LcConte.} 



CUKCULIOXID.^. IV) 



This family is hy far the largest in the Rhynchophonu and therefore ex 

 hibits a greater range of variation in some of the important organs than 

 «an be seen in the other families. Certain of the most remarkable diver- 

 gences from the average type ma}^ however, be separated as sub tamilies, 

 exhibiting relationships with other families, without losing the essential 

 characters of this famil}^ ; that is to say, the mandibles without scar, the 

 tarsi with the third joint more or less dilated, not spinous beneath, the an- 

 tennae with annulated or articulated club. 



Of such sub-families I recognize five in our fauna ; all of very limited 

 extent, except the Curcidionidas {genuini). 



They may be separated as follows : 



A. Condyles of mandibles on outer side, motion lateral. 



Mandibles stout, feebly emarginate at tip, 

 with the inner edge sharp; gular pedun- 

 cle broad ; beak short, broad SITONID J5I . 



Mandibles without sharp inner edge ; appa- 

 rently emarginate at tip, with an addi- 

 tional cusp: 

 Antennse geniculate; gular margin promi- 

 nent, peduncle and mentum retracted. ALOPHID^. 

 Antenna? straight, gular margin not promi- 

 nent; claws toothed (p. 130) ITHYCERID^. 



Mandibles varying in form, usually 8-toothed, 

 sometimes oblique without teeth*, gular 

 margin not prominent, peduncle usuallj" 

 long (p. 121) OURCULIONID^. 



B. Condyles of mandibles on upper side, motion 



vertical (p. 321) BALANINID.^. 



Sub-family I. SITONID^E. 



The s])ecies of this sub-family have been heretofore classed with the 

 Otiorhynchide group Naupacti. They differ, however, essentially by 

 ftimily characters ; the mandibles are short, very stout, with the outer side 

 convex, roughly punctured, and quite destitute of the apical scar which 

 indicates the deciduous cusp ; they are broadly emarginate at tip, and 

 the inner edge is acute. These insects are easily known from other Curcu- 

 li(jnid8e by the mentum larger, moi'e quadrate, slightly concave, and sup- 

 ported on a broad, but not long, gular peduncle. The maxillae are exposed 

 as in the lower Otiorhyncluda\ and as in all Curculionid«, and it therefore 

 seems singular that Lacordaire should have classed them with his Adelog- 

 nathes Cyclophthalmes, without noting the exception in this respect whicli 

 they make in common with Cratopun and Elytrodon.\ The condyle of 



* In Dcsmoris thej- are also toothed on the outer edge as in llliynchitidse. 

 t Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vi, 19, note. 



PROC. .\MER. PHILOS. SOC. XV. 96. O 



