OF WASHINGTON. 23 



that they have but little in common. In fact, as will be ex 

 plained later, I am compelled /o consider the Chrysomelidae as a 

 superfamily. There are several characters which I think will 

 definitely separate any of its species from those of other fami 

 lies. The antennae are of two or three segments ; mandibles never 

 elongate ; prothorax never broader nor much longer than meta- 

 thorax ; with chitinized notum ; thoracic legs always present (ex 

 cept in one or two genera of Hispidae), short and stout (except in 

 Cryptocephalidae, which are case bearers), tarsal claw single ; 

 tergites of meso and meta-thorax and first seven abdominal seg 

 ments never forming chitinized plates; ninth abdominal segment 

 never longer than preceding segments (except in Cryptocephalidas) , 

 tenth abdominal segment rudimentary, often bearing one or a pair 

 of prolegs ; no dorsal tubercles elongate and lateral tubercles elon 

 gate only in Cassididse ; a row of sub-spiracular, lateral tubercles 

 always present ; setae stiff and bristly, never in long tufts. 



The antennae are typically composed of three segments, the two 

 basal segments much flattened and the third conical or quadrate. 

 Arising from the end of the second segment at the base of the 

 third is an accessory digit, which sometimes becomes larger than 

 the third segment. Indeed the latter is sometimes lost, and this 

 digit appears to be the third segment. The third segment can 

 always be distinguished from it, however, by its bearing one to 

 several setae at its ; tip. Round, ocelli-like sensoria are often 

 found on the second segment. The ocelli are typically 

 twelve in number, four caudad and two ventrad of each 

 antenna. The two ventral are situated on the genae, separated 

 from the others by a suture, and it seems probable that originally 

 there were a pair of ocelli on each of three head segments. The 

 position of the ocelli is of considerable taxonomic value, but is a 

 difficult character to determine, oftentimes necessitating boiling or 

 bleaching the head. In two groups, the Donaciidaa and Eumol- 

 pini, the ocelli are entirely wanting. In most of the Gallerucini 

 but a single ocellus occurs. This seems to be homologous with 

 the caudo-ventral ocellus of the four caudad of the antennae, as in 

 certain species between the more typical Gallerucini and Chryso- 

 melini all six ocelli are found, but this ocellus is very much 

 larger than all the rest. The mandibles are typically five-dentate, 

 though in one or two groups they are uniformly tridentate, and 

 in a few genera entire. In some genera the number of teeth 

 varies within these limits for the different species. In Diabrotica 

 and several nearly allied genera, a curious tuft or brush of setae 

 occurs on the inner margin. The labra are quite variable in 

 shape, but always bear four prominent, stout setae. The setae on 

 the cephalic margin furnish good specific and often generic char 

 acters, though difficult to study, as they are easily broken off or 

 misplaced. The maxillae are of the usual type found in mandib- 



