160 ZOOLOCxY. 



flowers. The families are: 1. ClstelidcBi 2, Helo^ndce ^ 3, Dlaperidm ^ 4, 

 Tenebrionidm / 5, Bla2)sid(e ; 6, Pimelitdce. Of these, the three first are 

 variously colored, and constitute AVestwood's sub-tribe Vat'icolores. The 

 remaining three are black or obscure, and constitute the Melasomata of 

 Latreille. 



The Tenebrionidce are well known from the meal bug {Tenehrio molitor)^ 

 the round hard larvae of which, as M'ell as the perfect insect, are found in 

 flour, sea-biscuits, &c., upon which they feed. 



The Blajjsidce of the United States occur in the region of the Rocky 

 Mountains, whence they extend to Texas. 



The insects of the section Tetramera include those Coleoptera which have 

 four movable articulations to all the tarsi. They are very numerous, and all 

 of them are vegetable feeders, both in the larva and perfect state. They are 

 divided into three stirpes, of which the Rhincophora have the head produced 

 into a rostrum, and the antennns generally short and elbowed. The 

 Longicornia have long antenna; and an oblong body ; and the Phytophaga 

 liave a short round body and short antenna;. There are many beautiful 

 insects among the Tetramera, but except among the Longicornia, they are 

 generally less than an inch long. 



The Rliincophora {pi. 81, ßgs. 65-76) are numerous in species, of which 

 about 8000 have been described in the great work of Schcenherr. The 

 mouth is situated at the end of the rostrum, which is sometimes very 

 slender, and as long as the rest of the body. The insects known as weevils, 

 which are destructive to various kinds of seeds, belong here, and the seeds 

 of a great many vegetables are attacked by peculiar species. The elytra 

 are often connate, or united in a single piece, and with the exterior parts, 

 they are often so hard that it is diflicult to stick a pin through them. Some 

 are beautifully marked with brilliant minute scales, which are favorite 

 objects for viewing with the microscope. The English have named several 

 of these diamond beetles^ on account of the appearance of these scales. The 

 divisions of Rhincophora by Schoenherr are here given, from the fifth 

 volume of his Genera et Species Curculionidum^ 1839. It will be observed 

 that his use of the words order ^ family^ «fee, is peculiar to himself. 



SUB-FAM. 1. GeNUINI. 



Ordo I. GoNATocERi. Anteunse geniculate, basal articulation received 

 into a groove in the side of the rostrum. 



Legio 1. Beachyrhynchi. Rostrum short and robust. Divisions 

 (Phalanx 1) : Braehycerides^ Entimides.^ Pachyrliyncliides^ 

 Br achy derides., Cleo7iides.,Molytidcs., Byrsopsides j (Phalanx 2) 

 Phyllohides., Cycloinides^ Otiorkynchides. 



Legio 2. Mecorhynciii. Rostrum cylindric, lengthened, with the 



antennee between its base and middle. Divisions : ErirJii- 



nides^ Apostasimerides (sub-divisions : Cholides., Ba/ridides, 



Crypto7'hynGides\ Conophorides^ Cionides., Phyncop7w7%des^ 



Possonides. 



364 



