THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 



E. Head very small and retractile. Body very hard, color 



shining- black Histerid^. 



E E. Head moderate. Color usually dull brown, with or 



without spots NlTIDULID^. 



C (J. Wing-cases covering the whole abdomen. 



F. Head inserted in the thorax j thorax as broad at base 

 as the abdomen. 

 (t. Wings not fringed with long hairs. 



H. Body moderately convex, pubescent. Antennae 

 strongly clavate. 

 J. Prosternum advanced beneath the retractile 



head Dermestid^. 



J J. Prosternum not advanced. 



K. Body strongly ijubescent, often prettily 



spotted Mycetophagid^. 



K K. Microscopically pubescent, generally un- 

 spotted Cryptophagid^. 



H H. Body very convex, or sub-globular. 



L. Medium or small insects; body thick, ovoid, 

 pubescent, sometimes variegated : 



Byrrhid^. 

 L L. Very small insects; body glabrous, black, 

 rarely spotted with red. 

 M. Club of antennjB 3 or 5-jointed. Body 



usually contractile into a ball : 



Anisotomld^. 

 M M. Club 3-jointed. Body not contractile : 



Phalacrid^. 

 G G. Wings fringed. Size minute. Tarsi .'^-jointed: 



Trichopterigid^. 



F F. Head, free. Abdomen, much wider than the ovoid 



thorax. Size very small Scydm^nid^. 



Sub-tribe 2d. Sub-Clavicornes. 



A A. Body usually elongated. Antennae slightly clavate, or filiform 



and granose. Tarsi often with less than five joints. 



N. Body somewhat depressed, smooth. Tarsi five-jointed, first 



joint very small. Color black, or dark red. .Trogositid^. 



N N. Body very flat, smooth. Color red or brown . . Cucujid^. 



]Sr N N. Body not very flat ; sometimes cylindrical, usually deeply 



sculptured, or scabrous. Tarsi less than five-jointed. 



O. All the tarsi four-jointed Colydiid^. 



O O. All the tarsi three-jointed Lathrldiid^. 



