460 COLEOPTERA OP NORTH AMERICA. 



broadly emavginate at tip, and the inner edge is acute. These 

 insects are easily known from other CurculionidiB by the nientuni 

 larger, more quadrate, slightly concave, and supported on a broad, 

 but not long, gular peduncle. The maxillfe are exposed as iu 

 the lower OtiOrhynchidae. and as ia all Curculionidte, and it there- 

 fore seems singular that Lacordaire should have classed them with 

 his Adelognathes Cyclophthalmes, without noting the exception 

 in this respect which they make in common with Cratopus and 

 Elytro'don.* The condyle of the base of the mandible is visible 

 on the outer side, the beak is short, broad, flat, and emarginate 

 at tip. The antennal grooves extend forwards quite to the base 

 of the mandibles ; they are short and curve abruptly downwards 

 behind, the insertion of the auteimie, which are geniculate, with 

 elongate annulated club covered with sensitive surface. The eyes 

 are small, rounded, convex, and rather finely granulated. The 

 front coxai are contiguous and prominent, the hind coxo3 widely 

 separated and extend to the side margin ; the tibia3 truncate at 

 tip, without terminal hook. Tarsi dilated, spongy beneath; claws 

 slender, simple, divergent. The ventral segments are not very 

 unequal, and the sutures are nearly straight. The side pieces of 

 the mesothorax are diagonally divided, and the epimera do not 

 largely attain the prothorax; those of the metathorax are narrow, 

 and suddenly dilated in front. 



A few species of Sitones occur in our fauna, some of which 

 are also found in Europe. 



Sub-Family II.— ALOPHIN^E. 



The small group of Curculionidse, represented in Europe by 

 Alophus, and in our fauna by several other genera, is sufficiently 

 distinct in its oral structure to warrant its reception as a sub- 

 family. The convex oval elytra, without humeral angles, and 

 with the posterior part strongly deflexed, added to the more or 

 less rounded prothorax, give an appearance not unlike certain 

 Otiorhynchida?; andtiie prolongation of the antennal grooves to 

 the tip of the rostrum, which is rather stout, increases the resem- 

 blance. 



There are, however, radical differences in the mandibles; which 

 are nearly flat externally and punctured ; pincer-shaped, with a 



* Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vi. 19, note. 



