AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 165 



Two specimens from Vancouver Island, kindly given me by the 

 Rev. A. Matthews, and one from Oregon by Mr. Ulke. The line of 

 punctures on the outer costa of the elytra is deeper in one than in the 

 other specimens, and indicates probably a variation in sculpture similar 

 to that observed in C. sculptile. 



In regard to the affinities of this family, that they are very complex 

 has been recognized by all observers, but they have in the main agreed 

 that the nearest relationship is with the Cucujidae. The resemblance 

 in several important structural details with the Carabidae has been well 

 pointed out, especially by Pirichson, Ins. Deutschl., Ill, 298, and has 

 been exaggerated by Crotch to such an extent, that he has placed 

 Rhysodidae as a family of the series Adephaga. 



There ure, however, two lines of resemblance which I have failed to 

 appreciate, though they have been indicated by excellent authority; 

 these are with the Longicorn series in Spondi/Us, Parandrn, etc. ; and 

 with Rhynchophora in certain Brenthidae ; it is true that the monili- 

 form antennae give a somewhat similar effect upon a first view, but 

 there is so little similarity in the structure of the antennal surface, 

 when minutely examined, that I can attach no importance to these 

 supposed relationships. 



The great master in classification, Latreille, who first proposed the 

 genus Rlii/mdes^^ though he did not describe it, had a clearer recogni- 

 tion of the true affinities, when he associated it with Capes. This 

 approximation has not received the approval of other investigators, 

 though I hope to demonstrate its correctness. The error which has 

 heretofore obscured the perception of this affinity has been the incor- 

 rect placing of Ciipes in the Serricorn series near Ptinidae, with which 

 it has only the remote relationship which I will point out below. 



The extraordinary Australian genus Omnia Newman, which the 

 describer could not refer to any family at that time established, was 

 recognized by him to have affinities with Rhysodes and Capes ; Erich- 

 son, followed by Lacordaire, referred it doubtfully to the Cucujidae, but 

 without having had the opportunity of examining it. 



By the kindness of Mr. G. 0. Waterhouse of th-e British Museum, 

 I made a careful study of the type of 0. Stanleyt preserved in that 

 institution, and perceived very soon that it was closely allied to the 

 (hijtea serrata which I had described from Oregon; this observation is 

 published in the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phila., 1873, p. 334, No. 195. 



On a closer study of the four species of Cupesidae found in the 

 United States, I was obliged to separate C. serrata as a distinct genus 

 rrlacma, (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1874, p. 87). This insect from its 



