LeConte.] 



cala:n'drid^. 329 



obsolete. The space between the ridge and the margin has a pearly lustre, 

 and may possibly serve as a stridulating organ; in the Cossoniace this ridge 

 diverges much less and becomes obsolete sooner. 



Abdomen with five ventral segments, of which the first and second are 

 longer, witii the suture nearly obliterated at the middle in Calandridm, 

 but deep and entire in Rhinida'; in Cossonidm they are very long, and the 

 suture is effaced at the middle; the third and fourth segments are short, and 

 the sutures straight and deeply impressed; the fifth is about as long as the 

 third and fourth united, and is rounded behind. The dorsal segments are 

 membranous, except the last, or pygidium, which is large, nearly perpen- 

 dicular in Calandridm, obliquely deflexed in the other subfamilies; the 

 anal segment of the rf is quadrate and retractile in Calandridce and Bhi- 

 nidm, broader and less retractile in Cossonidce, but not continuous with the 

 pygidium as in CurcuUonidm and Brenthid(B;the lateral edge of the meta- 

 thorax and of the ventral segments is sharp and fits into the lateral groove 

 of the i iner surface of the elytra; in the Cossonidce this edge continues on 

 and around the last ventral, thereby showing a tendency towards the modi- 

 fication finally perfected in the Scaly tidm, and of which we have already 

 seen traces in the Brenthidcp,. 



Legs moderate, varying though not greatly, according to genusj thighs 

 usually stoutly clailP'ate, not toothed; tibiae rather short, strongly unguicu- 

 late at the outer angle. Tarsi frequently narrow and not brush like be- 

 neath; third joint sometimes bilobed, (Bhinidce) sometimes broad patellate, 

 and not emargiuate, (certain Sphenophori) ; claws divergent, simple. 



I have embraced in this famdy several very distinct forms which agree 

 with Curralionidce in general characters, but differ in having the genital 

 segment of the (^ not articulated directly at the end of tlie last dorsal, but 

 either retractile or concealed under it. While the mouth organs of the Cos- 

 sonidm are similar to those of ordinarj^ Curculionidce, and submit to modi- 

 fications similar to those of Hylohiini for instance, in the other subfamilies 

 there are specializations which do not otherwise occur among Rhynchophora. 



With regard to the affinities of the members of this flimily, it may be said, 

 in general terms, that the Calandridce show an alliance with the Barini; 

 the Bhinidce continue the specialization still farther, and have not a direct 

 resemblance to anj^ other tribe. The Cossonidce seem to be a connecting 

 line from Hylobiini to Scolytidce, to which they approach very closely in 

 Bhy7icolus. 



Three subfamilies occur in our fauna, the characters of which have been 

 sufficiently indicated above: the following table will enable them to be 

 readily distinguished. 



Buccal cavity elongate, peduncle of mentum elongate, 



narrow: pygidium exposed CALANDRIDCE. 



Buccal cavity entirely at the apex of the beak; py- 

 gidium covered RHINID-iS3. 



Buccal cavity normal, peduncle of mentum short, oral 



organs exposed; pygidium covered COSSONID^. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. 80C. XV. 96. 2P 



