COLEOPTERA. — ADEPHAGA. 45 



two Stirpes, Geodephaga and Hydradephaga, the insects being very 

 predaceous in their habits ; and the latter, or the aberrant portion, 

 composed of three stirpes, Philhydrida, Necrophaga, and Brachelytra, 

 and feeding upon dead animal or vegetable matter. 



The circularity and natural progression of this tribe is effected, 

 according to Mr. MacLeay, in the following manner : — Commencing 

 with the Geodephaga we arrive at the Hydradephaga by means of 

 Omophron, Hydrous in like manner connecting the latter stirps with 

 the Philhydrida ; whence, by the assistance of Helophorus, we arrive 

 at the Necrophaga, which are united with the Brachelytra by means 

 of Micropeplus ; Lesteva, from its analogy with Lebia, and Stenus, 

 from its analogy with Cicindela (as suggested by Mr. Kirby), form- 

 ing the links which complete the circle, by uniting the latter stirps 

 with the Geodephaga. 



In the following pages I have adhered to this arrangement, although 

 by introducing the Brachelytra at the end of the Necrophaga, the 

 series of affinity between Dermestes, Anthrenus, Byrrhus, Hister, and 

 Lucanus is broken. 



The subtribe ADEPHAGA is distinguished by the outer lobe of 

 the maxillae being distinct and articulated, or palpiform*, so that these 

 insects have been ordinarily stated to possess six palpi, one pair being 

 attached to the lower lip, and a pair to each of the maxillae, as though 

 the gluttony of these insects required an additional organ. The inner 

 edge of their lower jaws is also armed with strong spines along its entire 

 length, the extremity being also terminated by an acute hook. The 

 antennae are long and slender, the legs of more than ordinary length, 

 and the anterior tarsi generally dilated in the males. The variations 

 occurring in this last-mentioned character have been employed by 

 the French entomologists to distinguish several of the groups corn- 

 prising this subtribe, but it is to Mr. Kirby that we are indebted for 

 the most satisfactory remarks upon them, (Faioi. Bor. Amer. p. 1.) 

 In this respect, the Adcphaga may be divided into — 1 . Those without 

 dilatation ; 2. Those having the two anterior tarsi dilated ; 3. Those 

 which have the four anterior tarsi dilated. Instances of simple tarsi 

 in both sexes occur in Manticora, the Scaritides, many Carabides, and 

 some Brachinides, with Haliplus ; on the other hand, in some Cicin- 

 delidcc, Colliuris, S:c., and in certain Brachinides, the tarsi are dilated 



* It is to Knocli (and not to Latreille nor MacLeay) that we are indebted for 

 the first intimation of the true nature of this organ. 



