81 



Section 3. Bruchidae, Curculionidae, Scolytidae, Cerambycidae, and 

 Chrysomelidae. 



Section 4. Coccinellidae, and some small fungui-beetles. 



From this exhibit it is apparent that the first section contains the 

 larger portion of the species, or at least the greatest variety of differ- 

 ent groups. 



In order therefore to lessen the labor of searching out this exten- 

 sive section, a single species, it has been further divided into various 

 groups. 



I follow here the arrangement given by Dr. Le Baron, who separates 

 it first into sub-sections, chiefly by the form of the antenme ; these 

 he again divides into tribes corresponding to their habits ; each tribe 

 contains one or more families. 



Sub-section I. Contains those pentamerous species with slender fili- 

 form antennae 



Tribe 1. Embraces the predaceous ground-beetles, and includes the 

 families Clcindeliiae and Carabidae. The former contains the tiger- 

 beetles, which are mostly of metalic colors, with large vertical heads, 

 and are seen flying along the road in the bright sunshine. The latter 

 are mostly black or somber colored beetles, with the head medium 

 size and directed forward. They usually remain hid under logs, 

 boards, etc., during the day, and come forth at night. This family 

 contains many of our most useful insect allies. 



Tribe 2 — Contains the predaceous water beetles, Dyticidae andGyrin- 

 idae. The former reside in the water; the latter on the surface. 



Sub-section II. Contains those species which have the antennae 

 enlarged at the tip, but not lamellated or pectinate. 



Tribe 3. — The water scavenger beetles, of which Hydrophilidae is the 

 principal family. 



Tribe 4 — Land scavenger beetles. This tribe contains several fam- 

 ilies, of which I need only mention the following. Silphidae, or sexton 

 beetles, which are usually of large size and feed upon decayed animal 

 matter. Hesteridae, small, rather flat and somewhat square-shaped in- 

 sects of a very hard consistency, living in animal excrement and 

 other decaying substances. Nitidididae, small beetles, somewhat sim- 

 ilar in appearance to those of the last named family, some of which 

 live in carrion, others on flowers, while a few species are injurious to 

 fruits, the perfect insects eating into them. Dermestidae, or Skin- 

 beetles, mostly small species, often destructive to skins, furs, and 

 other dried animal substances, some species infesting museums, while 

 others feed on lard, bacon, etc. This tribe contains, in addition to 

 these, a number of other small families, whose species are either pre- 

 daceous, or live in fungus, rotten wood, or about the roots of moss. 



Sut.-section III, — This contains but one family of importance 

 Staphylinidse, which is distinguished by the more or less moniliform 

 antennae, and the very short eiytia or wing eases, which cover but 

 a portion of ihe abdomen. It contains the short-winged scavenger 

 beetks, usually of minute size, and feeding upon decaying animal 

 and vegetable matter. 

 e — 6 



