THECESTERNUS. . 87 
This species formerly occurred under the dried dung of the bison, but appears to be 
now very rare. It must be variable, as Leconte separated it into six species at one 
time. Herr Hége procured only one pair; these agree with an individual from the 
United States kindly forwarded to me by Dr. Horn, the insect being excessively rare in 
European collections. 
Subfam. OTIORHY NCHINE. 
Otiorhynchide, Leconte and Horn, Rhynchophora of N. America, p. 13. 
Brachyderides, Otiorhynchides (part.), Lacordaire. 
This subfamily is defined in a satisfactory manner by the existenre of a scar on each of 
the mandibles, due to the detachment of a peculiar pair of cutting instruments, supposed 
to be used by the insect for freeing itself when emerging from the pupal stage. 
I propose to divide the subfamily into two divisions, consisting (I.) of the apterous, 
(1I.) of the winged Otiorhynchine. 
Series OTIORHYNCHINA APTERA. 
Alse rudimentarise. Metanotum membraneum. 
These important characters divide the Otiorhynchine in a natural manner, and 
though they cannot be directly observed without breaking up the specimen, as the 
elytra are frequently more or less soldered together in the apterous forms, yet it is very 
easy to distinguish the members of the two groups by external minor characters. In the 
‘“‘ Otiorhynchine aptere” there are no prominent shoulders to the elytra; the exposed 
portion of the scutellum is usually very minute, and scarcely penetrates at all between 
the exposed parts of the wing-cases; the metasternum is always short; and the part of 
the mesothoracic episterna left uncovered by the elytra is small or moderate in size. 
Although this latter point is very variable it is of great assistance in separating the 
insects of the two groups, and indeed was made use of by Horn as a means of dividing 
the family. 
In the “ Otiorhynchine alate” the shoulders of the elytra are distinct and stand out 
more or less laterally, the tip of the scutellum separates the exposed bases of the 
elytra, the metasternum is either elongate or short, and the uncovered part of the 
mesothoracic episterna is either moderate in size or large. 
Group OPHRYASTINA. 
This group includes all the apterous Otiorhynchine of our region that have. ocular 
lobes on the prothorax. As regards this point it should be remarked that there are some 
species in which it is difficult at first sight to determine whether ocular lobes are present 
or not; but in such cases the form of the eye will determine the point, it being more 
