

INTRODUCTION 



This fourth supplement to Mr. Leng's catalog of North Amer- 

 ican Coleoptera is offered by the compiler and by the publisher with 

 the hope that it may help to alleviate a condition which has led to 

 a widespread desire for a complete new catalog. Since there appears 

 to be little chance of financing such a new catalog in the near fu- 

 ture, it has been thought worth while to prepare another supple- 

 ment which would fill some of the more obvious needs. 



It is probable that a great many entomologists have no con- 

 ception of the amount of work involved in the preparation of a 

 bibliographic catalog for publication. The writer, when he under- 

 took the present task, anticipated at most a two or three month 

 job. Work was started about the first of March and has occupied 

 most of the compiler's time continuously till the middle of October. 

 It is doubtful if the work could have been undertaken if it had 

 been known that it would involve such an outlay in time and 

 study. 



Although this supplement includes many changes in make- 

 up from that followed in the previous supplements (as will be ex- 

 plained below), it has been the endeavor of the compiler to make 

 it as useful as possible in connection with the original catalog and 

 the other supplements. Although Mr. Leng has not had an active 

 part in this work, all proposed changes in procedure have been ex- 

 amined by him and do, I believe, have his complete approval. 



In my opinion it is due principally to the excellence of the 

 original catalog that it is possible to issue supplements which can 

 give any satisfaction. Few coleopterists have contributed so large- 

 ly to the work of all their colleagues as Mr. Leng, and few large 

 works have been so completely constructive in their nature or so 

 universally indispensable as the "Leng Catalog". 



It would seem to be axiomatic that the fourth of a series of 

 supplements should conforjm in procedure and treatment with the 

 previous parts. In spite of this a glance at the present work will 

 suffice to show that it departs widely from the other supplements. 

 The reasons for these changes are outlined below. 



The primary cause of changes in make-up of the supplement 

 was the desire to save space. The complete division of the page into 



