COLEOPTERA. 



HETEROCERID.^. 



113 



and the Necrophaga (the passage to the latter being effected by means 

 of the Anisotomidae), although I cannot but think that the Philhydrida 

 are quite as nearly allied to some of the other Clavicorn families ; 

 indeed, I would suggest that it would not be very unnatural to introduce 

 the Brachelytra between the Philhydrida and Necrophaga, commencing 

 their arrangement with the Pselaphides, which, in the great develop- 

 ment of their palpi, resemble some of the Helophoridae (Hydrania), 

 and terminating with the Staphylinides, which are so nearly allied to 

 the typical Silphidaj. By this means the Dermestidge and Byrrhidaj 

 would be brought together. Mr. Kirby, however (^Faun. Bor. Am.), 

 has made the Brachelytra intermediate between the terrestrial Ade- 

 phaga and the Necrophaga, placing the Philhydrida between the 

 aquatic Adephaga and the Necrophaga, and thus completing a circle. 



The family Heteroceridte* (Acanthopoda Latr.), as above stated, 

 comprises insects receding considerably from the type of the present 

 stirps ; neither do they offer any marked relationship with the Hydra- 



Fiff.7. 



dephaga, nor even with any of the other Philhydrida, although their 

 subaquatic habits resemble those of the Parnida;. They are of small 

 size, with the body depressed {Jiff. 7. i. Heterocerus lEevigatus) ; the 



* BiBLioGR. References to the IIeterocfuid^. 



£,. Dufour. Sur les Acaiithopodcs, in Ann. des Sc. Nat. 2d scries, vol. i. 

 Sai/, in Journ. Acad. Nat. Science, Philad. vol. iii. ; and the works of Fahricius, 

 Stephens, Curtis, and (jijUetihaU, kc. 

 The reference, by Latrcllle, to the .Journ. d'Hist. Nat, etde Physique (in the Gen. 

 Crustac. &c. noticed by Brulle) is incorrect, as Latreille himself noticed in Gen. 

 Crust. &c. vol. iv. Append. 



