common dock, which other entomologists have done both here and on the continent, as was observed vinder the preceding species. The larva and imago may perhaps live in different situations.
ADDENDUM.
After the Synopsis Spccierum, and nearly the whole of this paper were printed, 1 met with the following fine nondescript species, which ought to follow Apion a fine, n. 50.
61. APION LIMONIL A. seneum, supra purparascente-cupreum, coleoptris obovatis, rostro crassiuscul-.i. Tab. I. Jig- 20.
Lop.g. Corp. 1 lin. y. 1 lin. Habitat in Angliae Stalices Limonii foliis. Apud-Holme-juxta
mare
Mr. KiRBY on Ilerbst's Genus Apion. 79
mare in Norfolciii Jul. ex. et Aug. in ISO?, a nobis ssepius lectum. Apud Cky in codem com. a Dom. J. Hooker in col- libus arenosis maritimis. Mns. Dom. J. Hooker. Nostr. DESCR. CORPUS pilis brcvissimis decumbf-ntibus, nisi sub Icnte vix conspicuis, consitum.
Caput longum satis, postic^ la;ve cupreum, inter oculos punctatun;: punctis coaliuentibus [)urpurascentfc-viola- ceu-m, subtils aeneuni. Rostrum brevius, crassum, punc- tulatuni, purpurascente-violaceuni, subtCis atrum gib- bum punctis excavatis utrinque notatum: disco lievi. Jntemice mediae, longiores, nigra\ Oculi majusculi, subimmersi, nigri. Truncus fert; cylindricus, cupreo nitidulus, leviter et discrete punctulatus, postice foveolii. sen puncto mag- no excavato notatus. Pectus et Epigastrium a^neo ni- tidula, punctata. Fedcs reliquo corpore magis pilosi, obscurius purpurascente-cuprei. Culcoptra ex globoso obovata, purpurascente-cupreo nitidula, striata : striis punctatis ] interstitiis planiusculis. Abdomen punctatum, obscure purpurascente-cupreum : segmento primo a;nco nitidulo.
Var. |3. Trunco purpurascente-cupreo.
y. Minus, totum cupreum: tiiorace canaliculato. Ah
idem ? 1 met with this insect in the sea marshes at Hohne-juxta-mare in Norfolk (a village remarkable for producing many scarce plants and insects) upon the leaves of Statice Limoiiium, when that plant was just beginning to blossom. Mr. J. Hooker took it upon the sand-hills at Cley in the same county. It is perfectly distinct from every other, and is b}'~far the most beautiful and
splendid species of the genus that I have yet seen.
Additional
so Mr. KiRBY on Htrhnt's Genus Apmu
Additional Observation upon Apion nigritarse, n. 18.
At Hunstanton, upon the Lynn Channel, I found this insect not Vei-y scarce upon the common dock, as well as upon the hazle-nut; and at Holme I met with it upon the bramble and hawthorn. These facts render its habitat very uncertain.
The rostrum of the other sex is entirely black.
REFERENCES TO THE FIGURES. Tab. I.
Fig' 1. Apion Ulicis, n. 1
2. Malvae, — 3
3. vicinum, — 8
4. ca^rulescens, — 10
5. • subulatum, — 11
6. nigritarse, — 18
7. . pallipes, — 20
8. Fagi, -—21
9. . punctifrons, — 28
10. striatum, — 30
11. ebeninum, — 34
12. AstragaU, — 35
13. Spencii, — 37
14. atomarium, — 40
15. confluens, — 44
16. violaceum, — 47
17. • Hydrolapathi, — 48
18. Hookeri, —52
19. Carduorum, — b5
20. - ■' Limonii, — 61
II. Description
[.mil. 'Ihiu.v.i.'l. IX. I.rh I ./i
r^
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( 81 )
II. Description of several Marine Animals found on the South Coast of Devonshire. By George Montagu, Esq. F.L.S.
Read June 18, 1805.
SiNCK I last had the honour of addressmg a paper to the Liii- nean Society on the subject of marine animals, much new mat- ter has occurred in that department, and I trust the description of some of these, in addition to correct drawings, will enable tliosc who may hereafter more immediately direct their attention to that stud}', to identify without doubt the objects in question.
Nothing can be in a greater state of confusion than many senera of the Mollusca order ; and even those of the Crustacea are far from being clearly defined, although their structure greatly conduces to that end, by their unalterable form and du- rability. For these the cabinets of the curious may be occa- sionally consulted ; but no museum can convey to the mind those distinguishing characters that form the divisions and spe- cific distinctions of the former; their soft and delicate bodies can only be preserved in antiseptic fluids. In spirits, it is true, the mass is preserved, but the form is usually rendered shape- less, the colours vanish, and the membranaceous appendages, which constitute the principal divisional distinctions, are either entirely lost, or so contracted and distorted, that the greater part of the subjects of Ilebninthologj/, the more simple except- ed, become a chaos of undistinguishable naatter. I'he Mollusca must be described and figured from living specimens; and those of VOL. IX. M the
82 Mr, Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
the marine division (wliicli are by far the most numerousj and least known), in their own element*.
Favourable as our own country is for the study of marine ani- mals, it is extraordinary that so little has been dope in that branch of physiology since the writings of Ellis, Avho almost exclusively adopted the marine polype, and threw more than ordinary light on that obscure subject, both as to the habitations, or coralline substances, and the animals by which they were formed. But it is equally astonishing that this great naturalist should not have ex- tended his researches further than to zoophites, who must in his various marine excursions, while contemplating the objects of his particular inquiry in their native element, have had under iiis eye an inconceivable variety of other animals, which so far surpass in beauty any of the coralline Hydra, that our asto- nishment is excited at the total neglect of such unbounded animate beauty as is found to occasionally inhabit the various Sertularice, "which could not but call forth wonder and admira- tion.
Possibly, however, this eminent philosopher, having in con- templation the completion of that abstruse department which he had adopted, did not choose to have his course diverted by that which an enthusiast seated on his hobby might term a minor object.
'J"o our marine botanists many of the objects in question must also frequently occur, as some are by accident attached to Algce^ and others feed on particular Fiici. Such as are searching for, and deeply investigating the obscure fructification of these plnnts, may be capable of forming an idea of the very extra-
* The pelagic species, or those which inhabit the open sea, will quickly die in water less salt, taken at the mouths of rivers, or in estuaries communicating with fresh water.
ordinary
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 83
oitUnary conformation and splendid colouring of many of the Mollnsca animals that inhabit the deep ; and these, though not their primary object, must arrest their attention, and be highly gratifying to an elevated mind.
To the ievf, therefore, who have the opportunity, by chance or choice, of examining these creatures in their native clement, it is well known how little can be conveyed by even the most minute description, without well executed figures -coloured from life ; the want of which, added to the very concise descrijjtive information usually given, has thrown but very obscure light on the subject, even in the zoological works of the most celebrated naturalists : the divisions are undefined by evident and distinct characteristic marks; and, what is M'orse, obscurity becomes more clouded by the diversity of opinion as to arrangement, which frustrates the very intention of system, and serves only to reduce method again to chaos.
These considerations I must plead in excuse for the want of synonyms in some instances, perhaps, being prefixed to the sub- jects hereafter described.
As in my former paper, I have accompanied this with outlines only of the Crustacea, one or two figures excepted, where colour- ing was considered as essential.
The subjects given will be found to be mostly new; amongst the Cancri, however, two or three which are common, and which have unaccountably been confounded since the writings of Lin- naeus, are figured to elucidate their respective specific distinc- tions, and rescue from a state of confusion animals of very dif- ferent habits.
If in those of the Mollusca I should have arranged any one that may not accord with the opinion of the helminthologist, I have to plead the indivisible connection of the links in the
M 2 amorphose
84 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
aniorphose subjects of this order, and the defective state of generic characters in the infantine progress of this abstruse science.
Should the Sooiety consider these further discoveries of suf- ficient importance for public information through the medium of their Transactions, it Avill not fail to stimulate me to a continuance of my researches in this branch of zoology, which my situation affords ; and which I shall have the pleasure of submitting from time to time for its opinion.
My object is, as far as possible to ascertain and identify what of the zoologic subjects hitherto described are British, especially in those departments which are the least cultivated, and in which so much remains to be done.
It has been doubted whether several species of the crabs de- scribed by Mr. Pennant be really distinct: as far as my own observation has gone, there appears no reason for such doubt, as almost the whole of those given in the British Zoology are in my cabinet, together with nearly an equal number of new species, or such as have never been noticed as indigenous to this country; and which remain to be added to the catalogue of l)ritish Cancri.
It may not be improper to remark in this place, that in order to show the legs of the crabs as distinctly as possible, those belong- iu'j, to one side only have been delineated ; the arms, however, of both sides have in general been given. In these, as well as in all the other subjects, the natural size is adverted to in the descrip- tion, where such figures have been magnified ; and where no such mention is made, the figure may be considered as repre- senting the proper size.
CRUSTACEA.
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 85
CRUSTACEA. Canckr floridus. Tab. II. Fi-r. 1. Cancer floridus. Linn. Sjjst. p. 1041. llerbst. ii. f. 21. f. 120.
Thorax sniootli, indented and uneven; front slightly bilobatc, sides ({uadridentate : antennae minute: arms and hands very largo, strong and rugged ; fangs large, black, and bluntly tooth- ed : legs short, having the extreme joint covered with a thick brown pile; claws small, brown: the tail is small and narrow, composed of five johits, of which the middle one is by much the largest, the end obtuse.
Length of the largest two inches ; breadth two and a half.
Colour purplish-broM'n.
A variety is marked with two chesnut spots on the thorax, one behind the other, the first ovate, the second sub-rhomboidal.
The females are very inferior in size, and like the rest of this family may at once be known by their superior breadth of tail, which is formed of seven plates much ciliated with hair.
Not uncommon on some parts of the coast of Devon, under large stones, in rocky situations, at low water.
This species, I believe, has never been placed in the catalogue of British Cancri; but beina; now discovered to be indigenous to this island, it may be thought deserving a place amongst the literary communications of this country, notwithstanding it has been figured by llerbst.
This crab was once sent to mc by a scientific friend as a Scotch production, with reference to the C. corrugatus of Pennant ; to which, however, it has but little resemblance when compared*.
* Cancer cornigatu.i appears to be extremely rare; it has once or twice occurred, so that I can with certainty dt-clare it to be not only distinct from this, but also ironi C. velutinus, with which it is most hkely to be confounded,
I have
86 Mr. Montagu's "Description of several Marine Animah
I have also been informed that it has been considered as the C. orientalis, Herbst. tab. 20. Jig. 117 1 but if carefully compared with that figure, it will be found that the thorax is not in the least like, either in shape or markings, nor has that the dentated margin : Avhereas Cancer fioridiis of the same author corresponds in all those particulars. I cannot indeed quote Gmelin for this crab with any degree of certainty, as he refers to different spe- cies that are trilobated : it is hoAvever in all probability the Can- cer fioridiis of Linnaeus.
Cancer tumefactus. Tab. II. Fig. 2. ^
Thorax sub-rhomboidal, smooth, with a slightly reflected mar- gin, and three round tumid elevations placed triangularly : snout sub-bifid : antennae extremely small: eyes small, hidden within their receptacles : arms short, sub-angulated, the edges uneven : hand short, the outer margin carinated ; claws short, toothed, the thumb moderately hooked : legs eight, short, with subulate claws. The tail of the female is very broad, and covers the whole abdomen ; the joints are obscure, but appear to be four, slightly ridged up the middle, Avith a depression on each side of the ridge.
Length three quarters of an inch ; breadth rather more.
Colour pale dull yellow.
The very great similitude in contour between this and Cancer tuberosiis of the British Zoology, might readily occasion their being confounded without comparison: indeed the laconic descrip- tion given by Pennant for his C. tuberosus might have induced one to believe that it was intended for this, had not the figure be- spoken the other. The material distinctions are, that this is smooth, of a much paler colour, and that the inequalities on the
thorax
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 87
thorax are globose ; whereas the other has a longitudinal angu- lated ridge, intersected by a transverse one that forms a cross*: the legs and arms of this species are shorter, and the latter more uneven ; the fangs shorter, and neither turned inwards nor an- gulated as in the other : the smooth rcflexed margin of the tho- rax is also a strong character in this species.
Whether the C. ttiberostis was originally taken at Weymouth is not mentioned ; but Mr. Pennant took his description from one in the Portland cabinet. The C tumefactus was taken at that place by Mr. Bryer, who kindly favoured me with it.
Cancer denticulatus. Tab. II. Fig.^; ^
Thorax broad before, narrow behind, rugged with spines and tubercles, the margin continued in one series of sub-serrated denticulations: the front between the eyes is quinquedentate, the middle spine the longest: the sides are also quinquedentate, be- sides a small process over each eye: eyes prominent: anteunaj obscure : the arms not longer than the body, angulated, or ridged longitudinally, with blunt spines at the top of the mid- dle joint; fangs angulated and denticulated; the legs are also angulated ; claws subulate: tail narrow, regularly tapering.
Length three quarters of an inch; breadth rather more.
This singular species of crab was sent to me, amongst a va- riety of British Cancri, by my late worthy friend Mr. Boys, as the produce of the coast of Sandwich. The living colour could
* I have taken several specimens of Cancer tulerosus of both sexes, which difler in nothing but the size of the tail ; and therefore these two crabs cannot be .considered as possessing only scxu^ distinction.
not
88 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animah
not be ascertained, nor the length of the antenna;, the pe- duncles of M'hich only remain.
I have since observed a specimen in the cabinet of Mr. Dono- van, which, I am assured, came from the coast of Scotland.
Cancer Astacus subterrankus. Tab. III. Fig. 1. 2. Eodjlong; thorax smootli, raised in the middle, surrounded b}' a sulcus ; no proboscis, but two small, sub-pellucid, move- able, angulated plates in front that cover the base of the an- tennae, through which are observed two contiguous, very minute spots, supposed to be the eyes fixed within the shell : antennae four, pedunculated, inner pair bifid, scarcely longer than the thorax; the outer pair considerably superior in length, setaceous: the body consists of six smooth, glossy joints, spreading a little in the middle; caudal fins five, broad, with a midrib, and ci- liated: one arm extremely large, smooth, and glossy, exceeding the size of the body, and nearly as long ; the first joint very small, the second broader, and sloped off on the inner side to a sub-arcuated edge, which projects into a hooked process at the articulation with the first joint; the singular conformation of this part is calculated to receive the end of the next joint when folded, as represented by fig. 2: the two extreme joints are very broad, compressed, sub-marginated, and carinated ; fangs large, the moveable one much hooked at the point, both destitute of teeth, except a few faint crenula; scarcely discernible by the naked eye: the other arm is invariably small, with a plain -chelate hand not of the same curious structure as the former : legs four pair, the first with a broad chelate foot ; the third and fourth are some- what similar to each other, being furnished with a simple flat
hirsute
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 89
hirsute claw; but the formation of the second pair is very singu- lar ; they are of a squarish shape, much compressed, and, at the ends, furnished with hair like a brush.
Length, independent of the arms, two inches.
Colour, when alive, more or less orange, sometimes yellow on the sides, and on the caudal fins ; the arms usually pink.
This new and curious species of crab was discovered in dig- ging for Solen Vagina, at the depth of nearly two feet beneath the surface, on a sand bank in the estuary of Kingsbridge. It is by no means plentiful; but a sufficient number has been taken, with much trouble, to learn that the large arm is not constant to one side, nor always so very disproportionate as in that from which the figure was taken.
The crustaceous covering of the body is very thin, and not far remote from membranaceous. The females, as in most of the Cancer tribe, more rarely occur : the ova of one taken were fixed under the tail, and of a red colour.
A new and singular species of Oniscus is found to inhabit the thoracic plate of this crab, and of which a figure and descrip- tion are added to this paper.
Canckr Astacus stellatus. Tab. III. Fig. 5.
Body long, composed of six smooth joints: thorax smooth behind, the anterior part roughened with minute spines dis- posed in longitudinal rows, and terminated by a very broad, serrated, trifid proboscis, the middle division of which is long- est: antennae four, pedunculated, the outer pair nearly as long- as the body ; inner pair short, bifid : eyes pedunculated, con- cealed under the proboscis : arms equal, of a moderate size ; on
VOL. IX. N the
90 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
the miflfUe joint two or three small spines, and one on the joint nearest the body : hands sub-chelate, somewhat angulated by rows of tubercles beset with long hairs, armed with a slightly- hooked moveable fang, and a hooked spine in place of a fixed one, not half so long as the fang, similar to that of A. Crangon : ]e^s eight, vei'y hirsute, furnished each with a single claw : cau- dal fins five, the fixed one sub-bifid, lateral ones Avith a midrib, and ciliated margin.
Length nearly two inches.
Colour yellowish-white, covered with minute stellated orange spots, as it appears under a lens, which give a predominance to the last.
This species, which, I am inclined to believe, is also a nonde- script, was taken with the preceding : it is more rare, but ap- pears, like that crab, to inhabit the subterraneous passages made by the Soknes.
Cancer. Astacus multipes. Tab. V. Fig. 3. Cancer flexuosus. Mtill. Zool. Dan. ii. p. 34. t, 66". Prodr. p. I96. 71. '2352. Body slender, incurvated, with seven joints : thorax smooth, destitute of proboscis : antennae faur, as long as the thorax, the middle pair bifid, the interior branch invariably dusky, the other white ; exterior pair single, longest t anterior plates like those of the prawn, but more ciliated, the fringe pink, (Fig. 3. A.) eyes large, pedunculated: no visible arms: legs fourteen on each side, remarkably slender, and set in a double series: caudal fins five, the middle one bifid ; lateral ones greatly ciliated on the interior margin with pink. (Fig. 3. B.)
At the termination of the thorax between the hinder legs is a
large
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 91
large tumid pouch in the female, composed of two broad dia- phanous membranes tliat collapse. This abdominal pouch in the month of July was filled with minute embryo young, whose <?ycs, being nearly as large as their bodies, were visible through the membranous receptacle, and gave it a spotted appearance.
Length an inch and a quarter.
This is sometimes taken amongst prawns at Salcomb, and in the estuary of Kingsbridge ; but never having seen any alive, I could not ascertain the colour. After passing through the operation of boiling by accident with the other species, it is of a pale colour, with some spots of dusky, particularly at the joints along the back. Both sexes are alike, except that the male is destitute of the receptacle on the abdomen.
By means of the accurate pencil of Mr. Henry Boys, who favoured me with drawings of many of the marine animals found at Sandwich, I have been able to identify this crab as an inhabitant also of the Kentish coast.
It appears to differ from the generality of this division of Can- cer by the manner of carrying its young ; and I suspect, if it be not viviparous like those of the division Ganwiarus, it retains its young for a considerable time after they are excluded ; a circumstance unusual in the lobster tribe.
Cancer Astacus gibbosus.
Tab. V. Fig. 4.
Body slender, incurvated, with six joints : thorax smooth ; proboscis long, laterally compressed, serrated ; a small spine on each side the base of the proboscis, and another beneath each eye ; antennae four, upper pair shortest, bifid ; lower pair single, nearly as long as the body : two anterior ciliated plates
N 2 as
92 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animuh
as in the preceding species: e^es pedunculated: arms and legs scarcely definable, the anterior pair is terminated by a quadrifid joint, expressed at fig. 4. a ; the second pair is chelelorm, as at 6 ; the other three pair appear, when magnified, to have a toothed claw, represented at c: besides these there are two very long and slender appendages', that do not strictly appear to be legs, but seem to be auxiliary to the palpi, though they originate so far from the mouth, for they are always placed forward towards the mouth ; these are slightly chelate : the caudal fins are similar to those of the prawn, with a small spine near the end of the ex- terior pair, as at d.
What at once distinguishes this from the young prawn, or from any other, is the protuberant and curved formation of the third joint of the body, at which part the posterior end, or Avhat is usually termed the tail, makes a short turn when doubled under the body.
The colour when alive is red.
Length rarely above an inch.
Not unfrequently taken by dredging at Torcross.
Cancer Gammarus Locusta.
Tab. IV. Fig. 1.
Cancer Locusta. Gmel. Sijst. p. 2992. Turt. Linn. iii. p. 1[6Q. Oniscus Gammarellus. Pallas Misc. Zool. t, 14. /. 25. Id. Spic. Zool.9. <. 4./. 8. Body smooth, glossy, compressed, with fourteen joints: an- tennae four; the lower pair longest : eyes lunated, fixed*: arms
* Not pedunculated, or moveable, but fixed under the shell of the thorax ; a circum- stance comnaoii, I believe, to all this family.
four ;
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 95
four; hands sub-chelefcrous*, small, botii pair furnished with a simple fang: legs ten, the four anterior small, the others mucb longer and larger, their thighs furnished with broad plates : the natatorial fms three pair, usually concealed under the tail: cau- dal fins properly five, subulate, bifid, the upper one longest; these arc more or less serrated with small spines : on each of the three extreme joints of the body is a small fasciculus of spines.
Colour corneous, sometimes sub-rufous.
Length an inch.
This species is wholly marine, never quits the water by choice, is incapable of leaping, and seems to have very little use of its legs out of that element; for when deprived of water it lies on its side, and endeavours to force itself along by the action of the tail. If put into fresh water it soon dies. It is extremely com- mon on all the coasts of Britain, but has been unaccountably confounded with several other species, some of Avhich are great- ly dissimilar, as I shall have occasion to notice hereafter.
That the C. Pulex and this should have been occasionally mis- taken for each other would not have been so very extraordinary, had not their habits been so widely different, since it requires more than a cursory view to discriminate them ; there are, hoAV- ever, essential specific distinctions independent of size and ha- bits, which will be noticed in their place.
Cancer Gammarus Pulex.
Tab. IV. Fig. 2.
Cancer Pulex. Gmel. Syst. p. 1055. Turt. Linn. iii. p. ^60. Brit. Zool. iv.p. 21. 'No. 33.
As this species is so nearly allied to C. Locusta, it is necessary
* A term adopted for a single fang capable of closing upon the hand, answering the purpose of a fixed claw, in contradistinction to cheleferous, or such as are formed with double claws.
only
94 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
only to point out the specific distinctions by which at all times it may readily be discriminated.
It never exceeds half an inch in length : the eyes are inva- riably ovate, not lunatcd : the three last joints of the body are constantly smooth ; and the lower pair of caudal fins are rather the longest. Besides these essential characters of distinction, it is usually more hirsute about the legs than C. Locusta ; the co- lour is paler, and most times tinged with green, especially about the antennae.
The C Pulcd' is as incapable of living in salt water as the C. Lo- custa is in fresh, although we have the authority of Linnaeus and many of his disciples to the contrary. It is also incapable of leaping, and very soon dies when taken out of water.
The males of this as well as of the C. Locusta are superior in size to the other sex, which they embrace with their arms, and hold- ing securely by fixing their claws in the joint of the thorax, swim about with them, not unfrequently on their back.
The females of both these species, as well as of most, if not all, of this family appear to be viviparous, and carry their young for some time after birth about the abdomen.
It is not impossible that Cancer rubricatus, tab. 5. fig. 1. may have also been confounded with these, though inferior in size, and different in colour and form of the antennae, as will be more par- ticularized in the description of that species.
Cancer Gammarus Saltator. Tab. IV. Fig. 3.
Cancer Locusta. Brit. Zool. iv. p. 21. No. 34. Oniscus Locusta. Pallas Spic. Zool. Q. t.A.f. 1. Misc. Zool. f. 14, /. 13*. Body oblong, sub-compressed, smooth, and extremely glossy,
consisting
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 95
consisting of twelve joints : antennae four, the upper pair re- markably short ; the lower extremely large, and equal in length to the body ; the anterior half is composed of between thirty and forty approximate articulations roughened with short spines, especially on the interior sides ; these are usually deflected be- neath or along the sides of the body : eyes sub-triangular, reti- culated, fixed : mouth placed beneath, much produced, and armed with formidable toothed forceps or jaws, similar to those of the genus Locusta : palpi very large ; arms two, not much larger than the hinder legs, furnished with one serrated claw, as simple in structure as those on the legs, and not capable of fold- ing upon the hand as in the two last species : the legs are twelve in number, the first pair immediately behind the arms are very small, and usually concealed under the plates of the bodj-, so that they frequently pass unobserved ; the three posterior pairs are very strong, the upper joint broad and flat; these, as well as the arms, are serrated and roughened Avith short spines: caudal fins two pair, serrated, and bifid, besides a pair of short appen- dages above, arising from the extremity of the last joint of the tail.
Length three quarters of an inch.
Colour when alive corneous; when dried it becomes paler, and by exposure to the sun gains a tinge of pink ; and the antennae partake of orange yellow. It is frequeutly found on the sea- shores, bleached white.
This is the species which is found in such vast abundance on all our sandy coasts, burrowing under the various rejectamenta of the sea, devouring both animal and vegetable matter with great avidity; and in its turn is the principal food of the rino-ed plover, and other shore birds. It is one of those insects whose service is most apparent in contributing to the dissolution of pu- trid matter.
The
96 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
The C. Saltator is without doubt the animal referred to by Pallas, and this confirms the opinion that Gmelin has confounded it with his Cancer Locusta, having quoted both the Oniscus Gamnuircllus and 0. Lociista of that author for it. That it is Pennant's C. Lo- custa there can be little doubt, as he particularly mentions the quality of leaping, a power denied to the other species.
It may be suspected that the C. Saltator is amphibious, or per- haps only sub-aquatic, residing chiefly under the moist sand, about high water mark, or concealing itself beneath the various matter ejected by the sea, not only to feed, but to avoid the powerful rays of the sun. The most cursory observer cannot have passed unnoticed the multitudes which are seen skipping about in all directions upon our sandy beaches in a summer evening.
It appears very extraordinary that two insects so greatly dis- similar as this and the C. Locusta should have so long been con- founded, for in neither habit nor manners do they in the least agree.
Whether the greater part of these commit themselves to the deep during the colder season has not been ascertained ; but as it never has occurred to me at any time of the year in the water, I am inclined to believe they burrow deep under the sand, and occasionally come up, as some are to be met with at all seasons when the weather is temperate.
Cancer Gammarus littoreus.
Tab. IV. Fig. 4.
Pulex marinus. Baster Op. Subs. ii. p. 31. t. 3. f. 7. 8.
Body smooth, glossy, with twelve compressed joints : antennae four, the upper pair very short; the lower pair half as long as the body, the anterior half composed of between twenty and
thirty
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 97
thirty miiuite articulations: eyes fixed, sub-orbicular, sub-angu- lated : arms two, small ; hands broad, Hat, ovate, sub-chelefe- rous, sub-crenated in front; fang smooth, long, hooked, closing upon the crenated edge of the hand by the side of a bhint tooth : Iegs4;en, the two anterior pairs slender, the others strong, and serrated with spines ; the thighs laminated, the posterior pair remarkably large, and angulated' in the last joint but one ; the claws small: caudal fins slender, two pair jointed, bifid; above these a small, simple, bifid appendage.
Length nearly an inch.
Colour,when alive, yellowish-brown, turning afterwards to rufous.
This species, though not so frequent as the C. Sallator, is often- times found on our sandy shores, possessing much of the same habits as that insect, and like it is a leaper. Whether it remains on shore at all seasons is uncertain, but I suspect it is only sub- aquatic, never having taken .it in the sea.
The C. littoreus is doubtless the species figured by Baster as above referred to, and wdiich Gmelin has erroneously quoted for the Linnean Cancer Pulex. In the general appearance, as well as habits, it approaches C. Saltator, especially in its protruded jaws, though inferior in size : the antennae are also less ; but the most obvious distina-uishing- charactei's are the large subchelefe- rous hands, and angulated joints of the posterior pair of legs. The hands of C. grossimanus most resemble those of this species ; but even in that particular there are minute distinctions, besides very material ones in other parts.
Cancer Gammarus guossimanus.
Tab. IV. Fig. 5.
Bo<1y very slender, compressed, smooth, with eleven joints : VOL. IX. o antennae
pS Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
antennae four, the upper pair longest, but shorter than the body: e^'es Unear; arms four, subchelate, the fore pair very small; hands indented, hirsute; hinder pair large, ovate, compressed ; fangs long and hooked, folding upon the edge of the hand, and partly received into a slight groove ciliated with hair: legs ten, the two anterior pairs small, the others much longer, xTith. broad flat thighs : caudal fins five, bifid, the upper one longest.
Length about five lines.
Colour, when alive, pale-yellow, sometimes mottled with pink.
The anterior arms might be considered as palpi, but are much longer than those usually are ; these, however, are generally so closely folded up as frequently, in dead specimens, to evade the
eye.
Not uncommon on our rocky shores, in the pools left by the
receding tide.
Although the hands of this and o{ Cancer littoreiis are somewhat similar, yet. there is a material distinction, especially in this beino- destitute of the knob or blunt spine. In the joint of the wrist and other parts the specific distinction is too obvious to require entering into detail, as a comparative view of the figures will evince.
Cancer Gammaeus Talpa. Tab. IV. Fig. 6.
Body with numerous joints slightly depressed : antennae four, the outer pair longest, all tufted with hair at the end : eyes small, fixed, placed immediately behind the antennae ; beneath these is a small spine pointing forward : arms four, the anterior pair chelate ; hands ovate ; fangs plain and hooked : the second pair are of a very singular structure, the three last joints broad, flat, and pectinated on each side with long hooked spines, some- what
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 99
what resemblii)"- the fore feet of a mole : les-s ten, each furnish- e4 with a small subulate claw ; the two posterior pairs appear to be natatorial, and are so extremely hirsute as to be almost concealed : the tail, or posterior part of the body, is also covered so closely with hair as to render the extreme joints in-, distinct; at the extremity are two long setiform appendages tufted with hair, which are capable of closing together instan- taneously.
Length of the body about four lines.
Colour yellowish-white : the hair and divisions between the joints partake most of the former.
This very curious species of Cancer was first discovered on the large scallop, Pecten tnaaimus, from Salcomb, but appears ex- tremely rare.
Cancer Gammarus rubricatus. Tab. V. Fig. 1.
Body slender, compressed, with twelve smooth joints : anten- nae four, the lower pair shortest, the upper nearly as long as the body : eyes crimson, reticulated, sub-angulated, and rather pro- truded forward between the upper and lower antennae : arms four, similar; hands small, oblong, and sub-cheleferous ; fangs hooked : legs ten, the two anterior pairs short, the others consi- derably larger, all beset Avith bristles, e-specially at the joints : caudal fins two pairs, the last joint bifid ; above these, two very short appendages.
Length half an inch.
Colour usually reddisli, or pale pink, minutely and closely speckled with a darker shade of the same.
This species, which is not common, approaches much nearer to Cancer Pulcv than any other: independent, however, of its
o 2 being
100 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Murine Animah
being smaller, more slender, and differing in colour and habits, it may readily be distinguished from it by the superior antennae being the longest ; and from C. Locusta by the same mark, and by the short upper caudal fins or appendages, as Avell as by being destitute of the spines on the last joints of the tail.
Cancer Gammarus falcatus. Tab. V. Fig. 2.
Body slender, with twelve smooth compressed joints nearly destitute of gloss : antennae four, ciliated with hair beneath ; the lower pair extremely large, and nearly as long as the body : eyes small : arms four; hands of the hinder pair very large, ob- long, and sub-chelate, furnished with two spines on the inner edge ; fangs falciform, with one tooth ; the fore pair of arms and hands extremely small, scarcely visible by a common pocket lens, and might be considered as palpi, were it not for their situa- tion : legs ten, hirsute, the two anterior pairs very short, slender, and usually drawn up and concealed by the plates of the body : the other legs moderately large ; thighs broad and flat : caudal fins three pairs, subulate.
Length five lines.
Colour crimson, or mottled with a mixture of white ; antennae marked the same.
This curious and rare species inhabits the deep, amongst Ser- tularia, and Alga, and has only been taken by dredging at Tor- cross.
PhALANGIUM SPINOStJM.
Tab. V. Fig. 7- • -
Body linear : snout long cylindric deflected : no feelers : eyes four, fixed in a conical tubercle on the top of the fore part of the
body
fotind on the South Coast of Devonshire. 101
body behind the snout, placed tu'o forward, two backward, and appear under a microscope strongly reticulated ; the tuber- cle on which they are seated, verrucose: on the back between the hinder pair of legs is an erect cylindric tubercle, which in some point of view might be mistaken for a tail; the summit of this is furnished with two minute spines: legs long, slender, spinous. 'J'he tubercle, with the eyes, is represented at fig. 7- a.; the foot
at b.
Length of the body a quarter of an inch.
Colour rufous-brown.
The female is furnished with a pair of long jointed appen- dages, which originate at the fore part of the thorax, and turn underneath, as described by the figure.
The use of these antenna3-like members is for holding and car- rying about their eggs. This sexual distinction in most, if not in all, of the marine species of Phalangiiim does not appear to have been noticed as such ; and for want of this knowledge the same species have been differently described. These female ap- pendages are very conspicuous both in Phalangiiim Baldnarum and Grossipes, and are frequently found holding a quantity of eggs agglutinated to each.
This might have been referred to P. hirtum of Turton, but the want of the four palpi prevents it from being placed in his di- vision of Nympkion.
Phalangium aculeatum.
Tab. V. Fig. 8.
Phalangium spinipes. Gmel. Syst. p. 2943. l6 ? Fabr.Fn. GroenL p. 2Z2. No. 211 .^ Turt. Linn. iii. p. 715 ?
Body linear, with four joints like the last : snout cylindric,
tubular.
102 Mr. MoVTAGu's Description of several Marine Animals
tubular, deflected : feelers four, the upper pair chelate ; the lower pair minute, and hid beneath : eyes four, seated on a conic tubercle dilfering in shape from that of P. spiiiosum. Fig. 8. c. On the posteri^ir part of the back is an erect tubercle similar to that on the last species ; but the legs are longer in proportion, furnished with slender spines or bristles at the joints.
Less tlian the preceding.
Colour dusky black.
Possibly this is the Gmelinian P. sijiiiipes: if so, we are in- formed that it is found in the Norwegian Sea. It is not of frequent occurrence on our coasts, but sufficient to know that the female is possessed of the filiform receptacles for the ova.
Doctor Turton has given a species of Vhalangium under the title of hirtum, without reference or synonyma, that appears only to ditfer from P. spinipes in being hairy instead of spinous, and is probably the same; for the distinction between hair, bristles, and slender spines, on the limbs of these small animals, is so extremely vague, that a more minute definition of such sub- jects is required to truly enlighten the more abstruse parts of na- tural history.
Oniscus Testudo. Tab. V. Fig. 5.
Body sub-ovate, composed of eight joints rising to a ridgfe on the back ; the plates elevated at their edges ; the four first fall very low on the sides, and obscure the anterior legs : along each side of the body a row of small tubercles : the front sub-bifid : antennae four, very short, lower pair hid beneath: eyes prominent, black : posterior end obtusely pointed ; caudal fins beneath, ob- scure: legs fourlcen, short and strong, the three posterior pairs longest ; all furnished with a simple claw.
Length
found on the South Coast of Ikvonshire, 103
Length two lines.
Colour dull red, -Hitli a white spot on the anterior part of the back, but as tlie insect dies this mark is lost. Rare.
Oniscus gracilis. Tab. V. Fig. 6.
Body long, slender, sub-compressed, sub-cylindric, with eight joints terminated by five large caudal appendages truncated at their ends ; these are detlected nearly at right angles with the body, the middle one fixed; lateral ones jointed, and spread a little upwards in a semicircular fonn : antennae four, short : legs fourteen, the anterior pair large, with broad feet, and sliglitly hooked claws ; the rest short and slender.
Length five lines.
Colour pale, clouded with rufous. Rare,
Oniscus thoracicus. Tab. IIL Fig. 3. 4. Body ovate, inequilateral, with about fifteen indistinct joints indented at the sides, the six posterior shooting into long lateral fasciculate, fleshy, ramous appendages, and the extremity furnish- ed with six simple recurved ones, two of which are larger than the rest: antennie four, short, the outer pair longest, and only visible above : the two first joints of the body furnished with a long flat, oar-like, fleshy fin or cirrus on each side; tlie other joints with similar short ones : legs fourteen, very short, crooked, and con- cealed beneath : the abdominal valves are large, cover the Avhole under part of the body, and form a receptacle for the ova, Avhich, in the specimens before me, is vastly distended with many thousands of a pale orange colour.
Length,
104 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
Length, including the posterior appendages, scarcely half an inch.
Colour usually orange ; lateral appendages whitish.
The male is very inferior in size, of a more slender form, and destitute of the cirri on the anterior part of the body; and those on the posterior joints are simple, not branched as in the female: in other respects they agree.
This curious species of Oniscns inhabits the thoracic plate of Cancer subterranais, (Yah. III. fig. 1.) concealing itself between the fleshy part and the shell, and forming a tumour on one side. From this situation I have extracted it alive, and have kept it in that state for several days in a glass of sea water. In the few of that rare species of crab I have obtained, two or three of these para- sitical insects have occurred, and have always been attended by the male, who attaches himself firmly by his claws to the ventral fins, or appendages.
As this insect seems to be possessed of little or no locomotive power, it is probable the greater part of the eggs or young must perish ; for it must be in one of these states that it finds its way under the thoracic shell of the crab, and there receives that nourishment which in all probability is the only means of its existence.
The very disproportionate size of the sexes is wisely adapted to an animal whose habitation is so confined.
Oniscus Squillaru
M.
This is another parasitical species, inhabiting the same part
of the prawn or pandle as the last is found to do in Cancer sub-
terraneus.
The
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 105
Tlie body is inequilaterally ovate*, composed of thirteen flat joints, the articulations forming as many scallops on the sides: antennae and eyes obscure : legs fourteen, very short, crook- ed, and usually folded up and concealed under the seven first, or anterior scallops on each side : the under part of the body between the legs is covered with broad membranes that collapse and form a receptacle for the eggs, which are extremely small and numerous.
Leuglh rarely half an inch.
Colour pale greenish, and glossy above ; the abdominal mem- branes dark at their edges.
U'he most incurious cannot but have noticed the tumour so common on the thorax of the prawn or shrimp during the sum- mer months, that is occasioned by the lodgement of this animal, ■whose growth occasions the distortion of the shell. 'J'his tumour forms a secure asylum for the protection of the more than usu- ally soft and membranaceous bodies of these parasitical Onisci.
That an insect so extremely common, and obvious to the most cursory observer, should not have found a place in the Systema Natur<x appears very extraordinary ; and I have been induced to describe it, because it seems to have been omitted by even the more modern systematists ; or is certainly misplaced, and not where it ought to be.
The male, which has hitherto escaped observation, is probably very minute, as in the preceding species.
* The dissimilarity in the sides of these insects is occasioued by the unequal pressure they receive from the thoracic shell of the crab ; this inequilateral growth is therefore not constantly alike, but depends on the side of the thorax each individual inhabits.
VOL. IX. p MOLLUSC A.
106 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
MOLLUSCA.
Bulla Hydatis. Tab. VI. Fig. 1.
Animal not referable to any class in the Systcma Natiira. Test. Brit. p. 21?. Vig. 1. Jig. 2.
In the Testacea Britannica the animal is described from a dead specimen ; and the figure referred to only represents the receded state of the animal previous to dissolution.
Recent opportunity of examining many of the living animals of an unusually large size aft'ords the means of correcting the mistake in describing it as being destitute of eyes : and I trust a figure taken from one in a lively and extended state will not be unacceptable, more especially as it is of singular appearance and beauty.
When the animal is in motion, two black eyes on the top of the head are visible without the aid of a glass; these are sunk in small white depressions, remote from each other, but somewhat central in the shield that covers the whole anterior j)art: the sus- tentaculum is very large, extending behind, and on the sides, into broad finlike membranes that reflect, and almost conceal thtJ shell ; the two lateral ones turn under the shield at their an- terior edges : the posterior membrane is divided from the others; the right side of this is spread on the place where it is crawl- ing, and the left side takes a turn round the posterior end of the shell, and reflects over it. When the edges of the shield are thrown up, and open to view the space between that and the sustentaculum, on each side is observed a yellow marking in ele- gant ramifications like a feather, but not apparently detached as in the animal of Bulla plumula*.
* Test. Brit. Fig. 2. fg. &>.
The
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 107
The animal when fully extended is nearly double the length of the shell : length of the specimen figured, two inches and a half; of the shell, one and a quarter.
The colour is a mixture of purplish-brown, cinereous and orange, disposed in minute confluent specks, darkest on the lateral fins.
Doris longicornis. Tab. VII. Fig. 1.
Body long, slender; posterior end acuminated; head rounded in front : tentacula four, of which the first pair are very long, seti- form, and extend forward ; the other pair are remote, short, and erect: eyes two, small and black, situated at the base of the hind- most tentacula: on the right side, near the eyes, is a cluster of short cirri ; and at a little distance from these commence four series of longer ones, of a pink colour, spotted with white, standing transversely, and extending down the sides ; these cover the mid- dle of the animal ; the other parts are yellowish-white, tinged with pink about the eyes.
Length half an inch.
Doris nodosa. Tab. VII. Fig. 2.
Body obovate, convex above, surrounded by a broad mem- branaceous margin : tentacula two, short, with perfoliated tips, and retractile, within depressed receptacles : on each side the back are four equidistant nodules or papilla;: at the posterior end of the back are nine or ten ramous appendages : the susten- taculum is broad, bilobated in front, and acuminated be-
r 2 hind :
108 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Atnmah
hind : from this part the membranaceous margin of the body is detached.
Lensrth lialf an inch.
Colour wliite, with a tinge of pink on the back.
Both this and the preceding species have but rarely occurred, and may prove to be entirely new ; at least I am unable to refer to any figure or description of them.
Apiirobita Clava. Tab. VII. Fig. 3.
Aphrodita squamata. Gmel. Syst. p. 3108? Brit. Zooh t.23:
/•26? Aphrodita punctata. Mull. Zool. Dan. iii. p. 25. t. 96. /. 1.
Frodr. p. 218. n. 2642 ?
Body with about twenty-four joints, and as many peduncles and fasciculate feet on each side ; the bristles yellow: squamae twelve or thirteen pair, of an ochraceous-yellow, mottled, and speckled with purplish brown, palest at their anterior margin; these usually divide down the middle of the back, but in this particular the animals of this class are variable, as much de- pends on the state of extension or contraction : along each side is a row of clavated cirri, with a slender appendage at their tips, and just below the club, marked with a brown band ; these surround the animal, and might at the anterior end be mistaken, for tentacula ; the lateral ones originate between the scales.
Length an inch and a half.
Of the various species of Aphrodita which have hitherto come under inspection, this appears to be the nearest allied to A. squa- mata; but as the greater part of them chiefly diti'er in less ob- vious particulars than in general appearance, they require more
mmutc
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 109
minute description in order to ascertain the different species with any degree of precision. In most instances where they possess conspicuous lateral cirri, their shape will be found greatly to as- sist in discrimination.
Our reference to Gmclin for tliis species, it must be confessed, is not without very considerable doubt, especially as he has quoted a figure in Baster not in the smallest degree like, nor is it even of this genus. ]?ut possibly our species may be the same as that described by Pennant.
y^MPIIITRlTE InFUNDIBULUM.
Tab. VIII.
Body long ; joints numerous, distant, of an orange colour an- nulated witii whitish : fasciculi very small ; branchia; obscure : at the base of the tentacula a scalloped membrane : tentacula two, semicircular when spread, and nearly uniting into a regular circle ; these are each comj)osed of about thirty-seven rays, con- nected by a transparent web, except at the points, which turn a little inwards ; the outside of these singularly beautiful arms is smooth, and of a purple colour, darkest at the tips of the rays; the inside is most elegantly ciliated with two rows of fimbriae along each ray, of a chesnut colour shaded to a purple near the centre : mouth purple, the lips bordered with chesnut.
Tliis animal is capable of the most sudden contraction, from eight or ten inches in length, to three or four; it has between a hundred and fifty and a bundled and sixty joints, becoming very small at the posterior end.
The case or tube formed by tliis species of Amphitrite is wholly gelatinous, of a very firm and elastic nature, greenish on the outside, but usually stained black by the soil they in- habit. These cases are composed of many layers or strata, and 4 when
.110 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals
■when the first coat is removed, the remaining pari is quite hya- line, and the animal nearly as distinctly seen as through glass.
This new and interesting species I discovered in the estuary of Kingsbridge, near the Salt stone, but not common, and only uncovered at the lowest ebb of spring tides. The case is buried beneath the surface, and is only discoverable by a small portion above, appearing like a piece of black jelly. When the tide re- turns, the animal displays its beautiful tentacula, but rarely ex- poses its body. Confined in a glass of sea water, it sickens in a few days ; and if not changed, evacuates its tube and dies.
In its native abode it recedes on the least alarm, and when the gelatinous case is taken in the hand, and the animal is extended within it, the sudden contraction within the tremulous tube produces a singular, and instantaneous, vibrative shock to the parts in contact, that, being unexpected, creates surprise.
The essential character of this species is the connected fibres of the tentacula, in which it differs from all others hitherto de- scribed.
Tbrebella tentaculata.
Tab. VI. Fig. 2.
Body long and slender, composed of more than two hundred annulations, each furnished Avith two fasciculi of very minute bristles : no eyes : branchiae obscure : from the sides issue very long, red, capillary appendages, most numerous near the anterior end, but the point, or snout, is destitute of them, and becomes more acuminated ; the mouth is placed beneath : the posterior end is also obtusely pointed.
Length eio;ht or nine inches.
The colour of the upper part is olive-green, the under part dull orange.
Tlie lateral filiform appendages are continually in motion, ap- pearing
found on the South Coast of Devonshire. Ill
pearing like slender red worms contorting in all directions round the animal ; after death these usually curl up, when they first become orange, and in a little time wholly lose their colour.
This curious species of vermes was taken from a piece of timber that had been perfoliated by pholades, and was destitute of any natural covering.
It is extremely difficult, in the present state of our imperfect knowledge of the marine MoUusca, to class many of them by the characters prescribed by even the more modern authors. That the difference in opinion as to the arrangement of such amorphose animals whose connecting links are so extremely si- milar, and appearance so variable, will scarcely ever admit of their being brought within the reasonable bounds of generic distinction, must be obvious to those who have attended more closely to the subject of helminthology : the best authors seem to confirm this opinion by their discordant arrangement.
It may be doubted whether the animal in question be nearest allied to the Terehclla or Nereis, or even whether it strictly be- long to either.
Nereis pinnigeka. Tab. VI. Fig. 3.
Body long and slender, with numerous opaque white joints transversely marked with yellow, and furnished at the sides with long tiat appendages that flow over the back : tentacula scarcely distinguishable, unless the longer appendages in front be such ; eyes four, chocolate colour : the posterior end suddenly de- creases, and becomes very small, as if that part had been new- ly formed ; a circumstance of no unreasonable conjecture, as it is well known that many of the MoUusca tribe are capable of reproduction.
Length an inch and a half
HoLOTUUUIA
112 Mr. Montagu's Descr'qttlon of several Marine Animals
IIoiiOTHUuiA Pentactes, var. Tab. VII. Fig. 4.
Cylindric, white, covered with a mottled fihn or epidermis that seems to obscure the real colour : along the body are five rows 'of papilla? disposed in double series, that at times give it a sub- pentangular form ; but shape is a vague character in many of these animals, as in this some parts are often inflated, Avhile others are contracted. The anterior end, for an inch or more, is of a purplish- brown, and furnished with eight large, and U\o very small contiguous, elegantly ramous tentacula of a purple and yellow colour; the tips of all the smaller ramifications are of the latter. When the animal was alive it was observable that one of the least arms, or tentacula, was always covering the mouth, and for that purpose were alternately in motion : the space within the arms is purple; the lips or margin of the aperture white : the posterior end is furnished with a small pen- tangular opening of a red colour, through which the Avater was observed to be taken in, as well as ejected.
Length, when fully extended, six inches ; diameter half an inch.
It is probably an inhabitant of the deep, as it was found on the sands at Milton, after a storm. When put into a glass of sea water it showed no signs of life for a considerable time, but was contracted, so that the tentacula, and all the anterior end coloured with purple, Avere drawn in and obscured.
This species of Holothuria bears more afiinity to H. Pentactes than to any other ; yet after a careful examination of the various figures given by several authors, some doubts remain on the subject.
LUCERNARIA
found on the South Coast of Devonshire, 113
Li'CKUNARIA AuUICULA.
Tab. VII. Fig. 5.
Lucernaria Auricula. Gmel. Syst. p. 3151.
Ilolotluiria lagenam refcrens, tentaculis octonis fasciculatis. Mull. Proflr. Zool. Ban. 28 IC.
Pellucid, green, brown, purple, red, or ytllow, and all tlie in- termediate shades in ditFerent subjects : peduncle short, cylindric, sub-angular: arms usually eight surrounding the mouth, con- nected by a thin membrane almost to the top, the apex of each furnished with numerous short clavate appendages; between each arm on the margin of the web is a small oval reflected vesicle.
Length three quarters of an inch ; expansion of the arms full as much.
The arms of these animals are in continual motion, catchina: their prey, and carrying it to their mouths. .
Of the three known species of Lucernaria., this is the only one which has occurred on our coasts, and that not frequent; seve- ral, however, were taken together in Salcomb Bay, at an un- usually low tide, adhering to algae.
The figure represents a variety with only seven arms.
REFERENCES TO THE FIGURES.
Tab. II. Fig. 1. Cancer floridus.
tumefactus. ti^o^^-/^'
(■
3. denticulatus.
Tab. III. Fig. 1. 2. subterraneus.
3. 4. Oniscus thoracicus. 5. Cancer stellatus. VOL.IX. Q Tab. IV.
114 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals.
Tab. IV. Fig. 1. Cancer Locusta.
2. Pulex.
3. Saltator.
4. littoreus.
5. grossimanus.
6. Talpa.
Tab. V. Fig. 1. rubricatus.
2. falcatus.
3. multipes.
4. ■ — gibbosus.
5. Oniscus Testudo. 6. gracilis.
7. Phalangium spinosum.
8. — aculeatum.
Tab. VI. Fig. 1. Bulla Hydatis.
2. Terebclla tentaculata.
3. Nereis pinnigera. Tab. VII. Fig. 1, Doris longicomis.
2. nodosa.
3. Aphrodita Clava.
4. Holothuria Pentactes, var.
5. Lucernaria Auricula. Tab. VIII. Amphitrite Infundibulum.
III. An
li'tiii Tniiij. V.I. !X. till'. ■:./>. U.I.
am.rrans. VolM.btl>.i./>.Ji.l.
linn Jrall J . Vol.11, bll: ■t.p.S4 •
'*****^..
/.M/;.7'mii.i. h/./A.f,l/>.^,./i.JI4.
' f^^
/-/■// /; . 7hi/t,t. r \ 'l.ix. hi if. 6. p. a / .
linn. Tran.r VolJX.liib.-.p.a.i\
-"-^^T^
Liiin.Tni/is. Vil.lX.hib.f./i. Ul.
( 115 )
III. An Account of the Indian Badger; the Ursus indicns of Share's Zoology. Bi/ Lieutenant Colonel Tlioniaa Ilardn^icke, F.L.S.
Read November 5, ]80,5.
As the descriptions of the Indian Badfjer given by the Iat<? Mr. Pennant, in his. Tlistoi-i; of Quadrupeds, No. 216, and by Doctor Shaw, in his General Zoology, Vol. i. page 470, are un- accompanied by figures of that animal, I beg leave to submit to the Linnean Society an accurate drawing (Tab. IX.) of a fulj- trrown livins subject, with such remarks relative to the manners of the animal as were obtained from the natives of India, and from observation of a living one kept in my possession more than twelve months.
To Mr. Pennant's description, the following remark may be added — ^The claws are unequal : those of the fore feet very long, and awl-shaped ; the three middle ones much longer than the two lateral ; the interior toe very remote from the rest : those of the hind toes remarkably short, nearly equal, and bearing no comparison to the strength of the claws of the fore feet.
The subject here figured was a female: in length two feet four inches, of which the tail measured four inches. In height eleven inches. At A. is exhibited the under side of the hind foot.
This animal is found in several parts of India along the courses of the Ganges and Jumna, between the fortress of Chunar Ghur and Delhi: more particularly where the country is cut into ravines, and in the high banks which in many parts border those rivers. It is rarely seen by day ; but at night visits neighbouring towns and villages, inhabited by Mahomedans, and scratches up the
Q 2 recent)/
Il6 Lieut. Col. Hardwicke's Account of the Indian Badger.
recently buried bodies of the dead, unless they are thickly co- vered with thorny bushes.
The natives, when encouraged by the expectation of pur- chasers, dig these animals out of their subterraneous retreats, and take them alive : the full-grown ones are with difficulty se- cured, and seldom bear confinement long, but roll and beat themselves about till they die. When taken young, they are very manageable, docile, and playful. It is a bold animal ; its hide remarkably thick, and its strength too much for most dogs of common size. Its general food is flesh in any state: but it is remarkably eager after birds ; and crows, which were some- times given to the badger I had domesticated, were devoured with impatient avidity. Living rats seemed almost equally ac- ceptable: and it seldom lost the opportunity of springing upon common fowls, when they happened incautiously to be feeding within tlie length of its chain. It has the inclination to climb tipon walls, hedges, and trees ; this, however, it seems to exe- cute clumsily, but seldom falls, and will ramble securely upon every arm of a branching tree, that proves strong enough to bear its weight without much motion. This species burrows M-ith great facility ; scratching the earth like a dog Avith the- fore feet, and expelling the loosened soil to the distance of two or three yards backwards. In ten minutes it M'ill work itself under cover in the hardest ground : and is restless till it can form such a retreat to sleep in. It sleeps much by day ; is watchful during the night; discovering inquietude by a hoarse call or bark, proceeding from the throat. The hair of this ani- mal is short and wiry, nor has it any of the softness of fur.. This quadruped is known to the natives of Hindustan by the name of Bcejoo.
Tab. IX. represents the Ursus indicns, one fourth of its natural
size.
IV. A
/.iiiiilhins. n.a' lab. >)./<. uli.
lOin Trunt- V.i. IX. lab.;}. p. n£-
( 117 )
IV. A Botanical Sketch of the Genus Concltiufn. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F. R. S. P. L. S.
Read March 4, 1806.
♦THEN the plants of New Holland were first examined, they presented, as I have had several occasions to remark, so much novelty and singularity to the systematic Ijotanist, that the ut- most caution was requisite in fixing their genera, and even, in some instances, their species. The proteus-like nature of the leaves of some kinds of Mimosa, Melrosideros, Embothrium, Eri~ ostemon and others, might baffle the most acute observer, and elude the most able discriminator. I am obliged to Mr. Salis- bury for first suggesting that my Mctrosideros lanceolata, linearis, and saligna. Trans, of Linn. Sac. v. iii. 271, 272, are all varieties of one species, and that there are still more of the same in the gardens about London. I could scarcely have assented to this, had I not lately seen, in the greenhouse of my friend Mr. Cooper of Norwich, three plants raised from the seeds of one capsule of Mctrosideros, of .which any botanist in the world, not pre-informedj would make two, if not three, species. In such cases experience must be our only guide; and the most lofty science is often obliged to stoop, even on more important occasions, to the suggestions of this faithful nurse of truth.
In the generic arrangement of such novel productions the greatest i)otauists have been most sensible of the difficulty of their task, and' have proceeded with proportionate caution.
Thus
118 Dr. Smith's Sketch of the Genus Concilium.
Thus the many new kinds of Froteacece, though b}' the jiulginoiit of Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander readily separated from Protea itself, were not rashly subdivided into too many genera, till time, and an opportunity of observing them in different "states, should throw sufiicient light upon the subject. Some of them indeed, constituting a clear and certain genus, were made known to the younger Linnajus by means of plates, and dried specimens, and named by him Banksia ; but a number of doubt- ful species have remained unsettled under the temporar3' deno- mination of false Banksice in the collections of those who had opportunities of acquiring New Holland specimens.
When the very imperfect materials, from which the botanical part of Dr. White's Voyage to New South Wales was composed, were put into my hands, I had not sufficient information to se- parate these false Banksice from the true ones. I therefore follow- ed Goertner in keeping them together, avoiding a precise defini- tion of the generic character till I had seen the flowers. Mr. Salisbury has done the same in the Prodromus of his garden, where is a more ample enumeration of species than had before appeared, but their characters are not so satisfactory as some of this writer's.
In Professor Willdenow's Species Plantarum eight species of Baiiksice are enumerated, which comprehend, besides the real Banksice, two other very distinct genera, Xylomelum and Con- cilium, whose characters are given in tlie 4th volume of the Lin- nean Society's Transactions, p. 214, 21o, and of the latter of which 1 shall now offer a further illustration.
The name, derived from ^cyx,-^, a bivalve shell, was given in allusion to the peculiar form of the fruit, to which it strikingly applies. I was not then aware that, a little before my paper was even read to the Society, this genus had been determined
at
Dr. Smith's Sketch of the Genus Conchitim. 119
at Gottingen by my friend Dr. Schrader, and published under the name of Hakea in his Sertum Hannoveranum, p. 27. t. 17, a name which the late Professor Cavaiiilles, justly regarding the right of priority, has preferred to mine. I might accede to this decision, however sorry to part with an apt and characteristic name, were I certain that Hakea were liable to no botanical ex- ception. I have not been able to consult Dr. Schrader, but the very last letter from my most candid and ever-lamented friend Cavanilles was decisively in favour of Conchium, which he said he should in future adopt*.
I shall now proceed to define 12 species of this genus from my own observation, referring to each the synonyms of preced- ing writers, so far as it is possible even to guess at them, and choosing the best names aft'orded by those writers for such spe- cies as are not altogether new. Of Mr. Donn's names I am cer- tain, having communicated them to him myself. His very use- ful work deserves every assistance.
For the character of the genus Conchium I need only refer to our 4th volume above quoted.
The species may be divided into 2 sections, the 1st with cylin- drical, the 2d with flat leaves; though even this striking dift'er- ence is not absolutely without exception, as will appear from the description of my 7th species, Conchium trifurcatum,
* Foliis teretibus.
1. CoNCiiiuai gibbosum, foliis teretibus sub-pubescentibus fructu parCim loiigioribus, corolla glabrti, capsulis ovato-subro- tundis liibbosis rugosis. Conchium a:il)bosum. Donii. Cant. 21.
* M. Ventcnat has also preferred ihis name for the genus before us, in his splendid Jardin de la Ulalmaiion.
Banksia
120 Dr. Smith's Sketch of the Gemis Conchium.
Banksia gibbosa. White. Voy. 224. t. 22. f. 2. JViUden. Sp.
PL V. 1. 536. B. pinifolia. Salisb. Prod. 51 ? Hakca gibbosa. Cavan. Ic. v. 6. 24. t. 534. JI. pubescens. Schrad. Sert. 27 ?
Near Port Jackson, New South Wales. Dr. IVhitc.
The leaves of this species are from an inch and half to two inches long, as thick as a crow's quill, exactly cylindrical, blunt- ish, tipped with a sharp spine; Avhen young they are clothed with short whitish hairs, which sometimes, but not always, fall off when the leaves are very old. Young branches hairy. Flowers axillary, two or three together, white, on simple very hairy stalks. Corolla quite smooth. Capsules solitary, the size of a moderate walnut, black and rugged, very protuberant at their under side ; the valves extremely thick and woody, each tipped with a short sharp point ; the cavity very small, eccentric and uneven. Seeds with black membranous wings, resembling gauze or crape.
2. Conchium spharoideum, foliis teretibus longitudine fruct<is rainisque villosis, capsulis orbiculato-depressis laeviusculis.
Near Port Jackson. Dr. White.
Leaves scarcely more than an inch long, very hairy. Branches clothed with dense woolly hairs. Capsules of a rusty brown, the size of the last, but much smoother, and of a different shape, being, when viewed vertically, almost orbicular, but de- pressed, their points scarcely projecting beyond the circumfe- rence. I have seen no flowers.
3. Conchium
Dr. Smith's SIceich of the Genus Conchium. 121
3. Conchium ackulare, foliis tcretibus glabris longitudinc fructCis, corollA glabrd, capsulis ovato-subrotundis rugosis apioc productis.
Concilium aciculare. Bonn. Cant. 21.*
Banksia tenuifolia. Salisb. Prod. 51 ?
Hakea scricea. Schrad. Sert. 27?
Near Port Jackson. Dr. White.
This is in all its parts about half the size of C. gibbosum, and the leaves are at every period of their growth (as far as I have seen) quite smooth, though the Hower-stalks and young branches are silky. The whole fruit is more oblong than in the two former, but its lateral protuberances are more globose.
4. Conchium longifoliuni, foliis teretibus glabris fructu triple
longioribus, corolhl sericeo-villosa. Conchium longifolium. Donn. Cant. 21. Banksia teretifolia. Salisb. Prod. 51.
Sent from Port Jackson. Mr. Donn.
The leaves are 3 inches long, or more, spinous, as in the three foregoing, apparently always smooth as well as the branches, but the corolla and flower-stalks are clothed with white silky close-pressed hairs, exactly as in C. pugioniforme.
5. Conchium compressum, foliis teretibus glabris vix longitudine
fructCis, capsulis ovatis compressis torulosis.
Near Port Jackson. Dr. White.
I have not seen the flowers of this species. The capsules are * Conchium aciculare. VentenatJard.de la Malmaismt, t. \n.
VOL. IX. R o,.ate,
122 Dr. Smith's Sketch of the Genus Coiichium^
ovate, partaking but little of the globular protuberant form of those above described, and are not more than an inch long. The leaves are scarcely so much, and are fully as slender as those of C. aciculare.
6. CoNCHiuM pugioniforme, foliis teretibus glabris, corollii seri-
ceo villosS, capsulis lanceolatis mucronatis basin versvls
muricatis. Hakea pugioniformis. Cavan. Ic. v. 6. 24. t. 533. H. glabra. Schrad. Serf. 27- t- 17- Near Port Jackson. Dr. JVJitte.
Leaves an inch, or inch and half long, always smooth, as well as the branches. The capsules are very peculiar. The flowers and their stalks agree with those of C. longifolium, which may probably be a variety of the present species, but this can only be determined by comparing their ripe capsules, which I have never been able to do.
7. CoNCHiUM trifurcatum, foliis teretibus trifidis : quandoque
dilatatis simplicibus ellipticis planis, corolla villosS,.
Gathered by Mr. Menzies at King George's Sound, on the west coast of New Holland, latitude 35.
This species is most remarkable for the variation in its leaves from a cylindrical to a broad flat figure, even on the same branch. In the same leaf indeed it sometimes happens that the lower half is flat, the upper cylindrical. The most general form of the leaves, however, is cylindrical, divided^ about half way down into three, nearly equal, spreading, spinous points. The flowers and flower-stalks are shaggy, with spreading hairs, not
silky.
* * Foliis
Dr. Smith's Sketch of the Genus Concilium. 123
* * Foliis planis.
8. CoNcniuM dactyhidcs*, foliis obovato-oblongis mucroniilatis triplincrvibus venosis, capsulis ovatis acutis. Concilium nervosum. Donn. Cant. 21. Hakea dactyioidcs. Cavan. Ic. v. 6. 25. t. 535. Banksia dactyloides. Gccrtn. v. 1. 221. t. 47. /. 2. B. olcaefolia. Salish. Prod. 54.
Near Port Jackson. Dr. White.
The leaves are flat, thick and rigid, smooth, entire, obovate, but varying in breadth and length, tapering at the base, and tipped Avith a short obtuse spine. They are marked with three principal nerves united above the base, the spaces between which arc occupied either by transverse interbranching veins, or by other parallel nerves. Flowers small, white, veiy numerous, from axillary buds, in dense hairy tufts. Corolla smooth. Cap- sule ovate, acute, rugged, scarcely gibbous.
I should still gladly have called this C. nervosum, did I not to- tally disapprove of changing names given by good authors, im- less when positively false or bad. Gaertner having seen only the capsules, could scarcely have contrived a better name than he did, and Cavanilles has given it additional authority. I have ascertained Ga^rtner's original name from Sir Joseph Banks's herbarium since I suggested to Mr. Donn that of nervosum.
9. CoNCiiiuM ellipticum, foliis eUipticis retusis muticis quin- quenervibus reticulato-venosis, capsulis ovatis obtusis. Brought by Mr. Menzies from King George's Sound. Leaves 2i inches long and 1 broad, exactly elliptical, obtuse,
* CoDchium dactyloides, Ventenat Jard.de h Malmaison, t. IIO.
R 2 without
124 Dr. Smith's Sketch of the Genus Conchium.
without spines, entire, almost sessile, somewhat glaucous, mark- ed with five nerves which all spring from the base, and the spaces, between which are beautifully reticulated with very numerous veins. Young branches downy. Capsule much like the last» but more obtuse. The flowers I have not seen.
10. CoNcmuM oleifolium, foliis elliptico-lanceolatis mucronula-
tis uninervibus, capsulis ovatis gibbosis torulosis.
Near King George's Sound. Mr. Menzies.
FuIl-groM'u leaves scarcely an inch and half long, smooth and even, entire, obtuse, spinous, thick and rigid, Avith one nerve which throws off a few, scai'cely perceptible, simple veins. When young, the leaves and branches are silky. Flowers smooth^ in short axillary spikes, with a hairy common stalk, and smooth partial ones. Capsule ovate, gibbous on one side, and very rugged all over.
11. CoNcmuM ccratophyllum, foliis trilobis pinnatifidis, capsulis
ovatis compressis.
Near King George's Sound. Mr. Menzies^
Very remarkable for its large branching divaricated leaves, from '2 to 4 inches long, hard and rigid, obscurely ribbed, with all their lobes and teeth spinous. When young they are silky, as well as the flowers and their stalks, with a rusty tinge. Cap- sule of a narrow ovate compressed form, its outer coat smooth,, and, as far as can be judged from its present appearance, succu- lent.
12. Conchium salignum, foliis lineari-lanceolatis acutis muticis uninervibus, capsulis ovatis gibbosis recurvis.
Conchium
Dr. Smith's Sketch of the Genus Cotichium. 125
Concilium salignum. Donn. Cant. 21. Embothrium salignum. Aiulr. Repos. t. 215.
A native of the country near Port Jackson. It flowered at Messrs. Lee and Kennedy's in 1791, and in the conservatory of Thomas Johnes, Esq. at Hafod, in June 1798, from wliich last place I have received ri^ie capsules, serving to determine the genus.
The leaves are 5 or 6 inches long, smooth and pliable, of a narrow lanceolate form, entire, acute, but not spinous, furnish- ed with one nerve, and a few lateral veins. Flowers small, white, smooth, in smooth axillary umbels. Capsule ovate, recurved! very gibbous, and somewhat rugged at each side, tapering at the base. Each of its valves Is tipped with a lateral spinet as in several of the species that have cylindrical leaves.
^^ . , ,, J- E. Smith.
Norwich, March 3, 1806.
V. An
( 126 )
V. An Inquiry into the Genus of the Tree called by Pona Abelicea cretica. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S.
Read March 18, 1806.
Botanists in investigating the tropical climates, have found there a copious harvest of arborescent plants, whose profusion, splendour and importance have, in a great measure, diverted their attention from the more diminutive and less ostentatious tribes of vegetables. On the other hand those situated in less luxuriant regions, have, in bending the chief part of their atten- tion to the minute and intricate plants of sucli countries, too often slighted the apparently few and easy ones which were pre- sumed to require little scientific examination. Hence we have been made acquainted with but a small part of the mosses, lichens, or other unornamental plants of hot countries, while the trees of cold ones have experienced a similar kind of neglect. I speak, however, in general terms only; for the curious and am- ple discoveries of a Swartz and a Menzies afford an exception to the former part of my position, as the labours of an Ehrhart do to the latter. Some allowance indeed is to be made for the difficulties of studying the species of Populus, Sali.i, Betula, Ulmiis, Sac. arising from the different seasons of their flowering and leafing, as well as their sexual differences. On the same o-round I would apologize for those naturalists who have, since the days of Pona and Clusius, visited Crete without taking any notice of their Abelicea, or Bastard Sandal-wood, a tree which 1 though
Dr. Smith on the Abelicea creiica of Fona. 127
though in some degree an object of commerce, seems, as far as we know, peculiar to that island, and wliich no systematic au- thor, that 1 can find, has noticed. Those great compilers and observers, Adanson and Lariiarck, have passed it over in silence. I shall first collect the slight memorials of this tree Avliich al- ready exist, and then add what I have been able to ascertain
concerning it.
The earliest and most original account of the Abelicea is found in Clusius's Historia Plantarum, part 2, p. 302, in a letter to that great botanist from Ilonorio Belli, dated Crete, October 1st 1594, and this it is Avorth -while to translate.
" Abelicea, seeds of which I now send, is a large upright tree, *' with abundance of branches, and of a handsome appearance. " Its leaves are like those of the Alateinus, but rounder and " deeply serrated. With the floAvers I am unacquainted. The " fruit is the size of pepper, almost round, its colour between " green and black. I'he wood is hard, with a slight degree of " fragrance, insomuch that its saw-dust resembles that of san- " dal wood, and it might properly be denominated Bastard San- " dal-wood of Crete. This tree grows only on the highest sum- " mits of the white mountains, and is used for making beams. " I believe it to have been unknown to the antients, unless it « may be the INIountain Elm of Theophrastus, described in his " 3d book, chap. 14, but the leaves are neither slightly serrated, " nor so large as those of a pear; on the contrary they are much " smaller. It is called aVfA/xia,"
Bona, in the Italian edition of his Description of Mount Bal- dus, published in I617 at Venice, p. 112, gives a wooden cut of the blanches and leaves of the tree in question, which figure he received from Honorio BelU. A description is annexed, very nearly agreeing word for word with the above, but certainly not
copied
128 -Dr- Smith's Inqii'mj into the Genns
copied from the publication of Clusiiis, for the following pas- sages are interspersed that " he hopes another year to send
Pona the flowers," that " the fruit as above described was un- ripe," and that " the wood is red.*' The particular place of growth, and the reference to Theophrastus are omitted, but Pona subjoins the following information.
" The trunks of this tree have been, within a short time, •' brought to Italy, and bought by some persons, who sold them " for Sandal-wood. It differs, however, from the genuine wood " of that name, especially in being less heavy."
Prom these writers the AbcUcea found its way into Bauhin's Piiiax^ p. 393, by the name of Pseudoscmtalum Crcticum, but without any new observation. The account of it, extracted from Clusius, occurs also in J. Bauhin's Historia Plantariim, V. i. 490, without a figure, or any reference to Pona. In Ray's Historia Plaiitarum, v. ii. 1805, we find merely a transcript of J. Eauhin, with a reference to Parkinson, Avhose book I have not at hand, but it can scarcely contain any further information on this subject.
On turning to Theophrastus I find no reason to consider it as his cpsiTTTsXicc or Mountain Elm, for the only characters given of that tree, and Avhich are quoted by Belli in the above extract, serve to prove them perfectly different plants.
In Tournefort's herbarium specimens of the Abelicea, Avith a reference to John Bauhin, are preserved, but I can find no men- tion of it either in his Voi/age, his Instifufioiies, or his Corollarium. He probably gathered it in Crete, but did not observe the fructi- fication.
Specimens ga thered, ei ther by that great French botanist or others
of his time, are to be found in A^arious collections. One of them
was sent by Schrcber to Linnseus, without fructification, marked
4 with
of the Abelicea creiica of Pona, 129
with C. Bauhin's synonym. Tliis Linnaeus never ventured to de- scribe, lie had received from some other quarter an equally imperfect specimen of the tree named in tlie Hortiis Kewensis, Ulmus nemoralis, which bears at least a generic resemblance in habit to the Abelicea, but the leaves are twice as large, and not downy (except near tlie nerves) beneath. These two specimens LinnKus pinned together, and wrote on the last-mentioned ABCdaria, laying them both into the genus Quercus. 'Whether this arose from the slight resemblance between the names Abeli- cea and ABCdaria I will not venture to guess, but the latter denomination, used by Rumphius only, belongs to a Vcrbesina, and has no proper connection with the plants of which I am speaking.
The union of these two specimens in the Linnean herbarium first led me to suspect the Abelicea might be an Ulmus, or at least next akin to that genus. Specimens of the Ulmus nemoralis, in flower and fruit, were given to the younger Linnceus at Paris, by the name of Ulmus pohjgama, and I think there can be no doubt of its being what Pallas has described and figured under the denomination of Rhatnnus carpinifoliusy FL Ross. v. i. t. 60 though he justly dqubted whether he were right as to the genus. The fruit, indeed, in the imperfect state in which Pallas as well as LinncEus had it, is not much like an Ulmus, but it bears less resemblance to a lUiajimus.
In Dr. Sibthorp's herbarium I find specimens of the Abelicea, gathered by him probably in Crete, though no mark is annexed to then), nor do I discover any mention of the Abelicea amono- his papers. These specimens, however, are valuable for beino- in fruit, and they agree in that part with the supposed Ulmtil above mentioned. On these grounds I have ventured to admit the tree in question into my Prodromus Flortc Gracce by the name
VOL. IX. s of
J30 Dr. Sjiith on the AhcUcca creiica of~Pona.
of Ulnius? Abclicca, hoping to excite otliers, whenever they may have an opportunity, to examine its living fructification, as well as that of the Uhiius nemoralis. By this means their genus, •which is certainly one and the same, tliougli perhaps different from IJlmus, but which I am obliged to leave in doubt, AviJl be ascertained. It is thus that botanists should co-opcratc to bring their " lovely science" to perfection. Linnaeus and other great masters have necessarily left many things imperfect and in doubt, particularly with regard to genera. These I have uni- formly lent my aid, whatever it may be, to elucidate from time to time, particularly such as concern the Flora of Britain, being, if I mistake not, tlie first writer among us who undertook to. examine them, and who did not implicitly copy Linnaeus as a matter of course. I am now pursuing the same plan in the Greek Flora. Much must be left for following observers, and I have always preferred leaving things as they are, to any hasty or rash alteration. Several have taken up the same subject ; none with moi"e zeal than Mr. Salisbury, and I trust he will pursue it so as to render service to the science. The Avorld is now in ex- pectation of a learned essay on this subject frorii his pen.
J. E.. Sjmith..
Norwich, March 15, 1806..
VI. An
( 131 )
VI. An Inqtihy into the real Dauciis Gingidium of Linncem. By James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S.
Read April 1, 1806.
1 HAVE often had occasion to remark that when Linnaeus adopt- ed species of plants into his systematic works on the authority of other authors, he has been peculiarly liable to error. There seems to be a fatality attending his medicinal plants, no doubt from the great difficulty of penetrating through the clouds with wliich ignorance, interest and fraud for the most part envelop such articles of the Materia Medica as are brought from remote countries. Even when all these sources of delusion do not exist, bad figures and iiliperfect descriptions are but fallacious guides; nor is any thing but the sight of a good specimen sufficient to prevent mistake^, even in the most wary, occupied in so vast a study as botany is now become.
Sometimes Linnaeus was induced by a striking figure, name or description, to attempt a characteristic definition of a plant ^vhich he had never seen. Li that case he generally retained its original denomination as a specific name. Now it frequently- happened, from the defects of his authorities, or a failure in his own memory, that when he saw the real plant he did not know it, and perhaps described it over again as new. His va- rious editors could scarcely detect such mistakes, and perhaps would hardly dare to suspect them. Even when he commits an error in copying a synonym, tliej seem afraid of correcting
s 2 vhat
132 Dr. Smith's Inquiry
"what is olwiously wrong ,- or else they have been unpardonably negligent in not turning to the authors quoted, for this at least was in their power, and it is one of the things which is, of all others, most indispensable in an editor. How necessary it is with respect to the editions of Linnteus's works, printed and re- printed by awkward and ignorant hands in various countries, no one who has used them can be uninformed. I had abundant ex- perience of this necessity in republishing even his original Flora Lapponica, and the history of Daucus Giugidlum will aiford ex- amples of every thing to which I have just alluded.
This plant is mentioned in the 1st edition of the Species Plan- tarttm, p. 242, with the following definition. Daucus radiis in- volucri planis : luciniis rcciirvis, and a reference to Van Koycn's Florce Leydemis Prodromiis, is subjoined. There we find the same specific character, as well as the same quotations of Bauhin and Matthiolus,cxceptthat Van Royen cites the large Vaigrisian edition of the latter writer, andl.innajus the small one, not having the other. No further information is to be found in Van Royen. Linnaeus quotes a synonym from Magnol, and another from Boccone'sPfo/j^^e Sicilice, both which appear to me very doubtful. It is not, liow- ever, necessary to scrutinize them, as tl'e authority of this spe- cies evidently depends on the figures of Matthiolns. from which the character is in a great measure taken. Linnaeus had no spe- cimen of it in his herbarium, but as he has not amiexed the cross (f) to express his never having seen it, J presume he might have examined a specimen in the hands of his confidential friend Van Royen.
In the 2d edition of the Species Planfarum, every thing is re- peated from the former, with the addition of a synonym from Tournefort, Daucus montanus tucidus. Town. Inst. 307, in which there is a remarkable error, for in Tournefort it is maritimus, not 4 montanus;.
into the real Daucns Ghigidium of Lhinaus. 133
monfanus', and yet this erroneous citation is perpetuated in the Vienna edition, in Heichard, and in Willdenow. How could these able editors at the same time overlook the excellent figure of Rivinus, Si ap/iylinus folio