AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 



181 



Our species are so rare that it was impossible to procure one for 

 dissection, and I have substituted Sphallomorpha quadrisignata Cast., 

 from AustraUa, (see PI. Ill, fig. 4, also dissection 147). 



Additional Notes. 

 On p. ya I have made xise of the expression that '-the (posterior) 

 coxae reach the side margin of the body, separating the metasternal 

 side pieces from the first ventral segment." By this I mean to be 

 understood, the side margin as it appears from the examination t)f an 

 entire specimen, the limit of the body being the margin of the elytra. 

 The extent of the coxse outwardly is such that the wide pieces become 

 more dorsal, they are never cut off from articulation with the abdomen 

 but merely hidden. It is not a question of greater or less inflexion 

 of the elytral margin, lus it will be observed in tho.se genera with most 

 widely inflexed elytra {C^chrus et al.), that the coxae do not attain the 

 side margin of the body. 



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From the families of Adephaga given on p. 94 there appears to 

 be a tendency on the part of some able entomologists to exclude the 

 G-YRINID.'F. I biilieve I have studied this type with some care and the 

 structure of the external skeleton as well as the mouth parts seem to me 

 so plainly Adephagous as to leave no room for douljt. It is true the 

 antennae are irregular in their form, the eyes are so broadly divided as 

 to make a superior and inferior i)air on each side, and in Dineutua X\w 

 outer or palpar lobe of the maxilla is lost. , These are certainly import- 

 ant characters but must not be allowed to outweigh all the rest of the 

 organizaticm. The Adephaga do not present an unbroken chain and in 

 its fragmentary condition some aberration must be expected. 



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After entering on the description of the various tribes recognized in 

 the preceding pages, I have used Lacordaire's first volume of the Genera 

 as a convenient means of comparison. It is well known that this volume 

 although not old in years is somewhat antiquated through the researches 

 of Schaum, Chaudoir and LeConte, but with all its defects it is the only 

 general system of Carabidae extant. Several authors have started in an 

 attempt to revise the system but beyond the arrangement of the genera 

 of local faunte nothing has been done. It has been easy enough as far 

 as the tribes of the Carabin^e extend, beyond this all is in confusion. 

 The present essay aims to go a step farther and if but little has been 



