78 Mr. D. Sharp on some 



be partly due to similar biological influences. Indeed 

 it is, I believe, owing- to deficiencies in the assimilative 

 and reproductive jDowers that the organisms composing 

 insular faunas {i. e., long isolated and small communities) 

 become so readily exterminated on the occurrence of any 

 change in the conditions of their lives, or on their having 

 to compete .with introduced strangers. 



Of the anomalous Proterhinus, Mr. Blackbm-n has dis- 

 covered an additional series of species, including some 

 extreme forms, which render it highly probable that other 

 species will be brought to light. Meanwhile, I am so 

 fortunate as to be able to give some remarks of Dr. Lecoute 

 on the genus, based on an examination he kindly made of 

 P. vestitus. He says, in a letter to me, " It seems to me 

 to represent a family easily distinguished from all others 

 ^ of the Rhyncojjhora, and not to have any affinities ovitside 

 / of that series. It differs from all of them by the absence 

 ^ of the first tarsal joint. The form of the dilated joint as 

 vrell as its vestiture beneath indicates that it is the normal 

 3rd joint, and therefore it must be the 1st joint that has 

 become obsolete. The mouth organs and the ventral seg- 

 ments are as in many Cu7-cuIiomd(B, while the sculpture of 

 the undersurface of the beak resembles that of Eupsalis S . 

 It differs from Anthribidce by the absence of labrum, 

 covered pygidium, structure of mouth, and many other 

 respects, though resembling that family in the beak and 

 antennae. In order to complete the investigation, I took 

 up Aglycyderes, and studied carefully A. setifer. I think 

 the Khyncophorous affinities are very feeble, and that it 

 belongs rather with the clavicorn series, having relation- 

 ships Avith ColydiidcB more than Avith any other family. 

 It differs from that family, especially by the tarsi and the 

 maxillffi Avith but a single lobe. The head above and 

 beneath does not resemble any Rhyncophore, but does 

 look very much like certain of the first tribe of Colydiidce 

 (A?ichomma, e. g.), the insertion of the antennaj under the 

 frontal margin is also not Rhyncophorous. Aglycyderes 

 has also perfectly-developed epipleurre, the flanks of the 

 prothorax are separated from the pronotum by a distinct 

 margin, and there are quite obvious traces of prosternal 

 sutures. These characters do not exist in Rhyncophora, 

 and the last two are variable in Colydiidce according to 

 tribe and genus." Dr. Leconte further adds, " Should 

 you Avish to print and comment upon any of these vicAvs, 

 do so without hesitation, as all I Avish is to provoke dis- 



