C6 SERRICOKNIA. [Ptinoideu. 



sometimes globular, occasionally oblong, completely covering abdomen ; 

 legs long, not retractile ; trochanters large, femora usually clavate ; 

 tarsi 5-jointed, with the first joint not shorter than the second ; 

 tibial spurs obsolete ; abdomen composed of five ventral segments, of 

 which the first is not elongate. 



Anobiidee. Closely allied to the preceding, but chiefly distin- 

 guished by the formation of the antennae, which are either serrate or 

 pectinate (occasionally flabellate), and have the three terminal joints 

 nearly always elongate or thickened ; they are either 10- or ll-jointed, 

 and are inserted immediately in front of the eyes, and more or less 

 distant at base ; form usually oblong or cylindrical, occasionally sub- 

 globose ; head often covered by front of thorax ; legs retractile, 

 trochanters short ; tarsi 5-jointed, with the first joint not shorter than 

 the second ; tibial spurs obsolete ; abdomen composed of five ventral 

 segments, of which the first is not elongate. 



Bostrichidae. Closely allied to the two preceding ; form cylin- 

 drical and strongly convex ; head strongly reflexed and covered by the 

 front of the thorax, which is hood-shaped ; antennae short, with a 3- 

 jointed club, inserted immediately in front of the eyes, at some distance 

 from one another ; anterior coxal cavities open behind ; abdomen com- 

 posed of five segments of equal length ; tarsi 5-jointed, with the first 

 joint very small, often more or less obsolete ; tibial spurs distinct. 



Ziyctidae. By many authors regarded as a tribe of the preceding, 

 but easily distinguished by the distinct 2-jointed club of the antennae, 

 the elongate first ventral segment of the abdomen, and the fact that the 

 anterior coxal cavities arc closed behind ; antennae ll-jointed ; head 

 prominent ; tarsi 5-jointed, with the first joint obsolete ; form elon- 

 gate and narrow. 



Sphindidae. Head short, prolonged in front; antennas 10- jointed, 

 with a 3-jointed club ; anterior coxal cavities closed behind ; 

 abdomen composed of five free ventral segments, of which the first is 

 the longest ; tibiae arcuate ; tarsi compressed, with the last joint 

 elongate, 5-jointed in the male, heteromerous in the female : size 

 small, form oblong. 



Cissidae. Distinguished from all the preceding allied families by 

 having the tarsi 4-jointed ; head and front of thorax often horned or 

 furnished with lamella; in the male ; antennae 8-10-jointed, with the 

 last three joints forming a loose club ; anterior coxal cavities closed 

 behind ; elytra entirely covering abdomen, which is composed of five 

 ventral segments, the first being the longest ; size small or very small ; 

 form short and convex ; upper surface, as a rule, rather strongly pubes- 

 cent ; by some authors the family is regarded as a depauperized form of 

 the Bostrichidse, in which the first tarsal joint is obsolete, so that the 

 tarsi are often apparently 1-jointei. 



