390 CLASSIFICATION OF THE RHTNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA. 



onidoB in the Jekelian S3'stem. It appears therefore that this pe- 

 culiarity of structure is of much more importance than was 

 supposed by Dr. Horn, and that it must in realit}^ be the defining 

 character for the division of the' Rhynchopliora into primary series, 

 of more than family value. I therefore prepared a series of dis- 

 sections of each of the well recognized Rhynchophorous types within 

 my reach, and have come to the conclusion that they may be ar- 

 ranged in three sets, each of which has a corresponding value to 

 the individual series of normal Coleoptera {e.g., Adephaga, Clavi- 

 cornia, Lamellicornia, etc.) ; and upon subordinate characters 

 (some of which have been already emploj^ed in the classifications 

 above mentioned, though in an empirical manner) into families as 

 follows. 



Series I. HAPLOGASTRA. 



Abdomen alike in both sexes ; dorsal segments 7, coriaceous, 

 with the exception of the 7th which forms the pygidium, and 

 which is small and corneous ; ventral segments not prolonged up- 

 wards into a sharp edge ; el^^tra without lateral fold on the inner 

 surface, epipleurae usuall}'^ distinct, antennae straight, 11-jointed. 

 Ungues usuall}^ bifid or toothed, rarely (Rhinomacer) simple ; 

 •Front coxae conical, prominent, prosternum very short in front of 

 the coxae. The beaic varies in length and thickness, but not ac- 

 cording to sex, so far as I know : the front coxae are contiguous, 

 except in one genus of Rhj'nchitidae (Pterocolus) ; the ventral 

 sutures of the abdomen are straight. The mandibles and tibiae 

 vary in form, and furnish convenient characters for division into 

 families : -^- 



A. Ventral segments nearlj^ equal in length ; epipleural indistinct ; tibial 



spurs small; claws simple (always ?). Mandibles simple, flat; lab- 

 rum distinct Ehinomacerid^. 



B. Ventral segments diminishing in length; epipleuras distinct; labrum 



wanting ; claws bifld, or appendiculate 

 Mandibles flat, toothed on each side ; tibial spurs small 



RHYNCHITIDiE. 



Mandibles stout, pincer shaped, tibial spurs large Attelabid^. 



The affinities of this series are in an ascending direction with 

 the rostrated Heteromera (Oedemeridae and Pythidas) ; this is in- 

 dicated by the softer tissues in Rhinomaceridae, and certain Rhyn- 

 chitidae, and also by the presence of a labrum in the former. In 

 a descending direction the Attelabidae lead to the true Curculionidae, 



