36 THE ORDER OP OOLEOPTERA. 



ture of their autenuae ', and these sub-sections are again naturally divi- 

 sible into a number of subordinate divisions or tribes. The following 

 table gives a synopsis of the sub-sections, tribes, and families of the 

 pentamerous beetles. The names given to these sub-sections are gen- 

 erally recognized, and in common use, except the first and the third. 

 The term Jilkornes^ though sufficiently characteristic of the predaceous 

 beetles as compared with others of the i>entamerous section, does not 

 sharply distinguish them from some of the beetles of the other sections ; 

 and the term monilicornes, applied to the third sub-section — which is 

 composed chiefly of the family of Staphylinidai, though tolerablj'^ char- 

 acteristic, especially of the larger and typical species — is not ordinarily 

 applied to them, for the reason that the beetles of this division are more 

 readily and strongly distinguished by another character, na'mely, the 

 remarkable shortness of their wing-covers, expressed by the Greek term 

 hrachelytra, by which they are generally designated, or the correspond- 

 ing Latin word brevipennes, which is sometimes, but less commonly 

 used. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE PENTAMEROUS OOLEOPTERA. 



Sub-sec. I. Filicornes. Attennaj filiform. Habits predaceous. 

 Tribe 1. Predaceous ground beetles. {Carnivora terrestria.) 

 Geodephaga, MacLeay. 



Families: Ciciudelidai ; Carabidae. 

 Tribe 2. Predaceous water beetles. {Carnivora aquatica.) Uy- 

 DRADEPHAGA, MacLeay. 



Families : Dytiscida5 ; Gyrinidje. 



Sub-sec. II. Clavicomes. Antennse club-shai)ed. Habits mostly 

 putrivorous. 

 Tribe 3. Water scavanger-beetles. {Putrivora aquatica.) 

 Philhydrida, MacLeay. 



Families : Parnida) ; Hydrophilidae. 

 ■^ Tribe 4. Land Scavenger-beetles. {Putrivora terrestria.) 

 Necrophaga partly, Latreille. 

 Families: Silphidre ; Scaphidiidiie ; Histeridae ; Nitudilidro; 

 Derm^estidae ; Mycetophagidic ; Cryptophagidae ; Byrrhida^; 

 Anisotomidae ; Phalacridic; Trichopterygidaj ; Scydmenidaj ; 

 Trogositidai ; (Jucujidic; Colydiidie ; Lathridiidai. 

 Sub SEC. III. Mo nili comes. AntenntB more or less moniliform 

 or bead-like 5 wing covers very short. Habits mostly pu- 

 ' trivorous. 

 Tribe 5. Short-winged scavengers. {Putrivora hrevi^ennata.) 

 Brachelytra, Latreille. 

 Families : Stai^hyliuidie j Pselaphidae. 



