OBSERVATIONS ON LACORDAIRE. 145 



omitted. If we examine the posterior tibiae, tlie extremity 

 will be found to be more or less obliquely truncated; one 

 part of this is occupied by the cotyloid cavity of the first 

 tarsal joint, the outer edo;e being either entire or so incurved 

 as to form a kind of hollow, varying in depth. These trun- 

 cations M. Lacordaire calls "corbels" [corheUlea) , and 

 when the hollow exists they are said to be "cavernous" 

 (caverneuses), and "exposed" {decouverfes) when they pre- 

 serve their normal form. In the Mecorhijnchi of Schonherr 

 the cavernous corbels are exceedingly rare, while they are 

 very common in the Brachyrhyncki. Among other cha- 

 racters, hitherto rarely employed, but which M. Lacordaire 

 thinks should be strictly attended to, are the rektive size of 

 the three intermediate abdominal segments; the form of 

 their posterior margin, accoi'ding as to whether it is straight, 

 as is usually the case, or prolonged behind at its extremities, 

 as in Phytohius, Baris, &c.; of the suture which separates 

 the second from the first segment ; and, lastly, of the posterior 

 intercoxal process. 



The scrobes of the rostrum, or the canals formed for the 

 I'eception of the scape or basilar joint of the antennae, afford, 

 by their modifications, characters of the highest value for 

 genera, and in some cases also for higher groups. The 

 number of joints in the funicle or part between the scape and 

 club, and in the club itself, are of scarcely less importance. 



We shall now give a rapid summary of 31. Lacordaire's 

 general arrangement, and then in a tabular form as much of 

 it as is applicable to the British species of the family. It 

 must be premised, however, that there are always exceptions 

 to som.e of the characters, but they are relatively very few. 

 There are two primary divisions, or "Legions" as they are 

 called by M. Lacordaire: the first, " Curculionides 

 Adelognathes" (Maxdlss more or less covered by the 



1865. L 



