JJrucltidn-,} 



rnYToni.\r.A. 



259 



hundred and twelve species are enumerated as belonging to this family, 

 inrluding the genus Urodwi ; the number has, however, been consider- 

 ably increased since that time, and several new genera have been adli-d ; 

 four genera (Rhtebus, Ki/frln'/tu8, Spermophaytts, and Bruchux) are 

 found in Europe, represented by a hundred and fifty-one speci 

 which all but nine belong to Bruchus ; this latter genus is the only one 

 that is represented in Britain. The revivers of old names have played 

 havoc with the nomenclature of the family, and certainly produced a 

 confusion that is a reductio ad absurd urn of their system ; Hruchug, 

 according to them, becomes Mylabris, and the family is termed Myla- 

 bridae ; the well-known Mylabris thus requiring a new name is called 

 Zonabris ; and worse than all, the Ptinidae are named Bruchidae, and our 

 familiar Ptinus is changed to Bruchus. 



BRUCHT7S, Liniu- ft auct. 



This genus contains upwards of four hundred species, which are 

 widely distributed throughout the world, both in temperate and tropical 

 countries ; the real distribution of the majority of the species can hardly 

 be known, as so many have been conveyed from one country to another 

 by commerce, and then been naturalized ; about one hundred and forty 

 are found in Europe, of which thirteen occur in Britain; several of 

 these are, however, almost undoubted importations ; they are in a few 

 cases rather hard to determine from descriptions, some of the characters, 

 such as that of the lateral teeth of the thorax, not being at first sight 

 very obvious ; the head is projecting and is constricted behind, and the 

 antenna? are more or less strongly thickened and often very distinctly 

 serrate; the posterior tibiae are usually, but not always, toothed 

 before apex, and the first joint of the posterior tarsi is very much 

 elongated and more or less curved ; the margins of the thorax are 

 very narrow and often scarcely apparent and concealed by pubescence, 

 with which, in many cases, the colour of the upper surface is much 

 variegated. 



I. Prevailing colour of elytra bright brown or reddish- 

 brown ; antennae pectinate in the male B. PECTIJJICORXIS, L. 



II. Prevailing colour of elytra black or greyish ; antennae 



not pectinate in the male. 



i. Thorax at least as long as brand, strongly narrowed 

 in front, conical; antenna; entirely black. 



1. Form less elongate; pubescence comparatively 



scanty B. cisn, F. 



2. Form more elongate ; pubescence thick, so that the 



upper surface is quite grey B. CANUS, Otrm. 



ii. Thorax transverse or subtransverse, more gradually 

 narrowed in front ; antennas with at least the hue 



red or reddish. 

 1. Thorax with a more or less distinct tooth at sides. 



A. L-p* more or loss r. d. 



