36 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. xi. 



as well as my own. I have also been allowed to study the material in 

 the American Museum of Natural History, through the kindness of 

 Mr. William Beutenmiiller. 



The preceding papers by American authors are by LeConte, Proc. 

 Acad., 1852, Vol. VI, p. 129; Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1880, A^ol. 

 VIII, p. 186 ; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1873, Vol. IV, p. 363 ; 

 Horn, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1895, Vol. XXII, p. 81. Since the 

 publication of Major Casey's "Revision," Mr. F. C. Bowditch has 

 published (Ent. News, Sept., 1902) some critical notes. 



Some of these authors have been apparently handicapped by in- 

 sufficient material ; and it is to be regretted that, while the larger 

 species are represented in most collections, the smaller species are 

 usually represented by few specimens. 



Collectors should not fail to take large series of the species of 

 Hyperaspis and Scymniis on account of the interest they possess from 

 the variety of their markings and their economic importance. 



With few exceptions the Coccinellidae are beneficial insects, feed- 

 ing in the larval stage and as imagines on plant lice and scale insects. 

 The reports of the various State Entomologists contain numerous ref- 

 erences to their predaceous habits, the summary of which is that while 

 they doubtless eat some vegetable matter, pollen for example, their 

 food consists largely of injurious insects. There is room for original 

 investigation in this direction. 



The standpoint of Major Casey in regard to the relation between 

 American species and the related foreign forms is quite different to that 

 of previous authors. He apparently regards each geographic race as 

 entitled to a specific name, though in some cases he uses the word sub- 

 species ; while his predecessors have sometimes sought to emphasize 

 the relationship by the suppression of varietal names. 



Tribe i. Hippodainiini. 

 The body is more elongate and loosely formed ; the upper surface 

 is glabrous ; the legs are longer and less retractile than in the following 

 tribes. 



The genera may be separated as follows : 



Claws simple Anisosticta. 



Claws with a large quadrate basal tooth Megilla. 



Claws toothed near base. 



Antennns simple Paransemia . 



Antennre with third jointed dilated Ceratomegilla. 



Claws bifid Hippodamia. 



