256 REVISION OF TIIF. TEXKI'.KlDXID.r. OF AMERICA. 



among Coleoptera, might have been induced to review his work and so describe the spe- 

 cies that their correct synonymy could be properly ascertained. From the rep sated study 

 of his descriptions, 1 am fullj satisfied that all the Tenebrionidse, at least, are old species, 

 -.nine of them having been described for ten or twenty years. 



In reeard to the classification of the family but little nerd here be said. After a very 

 careful review of all systems heretofore published, I am inclined to adopt that of Dr. Lc- 

 conte, as giving in a more satisfactory manner the relations the tribes should occupy to 

 each ether. In a review of the succeeding pages, the reader will rind the tribes numbered 

 continuously, although in a fauna limited as is our own. these tribes must not always be 

 considered as of equal value among themselves, nor even equivalents of those of similar 

 designation in the work of Lacordaire. As the classification of the family on anything 

 like a natural method has been the result of the labor of few students, and in compara- 

 tivelj recent times, it can hardly be supposed to bs as firmly fixed as that id' the Carabi- 

 dae and Staphylinidae; therefore, the author has at times varied from any systems yet 

 proposed, with the view of lessening the number of exceptional cases that must iuevitablj 

 occur where any strict line of division is allowed to conflict with natural affinities. 



The family Tenel>rionid;c may be divided into three sub-families. 



Hind margins of all the ventral segments corneous. 



Meso-coxse enclosed by the sterna; trochantin not visible. textyriid.e. 



Meso-coxse open externally; trochantin visible. ASIDID.E. 



Hind margins of the third and fourth ventral segments partly coria- 

 ceous; trochantin visible or not. TENEBRlONIDvE. 



Sub-Family TEXTYRIID.E. 



This sub-family comprises all those genera in which the ventral segments are entirely 

 corneous, and the meso-coxae enclosed by the meso- and meta-sterna, and with the tro- 

 chantin consequently invisible. The mentum here attains its greatest development, and 

 in many of the genera entirely hiding all the other parts of the mouth. The side- of the 

 gula are usually prominent and applied directly against the sides of the mentum. so that 

 no gular peduncle can exist. The tarsal vestiture is somewhat variable, in most of the 

 genera the tarsi have very coarse, almost spinous hairs, and much more rarely silky pu- 

 bescent. 



The following table will serve to distinguish the tribes in our fauna. 

 Mentum large, concealing both maxillae and ligiria. 



Episterna of metathorax very wide; front trilobed. epiphysini. 



Episterna of metathorax narrow. 



