W WIMJAINI (!. DIKTZ, M. I). 



lv|if of DoiiHs. Mcii,-. has tlu' tliifd and t'ourth iibdoiiiinal .segments 

 very short. Tlu' tibial nmcro is more strongly developed in the long 

 braked species. In the .s'«/(f///..s group alone do we find all the tarsi 

 e(pially dilated, as in most Listronoti ; all the other species have the 

 hind tarsi longer and slender. 



The species are most closely related and often difficult to separate, 

 and, as far as my observation goes, poorly represented in the majority 

 of collections, diu\ ])robably in part, to the small size of most of 

 them and also to an apparent lack of interest in the Rhynchophorous 

 scries in general. As to their habits of life I have nothing to offer. 

 I'he majority of the long beaked species appears to be phytophagous, 

 while the short beaked ones seem to be more geophagous in their 

 habits. Some of those found on the ground under stones, etc., are 

 encrusted with earthy material, glued together by some exudation 

 from the derm and generally difficult to remove. 



The geographical distribution is somewhat interesting. The ma- 

 jority of the species seem to prefer the temperate belt of the Atlantic 

 slope, but relatively few being found on the Pacific side of the Rocky 

 Mountains. Florida possesses a few, especially interesting species of 

 its own, whose congeners may probably be looked for among the 

 insect faunas of the West Indies. 



The males have the last ventral segment subtruncate, the anal 

 segment frequently protruding. The females have the same seg- 

 ment broadly rounded. 



Although placed by Jekel among his Platygyni heterorhini, I have 

 often failed to recognize a difference in the rostrum of both sexes. 



The basis for the diagnosis of the species into groups is evident, 

 juid needs no further elucidation. 



In concUuling these prefatory remarks I take this opportunity to 

 express my thanks to all who have assisted me with the material at 

 their disposal, especially so to my friends Dr. Horn and Mr. Ulke, 

 without whose rich collections this paper would have fallen short in 

 attaining its purpose, and to the former also for kind advice in the 

 l>reparation of the same. 



Synopsis of Groups. 



Second joint of fuuicle slender aud longer than the first, latter stout, subtur- 

 binate. All the tarsi stout, third joint dilated, bilobed; last joint 

 shorter than the others combined. Plate I. fig. 1...SOLUTUS Group. 



Fii-st and second joints of fuuicle equal, or nearly so. except in hyperodes. Plate 

 I. fisr. :5. 



