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COLEOPTERA\ 



I. COLEOPTERA PHYTOPHAGA. 

 By D. Sharp. 



Contents. § i, General remarks ; § 2, Systematic account; § 3, Bibliographic list. 



§ 1. General Remarks. 



The remarkably successful zoological work of Mr Perkins has thrown fresh 

 light on many points connected with the entomology of the Hawaiian Islands. 

 It would be out of place to discuss most of these points at present, but there is one 

 to which I may here allude. It was formerly supposed that very few specimens of any 

 of the precinctive^ species could be obtained. As the geographical area of the islands 

 is very small, it of course followed as a corollary that the number of individuals existing 

 of a species was extremely small. Although there is still much truth in this idea, it has 

 nevertheless become clear that in many cases the limitation is far from being so great as 

 we supposed it to be, Mr Perkins having procured a large number of individuals of 

 numerous precinctive species. He has however succeeded in doing this in most cases 

 only by tracing the exact conditions under which they exist. It thus remains true that, 

 compared with the great majority of Insects in other parts of the world, the individuals 



^ Owing to the great extent of the Hawaiian Coleoptera this Order will be dealt with in divisions. 

 Editor. 



- I use the word precinctive in preference to endemic or peculiar — both of which are in common use 



in the sense of "confined to the area under discussion." The word endemic has been objected to on the 

 grounds that its derivation does not indicate geographical restriction, and that it is actually used in medicine 

 to signify constant, but not necessarily exclusive, presence in a locality. The word peculiar has no special 

 connection with geography and when used by itself is often inadequate to convey the meaning intended ; so 

 that when one speaks of " peculiar " forms it is necessary to add some expression to make it clear that 

 geographical peculiarity is meant. Hence we require another word that can be used when there is no context 

 (as in tables), or when the context does not make it clear that geographical restriction is the point in view. 

 Precinctive appears to me suitable for this purpose and I see no objection to the use of the word restricted. 

 " Precinctive forms " means therefore forms that are confined to the area specified. 



F. H. II. 12 



