622 Mr. D. Sharp and Mr, F. Muir on the Comparative 
them in this complex they might be placed equally 
as well with the Cucujoidea. Whichever view be adopted 
there appears to be no direct connection with any other 
family, and they can scarcely be viewed as primitive types. 
They do not approach the Byrrhoidea as there is no 
appearance of free lateral lobes. 
As we have suggested (in speaking of Parandra) a 
connection of this series with Cucujoidea it is only fair to 
say that a different view may be taken, It might be 
considered that in this series there are primarily no free 
lateral lobes, those cases in which they appear to be 
present in a modified form being merely secondary 
developments of a single piece. This view would remove 
the series from any connection, direct or indirect, with 
the Byrrhoidea. The point is more fully discussed in the 
section phylogeny. 
(4) CARABOIDEA OR ADEPHAGA. 
In this type the median lobe is highly developed; the 
lateral lobes are largely and closely connected with the 
dorsal margin of the median foramen by means of a 
prominent condyle; the basal-piece is greatly reduced, or 
entirely membranous; in the less specialised forms the 
internal sac is undifferentiated, but in the more highly 
specialised forms it is large and complex. Pelobiidae, 
Dytiscidae, Haliplidae are the more generalised forms, and 
if the Adephagous type is to be connected with any other, 
these families should be specially studied. As to sug- 
gestions for this connection we must frankly say that 
we have not yet found anything to help us, but their 
differentiation from the Byrrhoid type is not great.* 
It is just possible to consider the series as a modification 
of the Cucujoid type, the lateral lobes being displaced and 
fixed in a peculiar manner. 
With the reduction of the basal-piece the median lobe 
becomes more tubular, and the sac more complex. In 
the Cicindelidae the basal piece is very much reduced, 
and in the Carabidae it is only represented by a membrane, 
as stated above. 
* We greatly regret that we have not been able to examine the 
genus Amphizoa. The only male of the family that we have seen 
is the actual type of A. josephi Matth., now in the collection of the 
British Museum. 
