BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 453^ 



The prothorax in the majority of species overhangs the head, 

 and this feature can be usefully employed. 



The presence or absence of a scutellum is not always to be 

 relied upon, though usually constant in a genus. A number of 

 apterous species possess it, suggesting that their ancestors once 

 possessed wings and large scutella, of which only the rudiments 

 are now left. On the other hand a few winged species have none 

 at all, the scutellum being replaced by a prothoracic lobe as in 

 the Cetonid genus Lomaftera. 



The elytra are closely joined together whether the species be 

 alate or apterous; the connection seems to be of the nature of a 

 double " tongue and groove." 



The abdominal segments are extremely useful in defining a 

 genus. The basal segment is nearly always larger than any of 

 the others ; the 2nd, however, frequently approaches it in size. 

 But it is the intermediates that are most characteristic; these 

 are always of equal size (except for the obliquity of their sides) 

 and similarly clothed and punctate ; often depressed and level 

 with the apical segment, sometimes deeply sunk, seldom equally 

 convex with the other segments, and in extremely few genera 

 varying specifically. The soldering of the segments together, and 

 the distinctness or otherwise of the sutures can also be usefully 

 employed. 



On removing the abdomen a peculiar feature is to be noticed 

 on each side of the elytra; this is a kind of receptacle to receive 

 a lateral lobe of the abdomen. In a number of genera it is more 

 distinct than in others, but in all that I have examined it is 

 easily traceable. It is usually of a lanceolate shape, and appears 

 to be a sudden enlargement of the hidden epipleurse (?). It is 

 alike in both sexes. Though present in all the Curculionidce, it 

 appears to attain its greatest development in the Cryptorliyiichides, 

 and perhaps next in the Ei'irhinides ; in some subfamilies 

 ( Leptop sides, Amycterides, etc.) it appears as a feeble elongate 

 impression, extending almost the entire length of the elytra. 



Good characters are offered by the legs ; nevertheless they 

 are not to be entirely relied upon. In a number of genera some 

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