XVI BIOGRAPIIKVVL SKETCH. 



Crotch in l^l'.i and 187-t, but without defined reason, and working as he 

 did, side by side with LeConte and Horn, he doubtless shared their views 

 of the Rhynchophora, and discussed with them the changes necessitated 

 thereby. The remaining Phytophaga, including both the Longicorns 

 and Chrysomelids, were placed before instead of after the Heteromera, as 

 a part of the Isomerous series, and the relative position of the Lamelli- 

 cornia was reversed, — a return to the order of Latreille. The arrange- 

 ment of the complexes as it now appears in the '• Classification" of Drs. 

 LeConte and Horn is as follows: 1, Adephaga; 2, Clavicornia (including 

 Coccinellidse, etc.) ; 3, Serricornia ; 4, Lamellicornia ; 5, Phytophaga 

 (excluding Coccinellidge, etc.); (J, Heteromera; 7, Khynchophora. 



These, however, are only changes in the grand relations of the great 

 complexes. If we look more deeply we shall also find essential modifica- 

 tions in the minor arrangement of the families within the complexes, es- 

 pecially in the (,'lavicorn and Serricorn series, made necessary by the 

 progress of investigation in all parts of the world. While other por- 

 tions, like the Carabidae in the Adephagous series, have been altogether 

 rewritten. As it stands, the work is the last expression of science re- 

 garding the classification of Coleoptera, and must exert a wide and pow. 

 erful influence on the study of this great group, not in this country only 

 but throughout the world, — especially wherever students are dealing with 

 the beetles of the temperate zones, as Mr. A. Matthews has said : " The 

 comprehensive lines on which it (this book) has been constructed will 

 include (with, it may be, trifling modifications) the Coleoptera of both 

 sides of the world." We think we can say unhesitatingly that very few 

 if any works, dealing with large, groups of animals, have been produced 

 in this country, — perhaps none, if we except those of Professor Dana, — 

 which have had so much influence on the views of naturalists the world 

 over upon the classification of the group concerned, as this is sure to 

 have, and we look confidently to the future for the verification of our 

 judgment. 



We have specified in some detail these two works of Dr. LeConte 

 because they are the most extensive and the latest, and because they 

 represent the others, summing up in a sense the investigations of an ac- 

 tive, studious life. 1 hey everywhere bear the marks of a master, and 

 none the less that he associated with himself one much younger than he, 

 who had V)een his pupil. This, too, is the mark of a master. There is 

 no need, therefore, nor have we time to pass in review the separate mono- 

 graphs and other papers upon Coleoptera which flowed from his pen. It 

 is sufl&cient proof of his industry to point out that nearly half of our 

 Coleoptera have been described for the first time by him (he has actually 



