300 NATl KAL ARRAXGEMENT OF IXSECTS. 



appears extremely doubtful. A more attentive examin- 

 ation, however^ will weaken, if not entirely remove, the 

 doubts. In the first place, the very peculiar structure 

 of the antennse is a strong indication of this affinity ; 

 secondly, it is the only form yet discovered in this sub- 

 family, wherein the mouth and jaws are lengthened and 

 prominent. Theoretically, we have abundant evidence 

 that such a form is to be found in every natural genus ; 

 because, without it, we should have no representation of 

 the Prionidce and their corresponding types. Now, the 

 mouth of Euryptera assumes all the lengthened pointed 

 appearance of that of a bee; while the proximity of the 

 antenns, and the wide termination of the elytra, remind us 

 immediately of Hispa and of Lyons, — two groups which, 

 in their own circles, occupy exactly the same station as 

 that we have assigned to Euryptera among the JVecyda- 

 Uiicb: these reasons appear to us much more weighty than 

 others, by which it may be urged that Euryptcrus, from 

 its lengthened muzzle, is more likely to be the type of 

 the Curculionida. If we had to look only to this con- 

 sideration, the analogy is certainly strong ; but how then 

 are we to account for the depressed form of the body, 

 and the dilatation of the elvtra ? The Curculionidce, 

 and all their representations, the Trogidce and the Melo- 

 lonthidce, are eminently thick and convex ; the resem- 

 blance, therefore, does not seem sufficiently strong. If 

 an analogy is true, the whole structure of an insect can 

 be illustrated ; for, by comparing it to numerous others, 

 all holding the same station in their respective circles, 

 we get an insight, by every fresh comparison, explana- 

 tory of some one or other of its peculiarities. What 

 other sub-genera belong to Euryptera, we know not ; 

 but a very remarkable type, which we here delineate, 

 appears to connect it with the LepturincE. 



(271.) In thus attempting, in some measure, to in- 

 dicate those principles upon which the two typical 

 families of the Cupricornes, as we conceive, are natu- 

 rally distributed, we feel how much remains to be ac- 

 complished. Our views, as it will be readUy perceived, 



■jt 



