352 
COLEOPTERA. 
peculiar form and hind legs of the Bruchidce. They are also neither bred 
from pulse nor in trees and are on the whole a distinct and easily re - 
t 
Fig. 226.— Aulacophora 
EXCAVATA, X 8. 
cognised family. Individual species approximate on the one hand to 1 ' 
the Bruchidce and on the other to Cerawbycidce , and there is no really 
sharp line of distinction, but the very great majority are clearly recog¬ 
nisable. These beetles comprise a very large and varied assemblage, 
including a greater number and variety of forms than any other family 
of Coleoptera. All are herbivorous, the beetles are smooth, not being 
hairy as a rule or at least without the pubescent hairiness of Bruchids 
and Cerambycids. All are diurnal. It is impossible to discuss them 
as a whole and would serve no useful purpose ; they are divisible into 
a large number of divisions, some of which are extremely characteristic 
and without going deeply into the dry details of classification, we can 
readily distinguish the more important of these. 
There are first the Eapoda, in which the prothorax is much narrower 
at the base than the elytra. The Camptosomes have one distinctive 
character, the lines of the abdominal segments not going straight 
across but curving, making the middle of each segment narrower than 
the sides, and leaving a large space in the middle for the fifth. 
The Cyclica have not the above characters, but the prothorax is 
often a little narrower than the elytra and usually has the edges distinct, 
not rounded off. 
Fig. 225.— Aulacophora 
EXCAVATA, X .8. 
