TEltTJ AK Y KH YNCHOPHOROUS COLE( )PTER A. 



the existing forms, a proportion wliich altogether surpasses that yet found 

 in any other family of insects. The abundance and variety of the Rhynchi- 

 tida3 may, therefore, be looked upon as the most striking feature in the Ter- 

 tiary Rhynchophorous fauna of North America. 



Tlie relative representation of the diifereiit fannlies of Rhynchophora 

 ill the Aiiicricaii and European Tertiaries, as Avell as their representation in 

 America to-day (according to Henshaw's catalogue of 18S6), is set forth 

 succinctly in the following table: 



Comparative view of recent and fossil Rhynchophora. 



FamiliL's. 



KhinoniaceridiT 

 Rhynchitidje . .. 



AttelabidiP 



Byrsopida" 



Otiorhynchidip . 

 f'uri'ulionida" -. 



Breutliid:!' 



Calandrida' 



Scolytida' 



Anthribid;r 



Total 



In Numbers. 



11 



1,078 i 



193 



150 



In Percentages. 



Recent 



North 



American. 



0-5 



2-3 



0-5 



0-1 



10-7 



.59 -4 



0-5 



7-6 



15 1 



3-4 



Tertiary 



North 



American. 



10-3 



24-3 

 51-8 



100-1 



5.2 

 2-6 



5-T 



99-9 



Tertiary 

 European. 



3 '3 



0-7 



4-7 



1 1 -3 



fi6-7 



4-7 

 4-7 



4 



100-1 



This table shows lietter than any words, some striking features in 

 the American Tertiary fauna, when compared with that now existing in 

 North America, and, indeed, to a certain extent and in much the same 

 direction when compared witli tlie European Tertiary fauna. These 

 peculiarities consist in the extraordinary development of the Rhynchitidpe, 

 already alluded to; the great preponderance of the Otiorhynchida?, due to 

 its remarkable development in localities other than Florissant, and the 

 meager showing of the Scolytid;v, this last also seen in the European Ter- 

 tiaries, and undoubtedly resulting from the habits of life of these insects 

 as subcortical feeders on trees, which woidd prevent their deposition in 

 places where their fossil remains could be preserved. The reduction in 

 this direction is, indeed, so great as to etfect a very slight lessening of tlie 



