CLASSIFICATION OF THE RHYNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA. 453 



inent. The beak is alike in both sexes, usually short and broad, 

 sometimes longer and thickened or dilated at tip, which is emargi- 

 i^ate ; the antennal grooves are either (1) on the upper surface of 

 the beak (Otiorhynchus), in which case the}' are short, and not 

 bent downwards ; (2) longer, lateral, and directed towards the 

 eyes or (3) long or short, directed obliquely below the eyes ; they 

 alwaj'S extend nearl}'^ to the apex. The mandibles are short and 

 thick, pincer-shaped, with an apical scar, which varies somewhat 

 in different genera, to which was attached a deciduous piece also 

 of variable form; very long and falcate (Phjdlobius, etc.), long 

 and straight (Trigouoscuta), or short and obtuse. The mentum 

 is large, and fills the buccal space, except in Eudiagogus, where 

 it is small, leaving the maxillae exposed. The antenute are ge- 

 niculate, with the scape usually veiy long ; the club is pubescent 

 and annulated. The eyes are usually rounded, but in several 

 genera transverse and pointed below ; in the latter case, but also 

 in some of the round -eyed genera, the front margin of the pro- 

 thorax is dilated forming post-ocular lobes ; these lobes are some- 

 times very feeble and sometimes indicated only by a marginal row 

 of long hairs (vibrisSce of Lacordaire). The front coxai are con- 

 tiguous in our genera. The trunk is short, even in ^e winged 

 species, the epimera of the mesothorax project below the elytra to 

 a greater or less extent ; the episterna of the metathorax are either 

 covered by the elytra, and indistinct, or narrow and veiy dis- 

 tinct. The hind coxse are usuall}' widely separated, the ventral 

 segments are 5 (in one specimen of Nocheles but 4 are visible) ; 

 the 1st and 2d larg-er, connate, 3d and 4th shorter, 5th a little 

 longer. The lateral extension of the ventral segments is tolerably 

 wide, broader behind ; the dorsal segments are membranous, the 

 last is corneous, divided in ^ as usual, but the terminal portion 

 apparently more retractile than in genuine Curculionidaj. The 

 legs are moderate, tibiae variable in form, tarsi spongy beneath, 

 usually dilated, though sometimes (Ophryastes) very slightly so, 

 and in Rhigopsis onl}' sparseh' ciliate. 



The tribes of this famil}' so far as represented in our fauna may 

 be naturally grouped as follows : — 



A. Side pieces of metathorax concealed, or indistinct; elytra connate : 

 Antennal grooves short, on the upper face of the beak ; or lateral and 

 directed towards the e)'es, eyes rounded, or nearly so, prothorax 

 not lobed O tiorhynchini. 



