G6 SERRICORNIA. [ Ptinoidea. 
sometimes globular, occasionally oblong, completely covering abdomen ; 
legs long, not retractile; trochanters large, femora usually clavate ; 
tarsi 5-jointed, with the first joint not shorter than the second ; 
tibial spurs obsolete ; abdomen composed of five ventral segments, of 
which the first is not elongate. 
Anobiidez. Closely allicd to the preceding, but chiefly distin- 
guished by the formation of the antenne, which are either serrate or 
pectinate (occasionally flabellate), and have the three terminal joints 
nearly always elongate or thickened ; they are either 10- or 11-jointed, 
and are inserted immediately in front of the eyes, and more or less 
distant at base; form usually oblong or cylindrical, occasionally sub- 
globose; head often covered by front of thorax; legs retractile, 
trochanters short; tarsi 5-jointed, with the first joint not shorter than 
the second; tibial spurs obsolete ; abdomen composed of five ventral 
segments, of which the first is not elongate. 
Bostrichidz. Closely allied to the two preceding ; form cylin- 
drical and strongly convex; head strongly reflexed and covered by the 
front of the thorax, which is hood-shaped; antenne short, with a 3- 
jointed club, inserted immediately in front of the eyes, at some distance 
from one another; anterior coxal cavities open behind ; abdomen com- 
posed of five segments of equal length; tarsi 5-jointed, with the first 
joint very small, often more or less obsolete ; tibial spurs distinct. 
Lyctidz. By many authors regarded as a tribe of the preceding, 
but easily distinguished by the distinct 2-jointed club of the antenne, 
the elongate first ventral segment of the abdomen, and the fact that the 
anterior coxal cavities are closed behind; antenne 11-jointed ; head 
prominent ; tarsi 5-jointed, with the first joint obsolete ; form elon- 
gate and narrow. 
Sphindide. Head short, prolonged in front; antenne 10-jointed, 
with a 3-jointed club; anterior coxal cavities closed behind ; 
abdomen composed of five free ventral segments, of which the first is 
the longest; tibie arcuate; tarsi compressed, with the last joint 
elongate, 5-jointed in the male, heteromerous in the female; size 
small, form oblong. 
Cisside. Distinguished from all the preceding allied families by 
having the tarsi 4-jointed; head and front of thorax often horned or 
furnished with lamelle in the male; antenne 8—10-jointed, with the 
last three joints forming a loose club; anterior coxal cavities closed 
behind ; elytra entirely covering abdomen, which is composed of five 
ventral segments, the first being the longest ; size small or very small ; 
form short and convex; upper surface, as a rule, rather strongly pubes- 
cent; by some authors the family is regarded as a depauperized form of 
the Bostrichide, in which the first tarsal joint is obsolete, so that the 
tarsi are often apparently 4-jointed. 
