138 THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 



as the head. They can be distinguished from most allied groups by the 

 eyes being j^artly covered by the* ocular lobes, a character possessed by 

 very few N. A. Curculionidai. The species vary from an eighth to a half 

 of an inch in length. 



Section 2d. Longirostres. 



Sub-family LIXIDES. 



With this sub-family commences the section of Longirostres, the 

 snout being cylindrical and decidedly narrower and longer than the 

 head, but their transitional position is shown by the antennte being 

 inserted not very far from the end of the rostrum. The Lixides are 

 distinguished by their elongate, almost cylindrical bodies, which are 

 covered with a fine dust, like the bloom on a fresh plum or grape. 

 This bloom is sometimes bluish, sometimes orange, and is very easily 

 rubbed oft", so that perfect specimens are rarely obtained ; and for 

 this reason it is often difiicult to identify the species. They are of 

 rather large size for this family, the species usually ranging from a third 

 to half an inch in length. Some of them inhabit water plants, and 

 some foreign species breed in the stems of thistles. 



We have two genera : Lixus, Fab., 13 species ; and Larinus, Germar, 

 2 sp. In the latter genus the scrobes, or grooves on the side of the ros- 

 trum, usually meet behind on the under side. 



Sub-family OTIDOCEPHALIDES. 



This name is derived from the Greek otis, a kind of owl, and liepliaU, 

 the head ; the swollen anterior part of these insects having some fancied 

 resemblance to the head of an owl. The thorax is swollen befoi-e and 

 narrowed behind, a character not found, we believe, in any other Cur- 

 culionidaj, and which has caused them to be compared with ants. The 

 antennte are inserted rather near the end of the rostrum. The sternum 

 is concave or hollowed in front. 



The sub-family is composed of the single genus Otidocephalus, Chev- 

 rolat. The species are from an eighth to a quarter of an inch iu length, 

 and usually of a shining black color. They are exclusively American. 

 Five species have been described which inhabit the United States. 



