CLASSIFICATION OF THE RHYNCHOPHORODS COLEOPTERA. 395 



much extended on the flanks, so as to cover the side pieces of the 

 meso- and metathorax ; greatly deflexed behind. The lateral 

 groove of the inner face is deep and narrow, becoming wider and 

 obsolete behind. The dorsal segments are membranous, except 

 the last, which is corneous, and divided in ^ into two as in Cur- 

 culionidse. The ventral segments are separated by deep sutures, 

 of which the 1st is sinuate ; the 3d and 4th segments are shorter 

 than the others : the lateral extension upwards is narrow ; and 

 but slightly wider behind. The front coxiie are contiguous, prom- 

 inent and subconical, the tibiae are not dilated, the spurs are small, 

 fixed, projecting inwards, the tarsi 4-jointed, narrow, setose and 

 feebl}^ concave beneath (Brachycerus) ; pubescent, concave and 

 emarginate beneath (Microcerus) ; claws large, simple, distant. 



BYRSOPID^. 



The third of the anomalous families has a more general distri- 

 bution, and is represented in our fauna by the genus Thecesternus, 

 which forms a separate tribe, distinguished from the other tribes 

 by the prosternal groove for the reception of the beak not ex- 

 tended as far as the front coxae. 



These insects are epigeal, rough and dull colored, wi^ the elytra 

 widel}' embracing the flanks, but not strongly deflexed behind, 

 concealing tlie side pieces of the trunk. The beak is ver}- short, 

 not thickened at tip, nor emarginate at the middle; the antennal 

 grooves descend perpendicularl}' and form a gular constriction : 

 the antennae are unusually short, imperfectlj- geniculate, the scape 

 as long as the 1st and 2d joints of the funiculus ; the club elon- 

 gate oval, pointed, distinctly annulated. Eyes transverse, pointed 

 beneath.* Mandibles stout, short, front surface curved and 

 roughl}- punctured ; nientum very small, not placed on a gular 

 peduncle ; maxillae exposed. Prothorax widely lobed in front at 

 the sides, so as to conceal the eyes, when the head is deflexed ; 

 deeply excavated beneath for the reception of the beak, cavity 

 closed behind in Thecesternus by a triangular plate of the pro- 

 sternum, but by the front coxae in the other genera ; coxae small, 

 globose, contiguous. Elytra connate, widely extended on the 

 flanks, declivous behind, rough ; lateral groove of inner face 

 narrow, and well defined ; scutellum not visible ; humeri in The- 



* Jfkel, 1. c. 18(!4, 543, describes the group as being Adelognathes cyclophtlialmes .• La- 

 cordaire (Gen. Col. vi, •I'Xi sqc).) places them in Phanerognatlies, and describes the 

 eyes as acuminate below, in which lie is correct. 



