Brachyrrhinine. | RHYNCHOPHORA. UTI 
were the authors who called more particular attention to the importance 
of the charaeter presented by these false mandibles (although it had of 
course been noticed long before by various writers), their remarks on 
the subject may with advantage be quoted :— 
“In the early life of the imago these pieces are lost, and the place of 
their attachment is indicated by a scar, which is usually on the face of 
the mandible, but frequently borne at the’ tip of a process of varying 
length. The form of the mandible itself, without reference to the scar, 
indicates the occurrence of the deciduous piece. When the mandibles 
are acute at tip and one overlaps the other by an edge more or less acute, 
no deciduous piece will be found. Its occurrence may generally be 
expected in those in which the mandibles meet with a broad surface and 
whose function is rather that of crushing than cutting.” 
The larve do not call for any particular remark, but in some cases are more elon- 
gate than is usually the rule with the Rhynchophora, and are furnished with outstand- 
ing hairs; they undergo their transformations underground, and the use of the false 
mandibles is obviously to allow them to work their way through their surroundings 
on their emergence from the pupa state: when once they have emerged they shed 
them as they have no further use for them, their habits being, as stated above, to 
crush rather than cut the leaves, etc., that form their food. 
The sub-family has been very differently constituted by various 
authors, and the student who wishes to examine further into the subject 
is referred to the works of Thomson (especially Skandinaviens Cole- 
optera, vol. x. pp. 161, et seqq.), Leconte and Horn, &c., as well as to the 
older works of Schénherr and others: M. Bedel divides them into eight 
tribes which are here adopted; the old names are, however, in two or 
three cases retained in preference to those he has made use of; there 
seems, for example, no reason in forming a new name ‘“ Synirmini” 
to include Tropiphorus Schénherr, because a genus of Saurians whose 
name requires priority is called Tropidophorus ; it is, however, best to 
adopt a new name for the sub-family as it includes in great measure 
both the Brachyderide and the Otiorrhynchide of older authors. 
I. Side pieces of the mesosternum very unequal, the episterna 
directly attaining and for some distance extending along the 
margin of elytra, the epimera small or very small, 
i. Scrobes short, superior, rarely lateral, and then directed 
towards the eyes; club of antennz with the second joint 
shorter than the first . . .- . + » »« « + « « » OPIORRHYNCHINA, 
ii. Scrobes lateral and directed inferiorly ; club of antenne 
with the second joint about equal tothe first. . . . BRACHYDERINA. 
II. Side pieces of the mesosternum divided diagonally and 
nearly equal, the episterna not reaching the elytra, except 
in a point at extreme base where they join the epimera. 
i. Tarsal claws connate. 
1, Prosternum slightly emarginate at apex and furnished 
with short hairs at the sides of the emargination ; 
central dorsal line of thorax finely keeled from base to 
apex; eyes very flat,almond shaped. . . . . . . TROPIPHORINA. 
2. Prosternum not emarginate at apex ; eyes convex. 
A. Elytra more or less elongate with the shoulders 
