1877,] 4:17 fl^eConte. 



Tabular Synopsis of the Bhynchophord of America. 

 (See Minutes of January 5, 1877. ) 



Dr. Le Conte presented a tabular statement of the number of specif s of 

 Rliynchopliora, contained in tlie XV. volume of the Proceedings of the 

 Society, and their geographical distribution in the different zoological prov- 

 inces of temperate North America. He mentioned the instances in Avhicli 

 the occurrence of similar extraordinary forms in geographical regions very 

 remote from each other corresponded with what he had previously shown 

 in the other higher types of Coleoptera, and again expressed the opinion 

 that the isolated and feebly represented, though sometimes widely distrib- 

 uted forms in insects were representative survivals of the faunae of former 

 geologic periods ; and proceeded : 



It is useless to oppose this view by the statement that these composite, 

 synthetic, prophetic or undifferentiated types have not yet been found in 

 the strata, for every well-informed entomologist will remember that except 

 in Tertiary strata but few localities have presented specimens sufficiently 

 preserved to permit accurate study. Moreover the localities thus f\ir 

 explored are all in the temperate zone, where we may reasonably not ex- 

 pect to find the predecessors of the larger and more conspicuous forms. 



In the older rocks the insect remains are so compressed, and the sutures' 

 of the most important elements of the external skeleton so obliterated, 

 that but little knowledge can be had except from the venation of the broad 

 winged orders. In this respect there is, as I can state from information 

 furnished me by Dr. Hagen, a striking correspondence between some of 

 the Carboniferous lace-winged insects and our own existent Pteronarcys. 



But in fact. Pteronarcys, being peculiar, among all genera of similar form 

 and appearance, by possessing in the adult distinct remnants of the larval 

 branchiae on the anterior segments of the abdomen, would necessarily, by 

 my method of interpreting structures, be regarded as a survival of an 

 ancient form, even if no Miamia wing had been found in the coal 

 quarries. 



A better appreciation of the characters of resemblance, which ally the 

 more important groups represented at present in the various classes of ani- 

 mals, as contrasted with the differences between them and their analogues 

 of former periods, the remains of which are found in the rocks, and which 

 are occasionallj- represented by survivals of insignificant size or restricted 

 area, will enable entomologis's to take broader views of the capabilities of 

 the branch of science which they cultivate ; but in which too often their 

 attention is directed to squabbles about nomenclature, orthographic or 

 historical, and to the simple enlargement of our knowledge by the descrip- 

 tion of generic and specific forms. 



