NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 165 



ficient magnifying power and other unsatisfactory conditions, 

 could easily be given, and in this connection it must be borne 

 in mind that it requires much more amplification and acute- 

 ness of sight and perception to discover a character or the 

 structural nature of an object than it does to see the same 

 after it has once been described. I allude to the use of the 

 microscope rather for original research than for cursory 

 observation and comparison, as these objects can be much 

 more conveniently attained with a good hand-lens. 



As greater attention is being given to exactness and per- 

 spicuity in describing the characteristics of species, a 

 general catalogue of terms to be employed for the almost 

 infinite variety of sculpture, punctuation, lustre, pubes- 

 cence, form and color, should be compiled, each modifica- 

 tion being illustrated by reference to a particular species 

 wherein it is preeminent; the colors should be indicated on 

 a lithographic plate. Such a catalogue as this w^ould con- 

 duce greatly to uniformity in description, and therefore to 

 ease of identification of species; it should be undertaken by 

 a special congress of entomologists, or by some one of the 

 large European societies, and would be of great value in 

 systematizing the science. 



In conclusion, the author begs the indulgence of coleop- 

 terists for errors, past, present and future. Having en- 

 tered upon the detailed study of our smaller Coleoptera, he 

 finds himself forced to rely in great measure upon the libra- 

 ry, wdiich, although undoubtedly a most trustworthy and 

 unbiased guide, is still more or less unsatisfactory because 

 of the insufficient and often erroneous descriptions of our 

 earlier authors. Under such circumstances errors are un- 

 avoidable, and he trusts they may be overlooked to some 

 extent, upon the assurance that his utmost endeavors have 

 and will be employed in seeking the truth regardless of all 

 other considerations. 

 San Francisco, October 11, 1886. 



