LeConte.J 



BARINI. 285 



tribe that the nearest approach to Calandridw and CoMonida is made, in 

 form and general appearance, though the family characters are quite dif- 

 ferent. 



The following characters will enable them to be distinguished from the 

 other tribes in which the front coxae are separate. 



Beak not received closely upon the sternum, which however is some- 

 times broadly sulcate in front of the anterior coxae; when this groove does 

 not exist, there are sometimes seen (Madarus) two short approximate 

 ridges, limited inwards by an impressed line, which may be regarded as 

 the last remnant of the pectoral groove. In other cases (Baris striatus) 

 even these lines disappear, and the merest trace of a concavity remains in 

 the apical constriction of the prothorax, which in all the species is not 

 emarginate beneath, and is destitute of postocular lobes. In many others 

 even this slight concavity or flattening is wanting, and the apical part of 

 the prothorax is altogether cylindrical, above and beneath. The meso- 

 and metasternum are closely united, and the suture between them is fre- 

 quently obliterated. The side-pieces of the mesothorax are so extended 

 outwards and upwards, that they intervene strongly between the base of 

 the prothorax and the elytra The sides of the latter, therefore, become 

 obliquely truncated, giving a form not observed in any of the preceding 

 tribes. The other characters are somewhat variable. The pygidiuni is 

 sometimes exposed, sometimes covered. The claws are simple, and either 

 divergent, connate, or even (Barileptori) single. 



The genera in our fauna represent two groups: 



Pygidiuni exposed, usually vertical; fifth ventral segment 



in the latter case truncate or subemarginate Barides. 



Pygidiuni oblique or horizontal, not fully exposed; fifth 



ventral segment rounded at tip tentrini. 



Group I. Barides. 



The separation between this group and the Centrini is not very definite, 

 though characters such as the perpendicular pygidiuni, and the shorter and 

 stouter beak, seen in most of the species, do not occur in the last named 

 group. The main character to be relied on, in the absence of the easily 

 recognized habitus, is that the elytra are more broadly separately rounded 

 at tip, and the pygidiuni thus becomes more exposed. 



Pygidiuni oblique; fifth ventral segment longer, 

 rounded at tip; outer joints of funicle but little 

 broader, club large, elongate-oval, pubescent .... 



Pygidiuni vertical; fifth ventral segment shorter, sub- 

 truncate 



2. Beak long, slender, straight OBTHOBIS. 



" shorter, less slender, curved RHOPTOBARIS. 



3. Club annulated, entirely pubescent 4. 



