330 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, 



Erirhinides, and the species before me differ in a still more 

 important character, some of them having a most unmistakable 

 channel running down the front part of the prosternum,* which, 

 according to M. Lacordaire, would take them out of the Erirhinides 

 altogether. The fact is, I think, that a careful study of the 

 Australian Ciircidionidce goes far to obliterate the received distinc- 

 tion between the Erirhinides and Cryj)tor]iynchides. There are 

 several genera {Enide, LyhcBba, &c.) which Mr. Pascoe at first 

 regarded as aberrant Erirhinides, and then somewhat hesitatingly 

 transferred to the Cryplorhynchides on account of their having a 

 prosternal longitudinal channel in conjunction with contiguous 

 anterior coxse ; and here we have a still greater difficulty of 

 classification in the existence among species so close inter se that 

 their specific distinction is no easy matter, both of a prosternum 

 that cannot be called decidedly canaliculate at all and of one that 

 is almost strongly canaliculate. In the species which I take to 

 be E. scolopax there is practically no prosternal channel, but 

 placed side by side with species having that character well- 

 developed it shows indications of a similar structure in the deep 

 emargiuation of the front of the prosternum and the presence of 

 an obscure carina on either side running from the front of the 

 coxse to the point in the front margin of the prosternum where the 

 emargination commences, the space intermediate between these 

 caringe being slightly depressed. It is perhaps a little puzzling 

 that Mr. Pascoe has not referred to this character, and it may be 

 that the insect I take to be E. scolopax is not really that species, 

 but at the same time the indication of a prosternal channel is so 

 slight that a describer not having before him any species of the 

 genus in which it is more evident, might naturally enough pass 

 it over without remark. I am not at all sure that the sex with 

 the longer and more slender rostrum is the female, but as Mr. 

 Pascoe seems to be clear on the point, I shall take it for granted 

 that he is right. The eyes are coarsely granulated (Mr. Pascoe 

 does not refer to their granulation). I may add that if these 



* There is some indication of a similar structure in Storeus. 



