130 THE RHYNCHOPHORA. 



beetles of this tribe are distinguished from the other 

 Coleoptera which agree with them in the structure of 

 the tarsi, by having the front of the head produced 

 more or less so as to form a sort of beak or rostrum, 

 at the extremity of which the mouth is situated, and 

 from this character they are denominated RHYNCHO- 

 PHORA"*,or Beak-bearers, a term which has been abbre- 

 viated into Snout ers by some humorous entomologists. 

 As this beak is often very slender, the parts of the 

 mouth are, as might be expected, of small size, but 

 they are always strong, and well adapted for biting, 

 although from the shortness of the mandibles and 

 palpi they make but little show externally. 



These beetles are very numerous, but generally of 

 small size, few, even of the exotic species, exceeding an 

 inch in length, whilst many of the British forms are 

 amongst the most diminutive of insects. This dwarf- 

 ish stature, however, does not prevent them from 

 often doing immense injury to vegetation, nor, on the 

 other hand, does it preclude their frequently exhibiting 

 wonderful beauty both of form and colour; in the 

 latter respect, indeed, some of the exotic species stand 

 pre-eminent amongst insects, whilst many of the 

 little natives of our own islands, although more 

 sober in their colouring than the gorgeous inhabitants 

 of the tropics, present a delicacy of pattern which is 

 exceedingly pleasing to the eye. In most cases the 

 actual colour of the hard horny integument is black 

 or blackish, but this is clothed with an infinity of 

 delicate scales resembling those on the wings of 

 butterflies, and almost as easily rubbed off; these 

 sometimes exhibit the most brilliant metallic tints, as 



* Gr. rhunchos, a beak, phero, to bear. 



