THE ANNALS 
AND 
MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
(EIGHTH SERLES.] ec onian inet); 
Vy" Eg 
3 
finn 
No. 116. AUGUST 1917./.. AUG 21 
ae 
\K 
~~ 
XII.—A Systematic Revision of the African Species of the 
Coleopterous Family Erotylide. By Gitserr J. Arrow. 
(Published by permission of the Trustees of the British Museum.) 
Havine been asked by Professor Thaxter, of Harvard, to 
determine for him several species of African Erotylidee upon 
which he has discovered parasitic growths of Laboulbeniaceve, 
two of the hosts being here described as new species, it has 
become necessary to look closely into the comparative cha- 
racters of the recognized genera. This has revealed a state 
of confusion in the nomenclature which, so long as it remains, 
renders the description of additional species a positive dis- 
service to systematic entomology, as increasing the difficulties 
of those who come after. In naming these new forms I have 
therefore felt myself under the obligation of attempting to 
bring into some better order the genera concerned. ‘The 
recent work upon the group contributed by Kuhnt to Wyts- 
man’s ‘Genera Insectorum’ fails in any way to dissipate 
the prevailing confusion. In his tables of genera sections 
are actually made to which no characters of any kind are 
assigned, the supposed geographical range of the genera 
being substituted. It is evident that the materials upon 
which the work is based were altogether inadequate for the 
purpose; but it is difficult to understand what value exists 
in compilations produced under such conditions, 
Kuhnt has catalogued seventy-four African species under 
fifteen generic names ; but seven of the latter names prove 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 8. Vol. xx. 10 
