18 



no less than the anteunse, is nearly identical in them all, and in the shape 

 of the maxillary palpi they have much in common, whilst in Epiiistemus 

 even the labial pair approach the Latridius type ; and when we recol- 

 lect that even the outward features of these various groups have in 

 reality a vast deal that is similar, their relationship is rendered even 

 more decided still. This latter fact becomes remarkably clear when we 

 bear in mind that the affinities of Latridius are equally those of Corti- 

 caria (for the genera are but just separable, and, indeed, until lately 

 have not been universally recognized as distinct at all) ; and the Corti- 

 cariiB, at any rate, will readily be allowed to approach the Atomarice most 

 unmistakeably; whilst Atomaria, on the other hand, well nigh tacks on 

 (through such species as the A . ferruginea) to Oryptophagus. Moreover, 

 the Gorticarice have usually the edges of their prothorax crenulated, a 

 fact which is again suggestive of a portion of the Gryptofhagidce. I 

 conclude, therefore, that in their troflii and general /ae«e5 (and, I think 

 I may say, in their habits likewise), no forms can be more evidently 

 related inter se than those which constitute the genera to which I am 

 now calling attention ; and that, consequently, the families which con- 

 tain them must, a fortiori, be regarded as intimately allied. 



There is, however, one structural feature, at all events, in which the 

 Latridiidce recede from these immediate groups, namely, their three- 

 jointed tarsi ; and perhaps it may be on this account, therefore, that the 

 family has been placed, by some few naturalists, in juxta-position with 

 the Trimera, and so made to terminate a systematic arrangement of the 

 Coleoptera. But, here, the first suggestion which seems to ofler itself 

 is this — that the so-called "Trimera" are, after all, not trimerous as 

 regards their feet; so that the only essential (supposed) affinity between 

 them and the Latliridiida fails at the outset — vanishing, in fact, as soon 

 as looked at ! Westwood, long ago, proposed a more accurate term for 

 the section to which Latreille gave the name of "Trimera," his title of 

 Pseudo-tv'ivixeYdi, at once implying that the feet of the insects which con- 

 stitute it are only apparently three-jointed. They have, in reality, ybwr 

 articulations; therefore, what, even on the mere tarsal system (perse), 

 can they possibly have to do with such groups as the Latridiida, in 

 which the feet are absolutely and jiositively trimerous ? 



But if the two departments are thus removed from each other, even 

 in their tarsal structure (which was their only supposed bond of union), 

 and we are compelled, consequently, to dispute their relationship in toto, 

 the next question which is suggested appears to be simply this — is the 

 circumstance of their tarsi being triarticulate anything more, in point 

 of fact, than the main (and almost only) feature which separates them 



