190 



INTRODUCTION. 



Mr. Griiy Marshall has undertaken the Indian species. Only about 

 a thousand of the latter are at present known, but if the actual 

 number existing were estimated at 10,000 it would probably not 

 be very wide of the mark. 



The classification of the Bhynciiophora is in a more unsatis- 

 factory condition than that of any other series of the Coleoptera, 

 and is in much the same position as it was wdien Lacordaire (Gen. 

 Col. vi, 1 863, p. 2), after discussing the various systems proposed 

 for the European members of the group, went on to say : — " Si 

 les especes europeennes donneut lieu a d'aussi fortes divergences 

 d'opinion, qu'est ce lorsqiron trouve en presence des especes 

 exotiques ? " In fact no real classification can be said to exist. 



Schonherr divides the group into two divisions, the Orthoceri 

 (with the antennae not geniculate), and the Gonatoceri (with the 

 antennae geniculate). 



Thomson divides the Kiiynchophora into two " Stirpes," the 

 first characterised chiefly by having the ventral segments of the 

 abdomen immovable, and the second about equal in length to 

 the third, while in the second stirps the last three ventral 

 segments are movable and the two first connate, the second 

 being nearly always much longer than the third. 



Leconte and Horn divide them chiefly on the structure of the 

 pygidium, and the presence or absence of a peculiar ridge on 

 the inner surface of the elytra, into which is fitted the ascending 

 margin of the metathoracic epimera and ventral segments ; this 

 division is valuable in some respects, but is not accurate, as there 

 are several important exceptions. 



Sharp considers that only four families can be accepted, viz. : — 

 Anthribidje, Curculionid^;, ScouvTiDiE (including Platypid^), 

 and BrenthidtE. Of these the Curculionid^ contain by far the 

 majority of the species and they ought to be much subdivided, 

 but, unfortunately, no satisfactory characters on which to form 

 the divisions have hitherto been discovered. 



Bedel's classification (Faune Coleopt. du Bassin de la Seine, vi, 

 p. 3) is in several points a satisfactory one, and, with the addition 

 of the Brenthid.e, might with reason be adopted : — 



I. Maxillary palpi normal, flexible ; labriun 

 distinct ; antennas straight ; legs not 

 fossorial. 



i. Anterior coxae globose ; pygidium more 



or less exposed Platyrrhinidae (Anthribidae). 



ii. Anterior coxae conical ; pygidium 



covered Nemonychidae (Rhinomaceridae). 



II. Maxillary palpi abnormal, rigid, conical, 

 with the joints gradually smaller and 

 tapering to a point at apex ; labrum 

 very rarely distinct, and if so, the legs 

 fossorial. 



i. Legs not fossorial, anterior tibiae not 

 denticulate on their external margin ; 

 rostrum more or less pronounced, 

 variable in length Curculionidae. 



