Bo8tricliida;.~] SERUicoRNiA. 199 



the constitution of the family and its position; some writers include 

 umlcr it the Lyctidae and even the Sphindidoe, and one or two genera 

 like Jlendecatoinus, which by others are included in the Cissidae ; 

 others n^uin regard the Bostrichinae as a mere suh-family of the Ptinidie 

 or Anobiidoe ; I have a note from the Rev. H. S. Gorham, who has 

 taken much interest in the family, to the effect that the Cissidae may 

 possibly be regarded as a feeble and depauperized form of the 

 Bostrichidae; if we adopt this view, which seems a very reasonable one, 

 the best plan will be to combine the Bostrichidse and Cissidae as one 

 family, which arrangement will probably be ultimately adopted; the 

 4-jointed tarsi of the latter family may perhaps be urged as an objection, 

 but it must be remembered that the first joint of the tarsi in the 

 Bostrichidffl is very small and sometimes obsolete, although in certain 

 exotic genera it is distinct, and that therefore in the depauperized forms 

 at the end of the family we might expect it to disappear. 



The question, at all events, does not much affect the British fauna, 

 as we only possess three genera, represented by three species, two of 

 which are extremely rare, and the third an importation; six genera and 

 seventeen species are found in Europe. 



The species are cylindrical and strongly convex, with the head 

 (except in rare instances) strongly derlexed and covered by the thorax, 

 which is then hood-shaped ; a side view of the head of one of these 

 insects presents just the effect of a monk's cowl ; the antennae are short, 

 10-jointed (in our genera), with a distinct 3-jointed club, inserted 

 immediately in front of eyes at some distance from one another; the 

 segments of the abdomen are of equal length, and the tarsi are 5-jointed, 

 with the first joint very small, and sometimes more or less obsolete. 



The larva of " Apate capucina" is figured by Westwood (Classification, i. p. 276, 

 fig. 31, 10), who copied it from Ratzeburg (Forst. Insecten, Coleopt. tub. xiv.) ; it bears 

 a resemblance to the larva of Xestobium and other Anobiidse, but differs in having a 

 smaller head and in being much narrower behind, the last segment being small ; the 

 front part of the body is broad, with the segments rugose transversely, but the hinder 

 segments become gradually narrower ; the mandible* are strong, and enable the 

 insect to gnaw the wood upon which it feeds ; the legs are well developed and rather 

 long ; this latter is a most important character, us it evidently separates the family 

 from the Scolytidae, with which several authors have associated it ; in the latter 

 family the larva* very closely resemble those of the Bostrichidie, but have no legs ; 

 if we consider the larvae, and perhaps to a certain extent the perfect insect, the 

 Bostrichidao are more closely related to certain Lucauidat (such as Sinodendrou) than 

 to the Scolytidae ; on the whole they are, however, best left near the Anobiidao, 

 although their relations to other groups must not be lost sight of. 



I. Last joint of the tarsi as long as or longer than the preced- 



ing taken together. 

 i. Club of antennae with the two basal joints only slightly 



produced internally DIXODXBUS. 



ii. Club of antenna) strongly and broadly serrate, with the 



two basal joints strongly produced internally .... lllllZOPEKTH A, 



II. Second (apparently lirsi) joint nf the tarsi longer than the 



l.i t Boariiicui >, 



