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THE ORDER OP COLEOPTERA. 
The OurculionidfB are generally small beetles, probably not averaging 
more than a quarter of an inch in length, and a great number being less 
than half this length. A few of the tropical species, however, are 
amongst the giants of the beetle tribe, some of them attaining a length 
of from one to two inches. 
The larvie are soft, white, footless grubs, and almost always inhabit 
the substance of plants, more especially the fruit in its various forms of 
seeds, nuts, and pulpy fruits. The larvae of a few foreign genera, how- 
ever, (Hypera, Coniatus and Cionus,) live upon tbe surface of leaves, 
the pulp of which they devour. These, living exposed to the light, pre- 
sent somewhat variegated colors; and they have two or three simple 
eyes, or ocelli, on each side of the head. When about to transform, 
they attach themselves to a leaf or its petiole, and enclose themselves 
in a thin gauze-like cocoon; a curious anomaly in the Coleopterous 
order. The larva; of some of the more minute species belong to the 
class of leaf-miners, and others inhabit the stems of herbaceous plants, 
causing them to enlarge into the excrescences known as galls, and 
which bear a certain resemblance to unripe fruits. As a tribe, there- 
fore, the snout-beetles are pre eminently the occupants and devourers 
of fruits, and as other tribes of tetramerous beetles are known by the 
Greek names of Xylophago, or wood-eaters, and Phytophaga, or plant- 
eaters, the snout-beetles might be properly styled Carpopbaga, or 
fruit-eaters ; but we have retained the name by which they are generally 
known, and which is so happily expressive of their most distinctive 
character, namely : Rhynchopliora, or snout-bearers. 
This tribe of beetles comprises the four following families : 
A. Labrum and palpi normally developed; antenna; not elbowed; snout short and 
thick. 
B. Antennae saw-toothed; eyes notched Bnucimra?. 
B B. Antennae clavate; eyes round or slightly sinuate Antiiri ninas. 
A A. Labrum and palpi obsolete. 
C. Antennas straight and filiform; proboscis pointing directly forwards ; body 
elongated Biientuida 
C C. Antennae clavate and usually elbowed; snout various Cu ecu lion in/E. 
Family LY. BKUCIIIDzE. 
This is a small family of small-sized beetles, always less than a quar- 
ter, and sometimes one-eighth of an inch in length. The only tetramer- 
ous beetles with which they could be confounded are the Cureulionid® 
and the Chrysomelidte ; but they differ from the former by having the 
labrum and palpi of the ordinary form, and the head is but little pro- 
longed anteriorly; and they differ from the great majority of the latter 
in their short, serrate antenna;, and in having the tip of the abdomen 
uncovered by the elytra. But a few aberrant genera of Ohrysoinelidffi, 
