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CLASSIFICATION OF THE RHYNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA. 453 
inent. The beak is alike in both sexes, usually short and broad, 
sometimes longer and thickened or dilated at tip, which is emargi- 
nate; the antennal grooves are either (1) on the upper surface of 
the beak (Otiorhynchus), in which case they are short, and not 
bent downwards; (2) longer, lateral, and directed towards the 
eyes or (3) long or short, directed obliquely below the eyes; they 
always extend nearly to the apex. The mandibles are short and 
thick, pincer-shaped, with an apical scar, which varies somewhat 
in different genera, to which was attached a deciduous piece also 
of variable form; very long and falcate ee en etc.), long 
and straight (Trigonoscuta), or short and obtuse. The mentum 
is large, and fills the buccal space, except in cane. where 
it is small, leaving the maxillæ exposed. The antenne are ge- 
niculate, with the scape usually very long; the club is pubescent 
and annulated. The eyes are usually rounded, but in several 
genera transverse and pointed below; in the latter case, but also 
in some of the round-eyed genera, the front margin of the pro- 
thorax is dilated forming post-ocular lobes; these lobes are some- 
times very feeble and sometimes indicated only by a marginal row 
of long hairs (vibrisse of Lacordaire). The front coxæ are con- 
tiguous in our genera. The trunk is short, even in the winged 
Species, the epimera of the mesothorax project below the elytra to 
a greater or less extent; the episterna of the metathorax are either 
Covered by the elytra, and indistinct, or narrow and very dis- 
tinct. The hind cox are usually widely separated, the ventral 
Segments are 5 (in one specimen of Nocheles but 4 are visible) ; 
the Ist and 2d larger, connate, 3d and 4th shorter, 5th a little 
longer. The lateral extension of the ventral segments is tolerably 
wide, broader behind; the dorsal segments are membranous, the 
last is corneous, divided in ¢ as usual, but the terminal portion 
apparently more retractile than in genuine Curculionide. The 
legs are moderate, tibie variable in form, tarsi spongy beneath, 
usually dilated, though sometimes (Ophryastes) very slightly so, 
and in Rhigopsis only sparsely ciliate. 
The tribes of this family so far as represented i in our fauna may 
be naturally grouped as follows :— 
A. Side pieces of metathorax concealed, or indistinct; elytra c 
Antennal grooves short, on the upper face of the beak; or a a 
directed towards the eyes, TR rounded, or oe so, prothorax 
not lobed. . OTIORHYNCHINI. 
