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. 



