SYNOPSIS OF THE TRIBES OF THE COLEOPTERA. 



. Tarsi usually 5-jointed, sometimes 4 or 3-jointed in very small species, slender 

 and sparsely haired, except Tribe XI, and except that the anterior, or anterior 

 and middle tarsi are sometimes dilated and brush-like beneath in tlie maie.s. 

 B. Elytra covering the whole or nearly the whole of the abdomen. 



C. Antennae filiform and simple ; outer lobe of maxillae palpiform, giving the 

 appearance of six palpi. 



D. Legs long and fitted for running, hind trochanters large, egg-shaped aud 



prominent ; tarsi always 5-jointed Tribe 1 . 



D D. Hind legs flattened and fringed for swimming ; trochanters not promi- 

 nent; the fourth joint of the anterior and middle tarsi sometimes in- 

 distinct in very small species Tribe II . 



C C. Antennae filiform and usually serrate ; outer lobe of maxillae not palpiform. 



E. Prosternum prolonged to a point behind and received in the mesosternum ; 



body very firm, legs short, tarsi always 5-jointed, joints not dilated and 

 brush-like beneath, but often furnished with membranous lobes on the 



under side Tribe IX. 



£ B. Prosternum not prolonged behind. 



F. Body moderately firm ; legs more or less elongated ; tarai various : 



Tribe X. 



F F. Body soft, elytra thin and flexible ; tarsi usually somewhat dilated 

 and brush-like beneath, with the fourth joint bilobed; last joint 



of palpi sometimes dilated Tribe XI. 



C C C. Antennae clavate or capitate. 



G. Palpi usually very long, sometimes longer than the short antennae ; 

 antennae 6 to 9-jointed, strongly clavate; middle and hind coxae 



dilated ; middle and hind tarsi sometimes fringed ; habits aquatic. 



Tribe III. 



G G. Palpi not elongated; antennae 11-jointed, rarely 10 or 9-jointed; 



coxae not dilated ; habits not aquatic. 



H. Club of antennae pectinate ; mandibles usually strongly toothed or 



even branched ; size large, or medium .Tribe VI. 



H H. Club of antennae lamellate ; size often large ; sometimes small, 



but never very small. 



I. • Abdomen wholly covered by the elytra (except Copridae) ; hind 



legs set far back Tribe VII. 



I I. Tip of abdomen exposed ; hind legs not set far back . Tribe VIII 



H H H. Antennae clavate, but with the club neither pectinate nor 



lamellate, and nearly or quite filiform in the exceptional 



group of Sub-clavicornes ; size small or very small, (except 



Silphidee) Tribe IV. 



