886 CLASSIFICATION OF THE RHYNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA. 
The bases of the classification of the Rhynchophora which 
have been proposed are briefly these: 
I. Schonherr* treated the great mass of these insects (exclu- 
ding only the Scolytide), as constituting a single family, divi- 
ded as follows : — 
A. Antenne not geniculate; antennal grooves wanting; . ORTHOCERI. 
Bruchides, Anthribides, Camarotides, Attelabides, Rhinomacerides, 
Ithycerides, Apionides, Rhamphides, Brenthides, Cylades, Ulocer- 
ides 
B; ennæ geniculate; grooves almost always distinct; | GONATOCERI. 
ostrum short, deformed, antennez subterminal; 
Brachyrhynehi. 
* Antennal grooves extending below the eyes; Brachycerides, Enti- 
mides, Pachyrhynchides, Brachyderides, Cleonides, Molytides 
he (the last with the rostrum received in aprosternal pex 
v 
7 eraen 1 grooves directed towards the eye; 
ae ae Cyclomides, Otiorhynchides. 
b. ar — antennæ inserted far behind the tip: 
Erirhini des, Cholides, Cryptorhynchides, Cionides, Rhynch- 
ophorides, Condena, Cossonides, Dryophthorides. 
Mecorhynchi. 
In the gradual progress of the work this last legion, the Meco- 
rhynchi, were divided into Synmerides, having the front cox® 
contiguous, and Apostasimerides, having them distant. 
The distinctions between the tribes above mentioned were 
founded mostly on insignificant and evanescent modifications in 
the form of the beak and antennæ; so that with the immense 
mass of genera and species described, it became quite impossible 
to determine either from the work itself. 
II. Although the faults found with this artificial system wet 
neither few nor vaguely expressed, yet it was not until the prog” 
ress (1863) of his admirable work on the’Genera of Coleoptera 
by my deceased friend Prof. Lacordaire required this immense 
labor to be done over again, that any attempt was made at a new 
arrangement; the system of Lacordaire was essentially this: 
The series was divided into six families; Curculionide, Bruchi- 
dæ, Anthribide, Brenthide, Uloceride and Scolytide. Of thes? 
the Bruchide were recognized as having scarcely any relations 
nr 
* Genera et Species Curculionidum, Paris, 1833-1844. 
