16 Introduction 



Outer lobe of maxillw not palpiform; first visible ventral segment not divided (except 

 Rhysodidae) ; hind wings without cross- veins (except Lymexylon, Rhysodidte and Cupesidse) ; 

 pleural sutures of prothorax absent (except Cupesidae); antenna" and tarsi variable; larva; 

 variable, tarsus and claw fused (except in Rhysodes, Cupes and Micromalthiis) . . . Polyphaga. 



The families Rhysodidae and Cupesidae have been variously assigned 

 to both sub-orders as above defined, since they possess some of the char- 

 acters of each. It is conceivable that they represent the modified 

 descendants of families that existed prior to the separation of Adephaga 

 and Polyphaga ; if so, they should in a phylogenetic arrangement precede 

 both, as being more primitive. It is certain that their position has been 

 greatly disputed, but the recent discovery of their larvae convinces me 

 that they are not Adephaga. 



The Polyphaga would be separated into seven series as follows: 



Palpi flexible; gular sutures double 1. 



Palpi rigid or concealed; gular sutures single 2. 



1. Hind wings with simple, straight veins; abdomen with at least three corneous segments 

 dorsally, and exposed more or less by the short elytra; antennae variable, but never 

 lamellate; tarsi variable; larvae cainpodeaform, or blattoid, always with legs. 



Brachelytra or Staphyliniformia. 

 Hind wings with veins in part connected by hooks, or recurrent veins; abdomen with 

 at most two corneous segments dorsally, usually completely covered by the elytra; 

 antennae and tarsi variable; larvae variable 3. 



3. Antennae never lamellate; tarsi variable 4. 



Antennae always lamellate; tarsi 5-jointed 5. 



4. Palpi never longer than antennae, tarsi variable 6. 



Palpi often longer than antennae, tarsi usually 5-jointed 7. 



6. Antennae variable, usually filiform, serrate or modifications of tliose forms, never 

 lamellate or suddenly clubbed; body in the more primitive families elongate, not 

 strongly chitinized; tarsi 5-jointed or heteromerous; larvae sometimes remarkably dif- 

 ferentiated, with legs (except inBuprestidaeandsome Eucnemidae) that are usually short. 



POLYFORMIA. 



Antennae usually clavate, though variable and sometimes only thickened externally; 

 tarsi variable, including heteromerous, 4 and 3-jointed; body strongly chitinized; larvae 



with legs, never blattoid Clavicornia. 



Antennae variable, usually serrate, or with outer joints wider, sometimes pectinate or 

 flabellate; tarsi always 4-jointed 8. 



7. Antennae clavate, body strongly chitinized; larvae campodeaform with legs. 



Palpicornia. 



5. Antennae lamellate; body usually strongly chitinized; pleurae of 2d and 3d abdominal 

 segments separated by the suture between their sternites; larvae eruciform, with legs. 



Lamellicornia. 



8. Palpi with last joint triangular in primitive families, but becoming small in the more 

 derivative families; tarsi always 4-jointed; larvae usually eruciform, sometimes without 

 legs Phytophaga. 



2. Antennae variable, even lamellate in one genus, head frequently with a beak; abdomen 

 usually covered by elytra; tarsi 4-jointed, except in three genera, Toinicus, Dry- 

 Dphthorus and Platypus, larvae eruciform, usually without legs (except in Brentidte?). 



Rhynchophora. 



The family Brentidae appears to form an exception to the larval 

 character in Rhynchophora, if the descriptions are correct. It is also 



