208 Prof. J. C. Schiddte on the Classification 
exhibit analogies with Carabide, as far as their larve live in a 
free state, but with Buprestide when their eggs are deposited in 
timber and for that reason are developed rather with a view to 
their flying-capacity than to their “clicking ”’-powers. On the 
other hand, their feeding on pollen causes analogy with the phy- 
tophagous Coleoptera, particularly with the Cerambycide, because 
analogous food requires an analogous arrangement of the mouth. 
The starting-point of the modifications of the mouth being thus 
identical in both families, we find a parallelism between these 
modifications in those cases in each family where the work of 
propagating the species becomes so considerable as to occupy 
the whole time and strength of the animal in its perfect state : 
thus Melasini and Eucnemidini amongst Elateride correspond 
to Prionini, Asemini, and Callidiini amongst Cerambycidz, just 
as those Elateridze which frequent flowers correspond to Lep- 
turini. 
But if this be so, it seems that a new light is thrown on the 
whole series of Serricornia through these results. Very exten- 
sive investigations are necessary to place the relations of that 
entire division in a perfectly clear light, as our present know- 
ledge of the great majority of these Coleoptera is entirely in- 
sufficient to afford us a deeper insight. But it may perhaps 
even now be predicted without presumption that the other divi- 
sions of that series likewise will show themselves parallel to 
different divisions in other series of the order of Coleoptera, the 
different elements of nutrition and propagation influencing the 
structure of the animals in a corresponding manner. ‘The pe- 
culiar type of Coleoptera calculated for life in free air, which we 
describe as Serricornia, will most probably eventually divide it- 
self into two principal series, each containing three or four families : 
in one of these series (distinguished by having four Malpighian 
vessels with free ends, and other characters) Elaterids would 
correspond to Carabide, Cyphonide to Dytiscide, and Lampy- 
ride to Silphide and Staphylinide; whilst in the other series 
(distinguished by possessing, amongst other peculiarities, six 
Malpighian vessels, of which the ends are fixed to the intestine) 
Buprestidee would correspond to Cerambycide, Anobnde to 
Curculionidee, Melyride to Chrysomelide, and Cleridze to Cocei- 
nellidze. 
Arguments derived from the general impression of the out- 
ward form, or from isolated considerations of some single 
feature in the structure or habits of the animals, would not 
avail against a comparison of this kind, which must be judged 
from those points of view which have been explained in the pre- 
ceding parts of this article. Looking at the matter in this light, 
nobody can avoid being struck with the astonishing multiplicity 
