498 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



outline to the elytra near the base, this sub-family seems to 

 approach Ccntrinus more than Anthouomus ; the result of this 

 obliquity is that the tenth clytral stria commences at the margin, 

 opposite the anterior end of the metathoracic episterna, as in all 

 Barini. 



The beak attains in length and attenuation the greatest devel- 

 opment : in the % it is rarely shorter than the body; in the 9 it 

 is frequently twice the length, and is used to ninke the perforation 

 into which the Qgg is subsequently introduced. The great thick- 

 ness of the husks of the fruits (chestnuts, walnuts, hickory-nuts, 

 etc.), depredated on by these insects, necessitates a very long- 

 perforating instrument to reacli the kernel, upon which the larva 

 feeds. 



The mouth organs are small, the gular peduncle very long and 

 narrow. The antenme are inserted a little before the middle (^ ), 

 or behind the middle (9) of the beak, and are very long and 

 slender; the funicle is 7-jointed; the first joint is either longer 

 or shorter than the second, and the outer joints are graduall}* a 

 little less elongated ; club clongatc-oval, pointed, annulated, and 

 pubescent. Eyes rather hirge, flat, nearly rounded, finely granu- 

 lated. Prothora.x rather long in front of the coxa?, which are 

 contiguous; broadly emarginate in front, without })Ostocular lobes; 

 pronotum rapidly narrowed in front, sides rounded, base slightly 

 bisinuate. Scutellum distinct. Elytra narrowed behind, tips 

 separately rounded, pygidium more or less exposed. Side pieces 

 of nu'sothorax attaining widely the base of the prothorax, and 

 truncating the humeral outline of the elytra; metathoracic episterna 

 narrow, dilated in front. First ventral segment longer than the 

 second, and closely united with it; the others are nearly equal 

 in length. Middle coxae moderately distant, hind (oxie widely 

 distant, not attaining the elytral margin. Legs long, thighs 

 clavate and strongly toothed in our species; tibia; slender, trun- 

 cate at tip, not mucronate; tarsi dilated, claws divergent, toothed. 



Balaninus extends across the continent. 



Fam. LXXX.— brenthidae. 



Moutli organs very different, according to genus and sex; 

 maxilli©., ligula, and palpi concealed in the species of the 



