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CLASSIFICATION OF THE COLEOPTERA. 



The Coleoptera are divided iuto four sections founded upon the num- 

 ber of joints in their tarsi, or feet. We have explained sufficiently the 

 value of this character in the foregoing preliminary remarks. 



These sections may be tabulated as follows : 



Sec. 1 . Five joints in all the tarsi PerUamera 



Sec. 3. Pive joints in the anterior and middle tarsi, and four Joints in the bind 



tarsi Heteromsra. 



Sec. 3. Fonr joints in all the tarsi Tetramera. 



Sec. 4. Three joints in all the tarsi T>-imera. 



These terms, except the second, are composed of the Greek numerals 

 meaning respectively, Jive, four, and three, prefixed to a word meaning 

 parts or pieces. The prefix hetero, in the second section, means different. 



As a general rule insects have five joints in their tarsi, and never 

 more than five. This may, therefore, be regarded as the normal or tj-pi- 

 cal number, and a smaller number must be taken as an indication of in- 

 feriority or degradation, using this word in its scientific sense. In ac- 

 cordance with this view, the most perfect and highly organized beetles 

 are found in the pentamerous section ; and in those which have loss 

 than five joints, there is usually a little swelling at the base of the last 

 joint, which is supposed to be a vestige of the missing joint. This cir- 

 cumstance has led some authors to give more complex names to these 

 sections, expressive of this character, but with the explanation here 

 given we have preferred to retain the simpler nomenclature of Olivier 

 and Latreille. 



Section 1. PEXTAMEBA. 

 Five joints in all the tarsi. 



This is the most numerous section, and comprises, as a general rule, 

 the largest and most highly organized species in this order of insects, 

 though it also contains many small species. 



They can be divided into six sub-sections, founded upon their habits 

 and the nature of their food, and distinguished primarily by the struc- 

 ture of their antennae ; and these sub-sections are again naturally divi- 

 sible iuto a number of subordinate divisions or tribes. The following 

 table gives a synopsis of the sub sections, tribes, aud families of the 

 pentamerous oeetles. The names given to these sub-sections are gen- 

 erally recognized, and in common use, except the first aud the third. 

 The term filicornes, though suflBciently characteristic of the predaceous 

 beetles as compared with others of the pentamerous section, does not 

 sharply distinguish them from some of the beetles of the other sections ; 

 and the term monilicornes, applied to the thud sub-section— svhich is 

 composed chiefly of the family of Staphylmidie, though tolerably char- 

 acteristic, especially of the larger and typical species— is not ordinarily 



