Vol. XXVI, pp. 209-212 December 20, 1913 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



PARALLELISM IN MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS 



AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 



IX SCOLYTOID BEETLES. 



BY ANDREW I). HOPKINS. 



Parallelism in morphological characters and physiological 

 characteristics in the superfamily Scolytoidea relates to the 

 occurrence of the .same, or similar elements of structure, or the 

 same kind of activity, in two or more species, genera, sub- 

 families or families. 



Parallel species, genera and larger groups are those in which 

 structure or habit is, in many respects, alike. Such species or 

 groups may be closely allied, or more less widely separated. 



Universal parallelism relates to repeated, or multiple origin, 

 development and evolution of the same, or similar inorganic, 

 or organic form, or activity. 



This tendency towards parallel development appears to be in 

 accordance with a fundamental principle, or law, of parallelism 

 in evolution, under which, the origin and evolution of the same 

 form or activity, under the same, or similar physical influences 

 has been repeated many times, or in other words, that under 

 similar environments, needs and requirements in nature, inde- 

 pendent development and evolution, from a common base may 

 produce repeatedly the same, or similar morphological and 

 physiological results. 



If this is true we should find evidences of it in any series 

 of objects or activities which are the result of evolutionary pro- 

 - 3. Scolytoid beetles have I >c( -n selected as an example of 

 such a series: 1st, because 1 have made a special study of them, 

 2nd, because my ideas of parallelism in nature are largely 

 founded on the evidence they have furnished. 



* Abstract of a Paper read before the Society November 29, 1913. 



55— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXVI. L913. (209) 



