INTRODUCTION. XV 



as far as may be possible the good from all (rejecting both what is superfluous and 

 bad), is indeed a Gordian knot requii-ing a Solon to untie. And, whilst numerous 

 portions have been subsequently taken in hand by others, and have here and there 

 been modified (for better or worse), the general plan which Mr. Westwood has 

 selected does still seem to offer (when contemplated in the mass) the fewest objec- 

 tions, so far as I am able to judge, of any which has been hitherto proposed. I 

 would mention this, not because I have altogether followed in his wake, — having 

 departed from it in many (perhaps too many) instances, —but simply by reason of 

 the fact that, having made his volume my text-book ab Initio, most of my ideas 

 on the subject (and many even of the changes suggested) have arisen from a study 

 of its contents : and, although I have not chosen to consider myself as bound 

 implicitly to any particular author, yet I think it due to Mr. Westwood to 

 afiu-m that my method of arrangement has been in a very large measure moulded 

 out of his. 



The 13 primary sections which I have made use of are those adopted by Mr. 

 Westwood ; nevertheless I have both transposed and inverted them, according as 

 I have deemed it desirable (or where newly-discovered links rendered it necessary) 

 to bring certain groups, formerly far asunder, into juxtaposition. Such has been 

 the case with the Clssklce and Tomici, — a proceeding which, on account of the 

 close aflfinity of the latter with the Cossonides, rendered the inversion of the Rhyn- 

 cophora absolutely necessary. Then, the removal of the Brachelytra (from the 

 Pentamerous departments) to the end, — a step which, after much reflection, I 

 have thought it advantageous, even on its own account, to take, — has had the 

 happy effect of bringing AiUhrenus (of the Dermestkla) into direct contact with 

 the Byrrhi, with which it has so much in common ; whilst I have ventured to 

 employ the Scydmceniclce (although not actually Brachelytrous) to effect a passage 

 from Anthicus to the Fselaphi (which apparently however have no exponent in 

 the Madeira Islands), and from thence (through Falagria) into the Staphylvnidce. 

 The Trogositklce I have preferred to treat as a distinct family, and (for reasons 

 stated at page 154<) as more akin to the CucujMce than to the NltkliiUdce, — with 

 which it is now usually associated. The location of the Anisotomidce may perhaps 

 require some apology; and I may add that I am not prepared to defend the 

 situation which I have assigned to it as of necessity the most natural one. I do, 

 rather, in fact regard it as in reality Necrophagous, and woiild not willingly 

 disturb the position (near to the Silphida;) which it is generally supposed to 

 occupy : still, the difficulty has been felt [vkl. p. 484) of disconnecting it from the 

 Clypeastres ; and since these latter are almost universally acknowledged as insepa- 

 rable from the Fseudotrimera (an hypothesis however which I am by no means 

 incHned to accept as capable of positive demonstration, though I have tacitly 

 endorsed it in the present volume), I have to a certain degree been coerced, con- 

 trary to my inclinations, in regulating its site. 



It may perhaps be objected that I have sometimes been over-minute in de- 



