Bostrichide. | SERRICORNIA. 199 
the constitution of the family and its position; some writers include 
under it the Lyctide and even the Sphindide, and one or two genera 
like Hendecatomus, which by others are included in the Cisside ; 
_others again regard the Bostrichine as a mere sub-family of the Ptinidee 
or Anobiide; I have a note from the Rev. H. S. Gorham, who has 
taken much interest in the family, to the effect that the Cissidz may 
possibly be regarded as a feeble and depauperized form of the 
Bostrichide; if we adopt this view, which seems a very reasonable one, 
the best plan will be to combine the Bostrichide and Cisside as one 
family, which arrangement will probably be ultimately adopted; the 
4.jointed tarsi of the latter family may perhaps be urged as an objection, 
but it must be remembered that the first joint of the tarsi in the 
Bostrichides is very small and sometimes obsolete, although in certain 
exotic genera it is distinct, and that therefore in the depauperized forms 
at the end of the family we might expect it to disappear. 
The question, at all events, does not much affect the British fauna, 
as we only possess three genera, represented by three species, two of 
which are extremely rare, and the third an importation ; six genera and 
seventeen species are found in Europe. 
The species are cylindrical and strongly convex, with the head 
(except in rare instances) strongly detlexed and covered by the thorax, 
which is then hood-shaped; a side view of the head of one of these 
insects presents just the effect of a monk’s cowl; the antennz are short, 
10-jointed (in our genera), with a distinet 3-jointed club, inserted 
immediately in front of eyes at some distance from one another; the 
segments of the abdomen are of equal length, and the tarsi are 5-jointed, 
with the first joint very small, and sometimes more or less obsolete. 
The larva of ‘ Apate capucina”’ is figured by Westwood (Classification, i. p. 276, 
fig. 31, 10), who copied it from Ratzeburg (Forst. Insecten, Coleopt. tab. xiv.) ; it bears 
a resemblance to the larva of Xestobiwm and other Anobiide, but differs in having a 
smaller head and in being much narrower behind, the last segment being small; the 
front part of the body is broad, with the segments rugose transversely, but the hinder 
segments become gradually narrower; the mandibles are strong, and enable the 
insect to gnaw the wood upon which it feeds; the legs are well developed and rather 
long ; this latter isa most important character, as it evidently separates the family 
from the Scolytide, with which several authors have associated it; in the latter 
family the larve very closely resemble those of the Bostrichidee, but have no legs ; 
if we consider the larvae, and perhaps to a certain extent the perfect insect, the 
Bostrichide are more closely related to certain Lucanidze (such as Sinodendron) than 
to the Scolytidee; on the whole they are, however, best left near the Anobiide, 
although their relations to other groups must not be lost sight of. 
I. Last joint of the tarsi as long as or longer than the preced- 
ing taken together. 
i. Club of antennz with the two basal joints only slightly 
produced internally Sot ao hes osha tlic 
ii. Club of antennze strongly and broadly serrate, with the 
two basal joints strongly produced internally $ 
II. Second (apparently first) joint of the tarsi longer than the 
Vastiee OF “Piha Fh ata el Dae eee oO SD eigen! 6) eo]. BOSDRICH UR Gea, 
DinopERus, Steph. 
RuHIZOPERTHA, Steph. 
