BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 251 



uuder Lyhceha. This genus was supposed by Mr. Pascoe to have 

 the three intermediate segments of the abdomen (but especially 

 the 2nd) curved at the sides, and a parallel-sided rostrum; 

 Enide to have straight (or almost straight) abdominal sutures and 

 subulate rostrum: but an examination of nine species convinces 

 me that these features are of specific importance only. In 

 incequalis the rostrum is more decidedly subulate than in any 

 species with which I am acquainted, and yet the three inter- 

 mediate segments are drawn backwards at the sides; in several 

 of the species having parallel-sided rostra the abdominal sutures 

 are almost straight. In Sforeus ( Emplesis) the abdominal 

 segments are subject to considerable variation as regards their 

 curvature, and Lyhceha resembles that genus in many other 

 features. In Apion there are species having subulate and others 

 having parallel-sided rostra. 



The sexual differences are usually very pronounced. In ^ the 

 scape is inserted nearer the apex of the rostrum than in 9, and is 

 usually the length of the funicle; in ^ it is almost invariably 

 shorter ; the rostrum of the 9, in the species in which it is 

 subulate, is very decidedly lessened both in width and depth, in 

 some of the species appearing remarkably thin when viewed from 

 the side; in the -J, possibly owing to the shorter distance between 

 the antennfe and the apex, the subulation is much less noticeable. 

 The apical segment of the abdomen in the 9 is transversely 

 depressed, sometimes very distinctly so. Following is a table of 

 the species : — 



Elytral interstices, or at least the .3rd, acutely ridged. 

 Metasternal episterna densely clothed, scales large 



and soft porphyrea, Pasc. 



Episterna less densely clothed, scales thinner and 

 sublinear in arrangement. 



Claw-joint strongly exserted astuans, Pasc. 



Claw-joint feebly exserted. 



Scape longer than funicle consanguinea, n.sp. 



Scape shorter than funicle nigrovaria. n.sp. 



Elytral interstices not ridged. 



Sides of 4th abdominal segment slightly embracing 

 the 5th. 



