340 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. XV, 



exactly as in the Cleridce, and to a rather strong preservation of the tip 

 of Ml. A chitinization beyond the pivot-fold alone gives a slight 

 special likeness to the Hydrophilidag, with which they agree in type of 

 folding. 



Heteromera (Figs. 6, 43-46). — -There is nothing about the venation 

 of the Heteromera to separate them in two groups corresponding to 

 those in Leng's Catalogue, and on the whole not much that is distinctive. 

 The folding, as in the Hydrophilidse, Buprestidas, Elateroidea, Dascyl- 

 loidea, Dermestida, Macrodactylia, etc., is of what may be called 

 the normal type, dominated by a double pivot fold in the same position 

 as in the Adephaga. The venation of the same region is rather simple, 

 and possibly nearest to the Buprestid^e which fold their wings, and the 

 ,0,stomidas. In the anal region 2d Ai is invariably lost, but the type 

 is that normal in families mentioned, in. other points. The Erotylidce 

 have the same venation, and should be re-examined as to homogeneity 

 as a family, as some of them have heteromerous tarsi. 



MeloidcB. — The Meloidae (Fig. 47) at first sight are markedly 

 divergent from the remainder of the Heteromera; but the points of 

 divergence seem merely to be the result of reduction. The radial cell 

 is lost, and the outer ends of the radial and medial recurrents have 

 become nearly transverse, and continuous with the radiomedial cross- 

 yein, giving a characteristic appearance to the outer, part of the wing. 

 In the anal region there are three simple veins, with a chevron-shaped 

 structure between the second and third, toward the base. At first 

 sight this arrangement seems unique, but is easily derivable from the 

 normal heteromerous type by the loss of the lower side of the wedge- 

 cell and vein 2d As+Sd Ai. The Trictenotomidae of Africa seem to be 

 intermediate. 



The Rhipiphoridce have so completely lost their veining that they 

 might be interpreted in any way. The few traces of veins left are not 

 specially suggestive of the Meloidee, but the other characters and habits 

 place the family in this neighborhood. The Stylo pi da are also extremely 

 reduced; but the venation, so far as preserved, seems to agree with 

 that of the Meloidae. 



NitidulidcB (Figs. 54, 55). — Phenolia grossa is a reduced form, 

 but with an extraordinarily complex type of folding, which I have not 

 tried to work out in detail. The recurrents form a deep loop, exactly 

 as in the Histeridse, but the character is as likely as not to be due to 

 convergence, as the forms have no other special likeness. 



HisteridcB (Fig. 29). — Ganglbaur by some extraordinary slip put 

 this family in the Staph yliniformia on venational characters, stating 

 that the medial recurrent is absent. In fact Mr is an exceptionally 

 strong and heavy vein, as well as Rr, and both appear to take part 

 in the folding of the wing, which resembles the Staphylinidas in no way. 

 Save for the preservation of R5 as a vein in the outer part of the wing, 

 the form would be easily derivable from the other clavicorns, by an 

 increase of the folded portion. In any case, as there is no trace of the 

 anal arculus, and the recurrents are fully developed, the relationships 



