284 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



de la Soc. Entomol. de France for 1834, of which the following is an 

 abstract : — 



1. Scleropterides — Tarsal claws simple; anterior coxae orbicular, not extending 



beyond the prosternum. 



A. Phrenapatides. — Two anomolous genera, Phrenapates and Trictenotoma. 



B. Mandibles short, scarcely protruded, simply bi- or tridentate. 



* Collapteridcs. — Elytra united; wings wanting. Typ. gen. Erodius, 



Pimelia, Blaps, Pedinus. 

 ** Corysopterides. — Elytra free; wings 2. Typ. gen. Tenebrio, Helops, 

 Diaperis. 



2. Xystropides. — Tarsal claws denticulated ; neck wanting. Typ. gen. Cistela. 



3. Euschionides. — Tarsal claws simple or bifid ; neck generally distinct ; anterior 



coxEB long and produced. 



* Clynocephalides. — Head not narrowed into a neck nor rostrated. Typ. 

 gen. Serropalpus, Melandrya, Ripiphorus, Mordella. 



** Trachelides. — Head generally narrowed into a neck, &c. Typ. ge^". 



Horia, Meloe, Pyrochroa. 

 *** Leptoderites. — Head not formed into a neck, often rostrated; thorax 



narrow. Typ. gen. Lagria, Salpingus. 



We thus see the first three Latreillian groups are condensed 

 together, whilst portions of the third and the fourth are mucli di- 

 lated in their distribution. Moreover, that a trifling character like 

 the denticulation of the tarsal claws should be considered sufficient to 

 raise the species of Cistela possessing it to a primary division (notwith- 

 standing their affinity with Helops is so strong, that these two genera 

 are by several entomologists placed in the same family), does not 

 impart much authority to this mode of distribution ; whilst the series 

 of names, formed at complete variance with the ordinary series of 

 sectional names, will not greatly assist in facilitating the study of this 

 difficult group. Nevertheless, the juxta position of several of the 

 divisions appears more natural than that of Latreille, who was, indeed, 

 aware of the intimate relationship of Helops with Tenebrio, with 

 which, indeed, it was united by Linnjeus ; and of the connection 

 existing between the Melasoma and some of the Taxicornes, such 

 as Phaleria and Diaperis ; indeed, the transition from Tenebrio to 

 Helops, by means of Phaleria, is exceedingly gradual. Without 

 strictly adhering to either of the preceding modes of distribution, 

 I have adopted the most apparent connections indicated by each, 

 and have ventured to commence the distribution with Latreille's 

 Trachelides, as being apparently most nearly allied to the Mala- 

 coderma * as indicated by Lamarck. Latreille, on the other hand 



* This may be supposed to be effected, either by Telephorus and the Lytta?, or 

 by Scydmasnus and the Notoxidse. 



