30 CUKOULlONIU.i;. 



Subfamily I. BRACHYDERINiE. 



The genera o£ this subfamily are very poorly represented in 

 the Indian subregion, except the Tanymecides, which are here 

 more numerous than in any other part of the world. The 

 character that distinguishes this group, namely, the short fringe 

 of curved hairs on the front edge ot the prothorax below the 

 eye (fig. 1, d, v), is always conspicuous in good specimens, and 

 the hairs are very rarely lost even in abraded examples. Another 

 important characteristic is the structure of the apical portion of 

 the hind tibia. This is obliquely excised on its inner face for 

 the reception of the tarsus, the excision being known as the 

 corbel, and being, with few exceptions, quite devoid of scaling. 

 When the outer side of the corbel is bounded by a single ridge 

 fringed with bristles, it is said to be open or simple ; but often 

 there may be observed within this ridge a narrow oblique plate, 

 the inner edge of which forms a second ridge, also fringed with 

 bristles, and in such a case the corbel is described as enclosed. 



Kei/ to the Groups. 



1 (8) Anterior margin (if prothorax without 



any pencil of projecting- hairs 

 (vibrissEe) helow the eye. 



2 (5) Corbels of hind tibiae open ; liind 



coxae not reaching the elytra. 



3 (4) The three intermediate segments of 



the venter of approximately equal 



length, the second separated from 



the first by a deep and straight 



incision Blosyrides, p. .30. 



-1 (3) The second ventral segment much 



longer than either of the next two, 



and separated from the first by a 



curved impressed line Naupactides, p. 44. 



o (2) Corbels of hind tibiae broadly enclosed; 



posterior coxae reaching the elytra. 

 G (7) Elytra without any humeral angle ; 



the prothorax truncate or slightly 



rounded at the base Cneorrhinides, p. 47. 



7 (6) Elytra vv^ith a distinct humeral angle ; 



the prothorax strongly bisiuuate at 



the base . Cyphides, p. .50. 



8 (1) Anterior margin of prothorax with 



vibrissse Tanymecides, p. 58. 



Group I. BLOSTEIDES. 



These are wingless, slow-moving, and often rotund insects of 

 small size and dull colouring, several of the species being almost 

 entirely terrestrial in their habits. They are well characterised 

 by the structure of the venter, which is very unusual in the 

 subfamily. 



