10 MB. G. A. K, MARSHALL OX COLEOPTBRA [Jail. 19, 



systematic woi'k hy the centralisation of type specimens ; and 

 every truly scientific systematist should recognise his moi-al obli- 

 gation to assist in achieving this end. 



The genus Hi2)2yorrhinus, as here defined, comprises 138 species, 

 which vary very considerably both in size and general facies, as 

 might be anticipated in the case of a widely distiibuted genus of 

 wingless and slow-moving insects. Lacordaire was of the opinion 

 that the genus could not remain as constituted by Schonherr, but 

 would have to be subdivided. He laid special emphasis on the 

 differences in the development of the ocular lobes of the prothorax, 

 the length of the scape, and the length and sculpture of the 

 rostrum ; but, on the other hand, he admitted that he had seen 

 very few of the smaller species described by Gyllenhal. Had he 

 been acquainted with a larger number of species he would probabl}' 

 have modified his opinion, for the differences upon which he relied 

 will be found to merge so much one into another as to make it 

 very difficult to draw a satisfactory dividing line anywhere. 

 Even so important a character as the direction of the sci'obe can 

 scarcely be I'egarded here as of generic value, owing to the manner 

 in which the vaiious forms tend to grade off into each other ; or, 

 again, different types may be found in species otherwise very 

 closely allied, as, for example, in crispatus F. and infaceUis Gyl. 

 It is often contended that the erection of genera in such cases 

 facilitates classification ; but this can only be the case if the 

 resulting groups ai'e homogeneous in appearance and distinguished 

 at least by some M^ell-defined superficial character. It can only be 

 hoped that, despite its obvious shortcomings, the synoptic key 

 supplied herewith will sufficiently assist identification as to atone 

 for the retention of so lai-ge and vaiiable a, genus. 



Taking as a starting jjoint the tribe Hipporrhinides as pro- 

 posed by Lacordaire, it may conveniently be divided into the 

 following genera : — 



1. (2). Prothorax without ocular lobes; eyes small, round, and 



prominent Cydomus Sclih. 



2. (1). Prothorax with ocular lobes; these lobes are occasionally 



considerably reduced, but in these cases the eyes are 

 large, elongate, and subdepressed. 



3. (4). Eyes short oval Epichiliomnis Schli. 



4. (3). Eyes elongate, acuminate below. 



5. (6). Upper edge of eye elevated above the level of the forehead. 



*'Origenes, gen. nov. 

 (Type, Hijyjyorrhinus callidus Gyl.) 



6. (5). Upper edge of eye not elevated. 



7. (8). Rostrum always more or less dilated at apex. First joint 



of funicle subcylindrical, not broader than second. 

 Mandibles dissimilar, the left usually largei' and broadly 

 overlapping the right, the apices broadly rounded when 

 closed Hijiporrkiimis Schh. 



