COLEOPTERA. 85 



being much lonp^er than the following ones. They form the genus 

 CuRCULio of Linnaeus. 



Wc will divide them into the Brevirostres and the Longirostres, 

 according as the antennae are inserted near the extremity of the pro- 

 boscis, and even with the origin of the mandibles, or further back, 

 either near its middle or close to its base. 



The Brevirostres of this naturalist, according to the system of 

 Fabricius, are divided into two genera. 



Brachycerus., 

 Where all the joints of the tarsi are entire and without brush or pel- 

 let beneath. Their short and but slightly geniculate antennae present 

 externally but nine joints, the last of which forms the club. They 

 are destitute of wings, and their body is very scabrous or uneven. 

 These Insects are peculiar to the south of Europe and to Africa, live 

 on the ground and appear very early in the spring. The women of 

 Ethiopia use one species as a sort of amulet ; they pass a string 

 through its body and hang it round their neck*. — " Voyage de M. 

 Calliaud au fleuve Blanc." 



CURCULIO., 



Where almost the whole under part of the tarsi is furnished with 

 short and stiff hairs, forming pellets, and their penultimate joint is 

 deeply bilobate. Their antennae arc composed of eleven joints, or 

 even of twelve if we count the false one, which sometimes terminates 

 them, the last of which form the club. 



As this genus, although much more restricted than in the Linncan 

 system, still comprises numerous species discovered since the time 

 of that naturalist, various savans, Germar and Schoenherr in parti- 

 cular, have divided it into many others. It may be separated, from 

 our own observations, into two principal divisions. 



1. Those in which the mentum, more or less widened superiorly, 

 and more or less orbicular, occupies all the width of the buccal 

 cavity, and entirely or very nearly conceals the maxillae, and where 

 the mandibles are not very sensibly dentated, or merely present a 

 slight sinus under the joint. 



We may form a first subgenus, 



Cyclomus. 



Of those Brevirostres in which, as in the preceding ones, the tarsi 

 are destitute of a brush, and the penultimate joint is entire or 

 slightly emarginated, and without very distinct lobes. To it should 

 be referred the Cryptops, Deracanthus, Amycterus, and Cyclomus of 

 Schoenherr f . 



* Oliv., Col., 82. M. Schoenherr forms the genus EpisusvAih. the species called 

 the rostratus. The thorax is elongated and almost linear. 



f These genera seem to connect themselves with the Myrniops and Rhytirhinus of 

 this author, and in that case the Brachyceri should be placed further back. See 

 our article Ehynchophores in the Diet. Class. d'Hist. Nat. 



