CLASSIFICATION OF THE RHYNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA. 455 
very numerous, the representation in North America is but small, 
and that the highest form, Otiorhynchus, exists on this continent 
only as a few species imported with and parasitic on fruit trees, in 
the Atlantic States. 
On examining closely the part of the head adjacent to the eyes, 
a small oblique suture will be seen extending downwards from the 
anterior inferior part; if this fissure is entirely closed, the eye is 
round, as in the majority of the genera; if it is open the eye be- 
comes more or less pointed at that part, and finally assumes the 
transverse, acuminate form observed in Ophryastes, etc. My at- 
tention was first directed to this peculiarity, by observing that in 
the few species of Otiorhynchus now domiciled in the United 
States, there are quite perceptible differences in the form of the 
eyes, which are more rounded in O. arcticus, and more pointed in 
O. ligneus. In Agraphus this fissure is more distinct, and the 
eye is accordingly more pointed. 
The groups of Otiorhynchini are distinguished by the tarsal 
ungues and antenne, as follows: 
Ungues separat 
Antenne long a and slender, . . +. . « . Otiorhynchi. 
Antenne thic F sic wiles ately phir. 
Ungues samen i ana? eet Se ee eee Peritell. 
The tribe Brachyderini as here limited is by no means that de- 
fined by Lacordaire under the same name. I have removed from 
it various groups having the humeri distinct, which will be found 
below and under Tanymecini ; Sitones and its allies do not even 
belong to this family, but will be found among the first Curculion- 
idæ, where the simple mandibles and small mentum entitle them 
to be placed. 
Thus diminished, the tribe, as represented in our fauna, indicates 
but two groups, distinguished by the form of the beak : 
Beak longer than the head, feebly ee Oe antennal grooves com- 
mencing on the upper surface; support f deciduous piece very 
promioenk, eyes coarsely granulated, ST pointed = 
HI. 
Beak scarcely longer than the head, not auriculate, support of decid- 
uous peo very E eyes finely T: ted, subemarginate 
fron GEONOMI. 
The first group is epee + a Sik ieee species 
from Colorado ; the accessory mandibular pieces are short, pyram- 
idal, obtuse, and slightly curved. 
