PREFACE. 



It is the object of the present work to simplify and facilitate the study 

 of entomology, and especially to aid the inexperienced student in classi- 

 fying the insects which he may from time to time collect. 



With this end in view I have made use, as far as practicable, of obvious 

 and conspicuous characters in preference to those which are more minute 

 and obscure, and consequently of more difficult application. I have 

 therefore made much use of the general characters of size, shape and 

 color, but only so far as could be done consistently with the established 

 classification of insects, founded upon their more permanent organic 

 characters. 



In treating the Coleoptera, for the purpose of keeping in view the 

 connection between scientific and practical entomology, I have endeav- 

 ored to classify them, as nearly as possible, in accordance with their 

 food-habits, it being in the nature of their food and their modes of pro- 

 curing it that insects come into the most direct relation to human inter- 

 ests ; and this arrangement does not materially differ, so far as relates 

 to the larger divisions, from that already established by Latreille and 

 other entomologists, mostly upon structural considerations. This mode 

 of classification is particularly interesting and available'in the order of 

 Coleoptera, on account of their much greater diversity of habits in these 

 respects, than that of any of the other orders of insects. 



In classifying the Coleoptera I have not included a few small families, 

 and a much larger number of small genera, thinking it best not to con- 

 fuse the mind of the inexperienced student by the description of too 

 many divisions, many of which contain but a few rare species, or else, 

 are so similar to other and previously established genera that their sepa- 

 ration is a matter of questionable utility. Neither have I been able, 

 without greatly extending the size and scope of this work, to take into 

 account many of the new species which have been brought to our know- 

 ledge by the recent explorations of the more western portions of the 

 continent. The reader who wishes to extend his researches to these re- 

 mote States and Territories, is referred more particularly to^the'various 

 writings of Dr. LcConte, and the revision of the Tenebrionidae of North 



