14 OTIOHHYXCHIDJE. 



[Horn. 



instances of the former, while Cyphus, Entimus, Leptops, Ophryastes, 

 Tanymecus, etc., illustrate the latter form. 



The family Otiorhynchidse as defined by Dr. Leconte (American Natu- 

 ralist, 1874, p. 396), has but little to do with the tribe of the same name as 

 restricted by Lacordaire (Genera vi, pp. 20 and 144), as it includes not 

 only the greater portion of the Adelognathes, but also several tribes of 

 Phanerognathes in the system of the latter author. 



In examining the under side of the body two forms of construction are 

 found, by means of which this large family may be divided into two 

 primary sections. 



First. Side pieces of mesosternum very unequal, the episternum 

 larger and attaining the elytral margin, epimeron usually small, 

 sometimes very small. Metasternal side pieces never very wide, 

 <_j generally very narrow or entirely concealed by the elytral margin, 

 \\ anterior end never broadly dilated on both sides. 



Second. Side pieces of mesosternum diagonally divided and equal 

 or very nearly so, episternum distant from the elytral margin, sepa- 

 rated by the epimeron. Metasternal side piece moderately wide, 

 dilated at its anterior end with an acute process of greater or less ex- 

 tent projecting inwards between the mesosternal epimeron and the 

 body of the metasternum. 



The accompanying wood cuts have been drawn natural size from 

 (1) Eupagoderes speciosus Lee., and (2) Hippoleptops tribulus Fab., 

 the latter from a specimen kindly sent by Mr. H. Jekel, which 

 although foreign (New Holland), was of sufficiently large size to allow of 

 the drawing being made natural size. In the cut the mesosternal epimeron 

 is left entirely black that its position as well as the form of the adjacent 

 parts, might be rendered more evident. 



An examination of the foreign genera in the cabinet of the Academy of 

 Nat. Sc., Phila., shows that the use of the above characters may be extend- 

 ed to genera not represented in our fauna, and by means of them foreign 

 genera, evidently allied, may be brought in much closer proximity than by 

 the system adopted by Lacordaire. 



No genus in our fauna presents any extraordinary or anomalous charac- 

 ters. It may be remarked that no native species yet known is provided 

 with any femoral armature, and all our genera with the exception of 

 Agraphus have seven joints in the funicle of the antennae. 



By reference to the synoptic tables, the extent of variation in other por- 

 tions of the body may be ascertained. 



In consequence of the definition of the present family by the presence of 

 the mandibular scar, the primary characters made use of by Lacordaire sink 

 into even less than secondary importance, and as we have in the TENEBRI- 

 ONID^E parallel series each with genera of maximum and minimum develop- 

 ment of mentum, so we have in the Rhynchophora similar parallels in the 

 two divisions above indicated. 



In taking the structure of the sternal side-pieces as a primary means of 



