124 



INTRODUCTION. 



moss feeder ; Limnichus is found only in damp places ; while the 

 species of the tropical genus Chelonarium occur on leaves of plants 

 and on thorns, and drop immediately on being alarmed. 



The family contains altogether some 200 to 300 species. The 

 genus Byrrhus is entirely or almost entirely Palsearctic, but 

 Syncalypta and Limnichus are represented in India and Ceylon, 

 and six Indian species of a new genus Byrrhinus were described 

 by Motschulsky ; very little attention, however, has been paid to 

 the group within our limits. 



Dr. Sharp, the most recent writer on the family (Biol. Centr.- 

 Amer., Coleopt. ii. 1, p. 670), in speaking of its position, etc., says 

 it is not clear that it can be separated from either the Parintd^e 

 or Dascillidje, and that the recognized subfamilies of Byebhidjb 

 have little connection beyond the fact that all have peculiar 

 arrangements for retracting the legs and packing them very close 

 to the body, and further on (7. c. p. 6S4), in discussing the position 

 of the doubtful genus Chelonarium, he says : — "By the early authors 

 Chelonarium was placed in Throscid^. In the Munich Catalogue 

 it is placed in Byrrhidvi:, but on what grounds I do not know. 

 It appears to me to be more allied to Dascillid^e than to any 

 other Coleoptera. The limits of the families ByrrhidvE, Parnidje, 

 and Dascillidje are at present merely conventional, and, as they 

 will probably be united, it is not necessary to further discuss the 

 position of Chelonarium." 



I. Antennas inserted at the sides of the head ; 



antenna?, as a rule, more or less clavate. 



i. Clypeus not distinct from the frons; posterior 



coxa? almost touching one another Byrrhin^e. 



ii. Clypeus separated from the forehead by a fine 



suture ; posterior coxa? more or less widely 

 separated. 



1. Presternum without antennal grooves .... Limnichin^. 



2. Presternum within the front angles with a 



deep furrow for the reception of the an- 

 tennal Club BOTHRIOPHORINiE. 



II. Antenna? inserted on the front, filiform Chelonariin^e. 



Family 50. NOSODENDBIDiE. 



Form short oval, strongly convex ; head prominent, mentum large, 

 more or less concealing the mouth-parts ; antenna? inserted under the 

 side edge of the forehead, in front of the eyes, eleven- jointed with a 

 three-jointed club ; elytra covering abdomen ; anterior coccal cavities 

 widely open behind ; legs short and retractile ; tarsi five-jointed ; 

 abdomen with five free ventral segments. 



This family contains one genus Nosodendron, which is widely 

 distributed, one species being spread over the greater part of 



