1873.] < ' [Crotch. 



;\ natatorial Araphizoid. This latter is in fact most anomalous ; the .su- 

 ture of the 2d ventral segment is obliterated in the middle so that it appears 

 to be visible at the sides only; the posterior coxae are quite, as in AmpMzqa, 

 without any trace of the large plates of the Dytiscidce, the metasternum 

 also has the transverse suture behind which is always visible in Carabicht, 

 never in Dytiscidce. It will have either to be made into yet another 

 family or will merge the others into one large family modified for terres- 

 trial and aquatic life. 



Rhyssodid^e. 



Anterior coxag small, globular, prominent, cavities closed. 



Posterior coxae small, sub-triangular, prominent, separate. 



Ventral segments 6, 1st visible at tJie side and in the middle, 2-4 connate. 



Tarsi 5-jointed, simple. 



This anomalous family must be ranged in the Adelphagous series as 

 here defined, from all members of which it is at once known by the cu- 

 rious posterior coxae. The antennae are moniliform and resemble those 

 of Scaritidae, to which group it is evidently allied, though it cannot be 

 denied that it has strong apparent affinities with Cucujidae, These, how- 

 ever, are not stronger than its analaogy to Brenthus and depend on a 

 similar mode of life. The 2d ventral segment (the first is obsolete) visi- 

 ble at the sides and middle only, and the distinct side pieces of the thorax 

 are characters possessed by no other Coleopterous insect out of this 

 series. It may here be noticed that the 2d ventral segment in Carabid'ja 

 is often visible in the middle at the point of the ventral process, especially 

 in Brachynus. 



Clavicornes. Latr. 



This large and somewhat heterogeneous group is principally character- 

 ized by the clavate or capitate antennae ; very few species being monili- 

 form (Cuci/jus, Bhyssodes) and some filiform (Staphylinidce). The form 

 of the anterior coxae will divide them into groups, according as they are 

 conical and prominent, transverse, or small and globose ; the cavities 

 are variable, but open in the major part of the series, closed entirely in 

 the following families, Bhyssodidce, Latridiidce, Cioidce, Mhizophagida, 

 Derodontidce, and in almost all the genera of Coccinellidie, Colydiidce, 

 Erotylidce. The antennae never show signs of being serrate, which re- 

 moves the Cleridce and AnoMidw from the group, though some of their 

 genera have distinctly clubbed antennae. The number of tarsal joints is 

 also very variable (but all with filiform tarsi 4, 4, 4, and any with a 

 less number of joints belong here), the claws are simple except in Cocci- 

 nellidm, PTialaeridm and some Nitidulidce. The accompanying table will 

 serve to differentiate the families, and a few exceptional cases are noticed 

 in the diagnoses of the families. This table though considerably modi- 

 fied, is entirely based on the admirable one given by Leconte in his classi- 

 fication. 



Clavicornes. 

 1. Labial palpi distant at base, anterior coxae prominent, 



often contiguous, claws generally dentate 2 



Antennae 0-9 jointed. 



