1904.] OF THE GENUS HIPPORRHINUS. 13 



explained on the supposition of a common northern origin. We 

 have thei'efoi-e some grounds for supposing, that the genus 

 Hi'p2)orrhinus has been originally derived from an Austiulian 

 stock. 



The beetles of this genus are heavy, slow-moving insects, and a 

 large numbei- of them ai-e practically teri-estiial in their habits, 

 feeding on low plants or herbs and readily falling to the ground 

 when disturbed. Many of the lai-gei- species, howevei-, such as 

 seve7^us, furvus, sjjectrum, sulcirostris, &c., are arboreal, possibly 

 because their lai-ger size would i-ender them too conspicuous on 

 small plants. The colouring of all the species with which I am 

 acquainted in the field is certainly procryptic, and this is pi'obably 

 ti'ue for the whole genus. Although the elytra of the lai-gei- 

 species ai-e not nearly so hai-d as those of Brachycerus, the hard- 

 ness and conical tubercles of these forms doubtless afford them an 

 efficient pi'otection against the smaller insectivorous animals. 



Nothing whatevei- appears to be known of the eai'liei' stages of 

 the genus. 



HiPPORRHINUS Schh. 



Head convex on the vertex, forehead often flattened, occasionally 

 excavate ; eyes lai'ge, elongate, ti'ansverse and depressed, often 

 sepai'ated fi'om the rostrum by a lateral furi'ow of vai-iable depth. 



Eostrimi veiy variable, longer than the head, stout, cui'ved, 

 more or less dilated apically and inci'easing in depth from base 

 to apex, deeply fun-owed, costate oi" carinate, sometimes with a 

 stout tubei'culai- prominence at base ; scrobes either directed to 

 beneath the base of the I'ostrum, in which case they are always 

 deep, or entirely latei-al in position, when they may be eithei- 

 straight, oblique or sinuate, and are sometimes shallow. The 

 under sui'face is visually separated fi'om the head by a more ov 

 less pi'onounced transvei'se basal furi'ow, which can best be 

 observed by examining the I'osti-um in profile. 



Aiitennce inserted close to apex, moderately long and stout ; 

 scape gi'adually clavate, usually I'eaching the antei'ioi- mai'gin of 

 eye, but often shortei- and occasionally exceeding its jwsterior 

 mai'gin ; funicle with the two basal joints elongate and usually 

 equal, the remaining joints short, equal, or gradually diminishing 

 apically ; club oval, acuminate and aiticulate. 



Prothorax transverse, with its sides rounded, sometimes angu- 

 lated or even armed with a stout spine, the basal margin truncate, 

 apical mai'gin truncate, convex oi- concave ; oculai* lobes I'ounded, 

 moderately pi'ominent, but occasionally much i-educed ; the uppei- 

 surface moi'e oi- less closely set with tubei'cles or granules. 



Elytra ovate oi- oblongo- ovate, convex, sharply declivous poste- 

 riorly, soldei'ed together at the suture and without wings beneath, 

 punctato- or granulato-sti'iate, all the intei'vals, or at least the 

 alternate ones, with i-egular rows of tubercles or gi'anules ; apices 

 of the elytiu often sepaiutely produced, sometimes in both sexes, 

 but usually more so in the female than in the male. 



