THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 



THE COLEOPTERA OF CANADA. 



BY H. F. WICKHAM, IOWA CITV, IOWA. 



XXXI. The Pythid.e of Ontario and Quebec. 



While ihe Canadian species of this family are not numerous, they 

 are of considerable interest, and, because of the scattered nature of the 

 literature, often quite difficult to identify. The present paper, while con- 

 taining little that is new, will serve to bring together in concise form the 

 information necessary to enable the beginner to examine his material 

 intelligently. 



In the Leconte and Horn "Classification," the following characters 

 are used as defining the family : " Mouth-parts normal, palpi flexible, 

 front and middle tarsi with five, posterior with four joints. Anterior 

 coxal cavities open behind, head not strongly constricted at base, middle 

 cox£e not very prominent. Thorax not margined and without discal 

 basal impressions, antennie not received in grooves." In appearance, 

 the members difier considerably among themselves, some (for example 

 Pytho) being very much flattened, while others ( Lecontia, Boros, Prio- 

 gnathus) are much more convex and of elongate form, recalling that of 

 some Trogositidte. Two genera, Rhinosimus and Salpingns, contain 

 small species which are sufiiciently like some flattened Rhynchitidse 

 (e. g., Eugnamptus) to have led to their being placed in that family by 

 early describers. The table will serve to distinguish them generically : 

 A. Large or moderate sized. Head not produced into a beak, mandi- 

 bles visible beyond the labrum. 

 b. Third joint of antennje not longer than the fourth. 



Head behind the eyes gradually slightly \\z.xxo\vqx. Lecontia. 

 Head behind the eyes with a distinct though not strong 



constriction or neck = Boros. 



bb. Third joint of antennae distinctly longer than the fourth. 



Body very much flattened, depressed, elytra distinctly 



striate Pytho. 



Body subcylindrical, elytra punctured, with only faint 



indication of striate arrangement Priognathus. 



A A. Small. Head produced into a beak, mandibles exposed beyond 

 labrum. 



Beak broad and short Salpingus. 



Beak prolonged Rhhiosimus. 



The name Cryiitodcs has been altered to Lecoitia in the above 



