CLASSIFICATION OF THE RHYNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA. 9395 
much extended on the flanks, so as to cover the side pieces of the 
meso- and metathorax; greatly deflexed behind. The lateral 
groove of the inner face is deep and narrow, becoming wider and 
obsolete behind. The dorsal segments are membranous, except 
the last, which is corneous, and divided in ĝ into two as in Cur- 
culionidæ. The ventral segments are separated by deep sutures, 
of which the Ist is sinuate; the 3d and 4th segments are shorter 
than the others: the lateral extension upwards is narrow; and 
but slightly wider behind. The front coxe are contiguous, prom- 
nent and subconical, the tibiz are not dilated, the spurs are small, 
fixed, projecting inwards, the tarsi 4—jointed, narrow, setose and 
eebly concave beneath (Brachycerus) ; pubescent, concave and 
emarginate beneath (Microcerus) ; claws large, simple, distant. 
BYRSOPIDZ. 
The third of the anomalous families has a more general distri- 
_ bution, and is represented in our fauna by the genus Thecesternus, 
which forms a separate tribe, distinguished from the other tribes 
by the prosternal groove for the reception of the beak not ex- 
tended as far as the front coxe. 
These insects are epigeal, rough and dull colored, with the elytra 
widely embracing the flanks, but not strongly deflexed behind, 
concealing the side pieces of the trunk. The beak is very short, 
not thickened at tip, nor emarginate at the middle; the antennal 
grooves descend perpendicularly and form a gular constriction: 
the antennz are unusually short, imperfectly geniculate, the scape 
as long as the 1st and 2d joints of the funiculus; the club elon- 
gate oval, pointed, distinctly annulated. Eyes transverse, pointed 
beneath.* Mandibles stout, short, front surface curved and 
roughly punctured; mentum very small, not placed on a gular 
uncle; maxillæ exposed. Prothorax widely lobed in front at 
the sides, so as to conceal the eyes, when the head is deflexed ; 
deeply excavated beneath for the reception of the beak, cavity 
closed behind in Thecesternus by a triangular plate of the pro- 
sternum, but by the front cox in the other genera; coxe sinall, 
globose, contiguous. Elytra+ connate, widely extended on the 
flanks, declivous behind, rough; lateral groove of inner face 
e een ra eee dimes 
* Jekel, 1. c. 1864, 543, describes the group as being Adelognathes cyclophthalmes : La- 
ire (Gen. Col. vi, 293 sqq.) places them in Phanerognathes, and describes the 
eyes as ae 
