Stophylinidce of tlie Amazon Vulleij. 33 



structure in certain groups are, however, so great, that 

 they must be examined in a very careful manner, from 

 species to species, before any trustworthy generahzations 

 can be estabhshed. Mr. Darwin, in his work on natural 

 selection, has attempted to explain the meaning and im- 

 portance of the extraordinary secondary sexual characters 

 which are so striking in some species of insects; but I am 

 strongly of opinion that an inquiry into the importance of 

 secondary sexual characters must be preceded by a thorough 

 investigation of the primary sexual characters, and after 

 that is gained I think it probable we shall be better 

 able to deal with the secondary characters. In the case of 

 the vegetable kingdom, JNIr. Darwin has himself shown, in 

 a manner that has delighted all naturalists, how important 

 and radical is the connection between the actual organs 

 of reproduction and the accessory parts of the inflorescence; 

 and I think it highly probable that a similar course of 

 inquiry, if carried out with insects, woidd make vis ac- 

 quainted with a direct connection between the primary 

 and accessory sexual peculiarities. The difficulties in 

 making the observations and dissections necessary in the 

 prosecution of such researches is, however, very great in 

 the case of organisms so small in size, and so complicated 

 in structure as are the great majority of the Insccta. 



Besides the enumeration and description of species with 

 which this paj^er is chiefly occupied, there will be found 

 prefixed to each genus some slight observations on dis- 

 tribution, and on structural points, and a few critical 

 remarks. 



List of Species of Aimazonian STArnYLiNiDJ3. 



ALEOCHARINI. 



EUDEEA. 

 Eudera cava, n. sp. 



Falageia. 

 Falagria Paraj, n. sp. 



„ varicoiuis, n. sp. 

 „ curtipennis, n. sp. 



Placusa. 

 Placusa confinis, n. sp. 



Epipeda. 

 Epipeda cava, n. sp. 

 „ rufa, n. sp. 



DiESTOTA. 

 Diestota sperata, u. sp. 



Brachida. 

 Brachida Batesi, n. sp. 

 „ Reji, n. sp. 



Myemigaster (n. pen.). 

 Mjrmigaster singularis, n. sp, 



Myrmedonia. 

 Myrmedonia scabripcnnis, n. sp. 

 „ pollens, n. sp. 



„ Batesi, n. sp. 



„ .spinifer, u. sp. 



„ fortunata, n. sp. 



„ uitidula, n. sp. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1876.— I'AUT I. (jLVY.) D 



