19 



REVISION OF THE AMYCTERIDES. 



Part vi. Acantholophus. 

 By Eustace W. Ferguson, M.B., Ch.M. 



Acantholophus ( Macleay ) Schonh. 

 Schonherr, Mantissa Secunda Familiae Cureulionidum, 1847, p. 55. 



Elongate, comparatively narrow, more ovate in female ; size small to large. 



Head with upper surface more or less deeply concave in front, with simple 

 or compound crests above eyes. Kostrum short and thick, excavate above, clypeal 

 plate simk between the ends of the outer margins. Antennae long, slender. Eyes 

 generally ovate, sometimes round, rather finely faceted. Prothorax more or less 

 flattened abo\-e, lateral margins strongly explanate, and tubereulate, spinose or 

 dentate, disc marked by three transverse impressions, tlie median only distinct at 

 sides; generally with a distinctly marked median longitudinal area bounded on 

 each side by a row of tubercles. Elytra subti-uncate or emarginate at base, 

 rounded or more or less produced at apex; more or less obscurely pimcto-striate. 

 the interstices granulate, the granules often obsolete; with 3 rows of tubercles in 

 the majority of species, situated on the third, fifth and base of seventh inter- 

 stices. Ventral surface in male feebly concave over basal segments, elsewhere 

 flat or gently transversely convex; in female whole ventral surface convex. An- 

 terior coxae sub-contiguous; tibiae sometimes with sexual characters; posterior 

 tarsi always more or less elongate, never very short. 



Type of genus, Curculio marshami Kirby. 



The genus Acantholophus was formed by Schonherr for a number of species 

 previously placed iti Anii/cterus stirps la, and of which marshami was the type. 



The name was, however, in use by previous authors for this group of species, 

 and Macleay was quoted as the author; so that the nam© originally was probably 

 a manuscript one. Mr. Sloane informs me that it appeared in Dejean's Cata- 

 logue, 1834, as Acantholophus , Macleay. 



The first valid use of the name seems to have been by Guerin-Menevillo in the 

 Voyage de la Coquille, II., p. 122 (183?),* and his remarks should be (|uoted in 

 full:— 



•The exact date of publication of the parts of Guerin's work appears doubtful, vide 

 infra tinder A. echinatus. 



