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CHAPTER XVII. 



THE KHYNCHOPHORA, OE WEEVILS. 



With this section commences the large group of vege- 

 table feeders formerly known by the name Tetramera, 

 on account of their apparently possessing only four joints 

 to the tarsi : this name has, however, been modified to 

 that of " Paeudo-tetramera," or " Sub-tetramera,'' by 

 Mr, Westwood, who pointed out that they have the 

 normal five joints, although the fourth is so minute as 

 usually to escape notice ; being, with the basal portion 

 of the terminal joint, received between the lobes of the 

 third joint, which is always more or less deeply notched 

 at its extremity. The three basal joints are, also, always 

 more or less deeply cushioned beneath. The other sec- 

 tions possessing these characters are the Longicornes and 

 Eupoda (or Phytophaga). 



The Rhynchophora (often termed, as a group. CurcU' 

 lionidce) are usually convex and hard ; they have the 

 head elongated in front into a rostrum or beak, — some- 

 times short and thick, and at others very long, thin, and 

 arched, — bearing the organs of the mouth at its apex. 

 Their antennae are inserted on the rostrum, generally 

 short, and in far the greater number of species elbowed 

 (having a long basal joint), and clubbed at the apex; 



