RHYNCHOPHORA 



five-jointed (BryophtJiorus), and even slender (Platypides). In 



these cases a close examination shows that the gular region on 



the middle of the back of the under surface of the head cannot 



be detected, and that the back of the prosternum is very strongly 



consolidated by the side-pieces of the thorax meeting together 



and being very firmly joined behind the coxae. The beak is in 



the great majority perfectly distinct, though it varies so extremely 



in form that it can only be briefly described by saying that it is 



a prolongation of the head in front of the eyes, or that the 



antennae are inserted on its sides near to, or far from, the tip. 



It has been ascertained in many cases that the rostrum is used 



by the female to assist in placing the eggs in suitable places, a 



hole being bored with it ; in some 



cases it is also used to push the 



egg far into the hole in which it 



has previously been placed by 



the ovipositor ; but there are 



many forms in which it is fairly 



certain that it is not so used. 



What purpose it serves in the 



male is totally unknown. In 



many members of the series, the 



rostrum differs in form in the 



two sexes, and in most, if not in 



all, these cases it is clear that the 



distinctions tend in the direction 



of making the beak of the female 



more efficient for the mechanical 



purpose we have mentioned. 



It was proposed by Leconte 

 and Horn to separate this series 

 from all the other Coleoptera as 

 a primary division, and they 

 looked on it as of lower or more 

 imperfect structure. Packard has 

 very properly protested against 

 this interpretation ; and there 

 seems to be no reason whatever 



for considering the Khynchophora as " lower " than other beetles ; 

 indeed we should be inclined to place such forms as Calandrides 



Pig. 147. — Eiignoristus monachiis ?. 

 Madagascar. A, The imago ; B, front 

 of pronotum, head, and rostrum. 



VOL. VI 



U 



