Introduction 25 



peculiar tribes should be placed, if the more primitive are to precede 

 the more derivative. On the accompanying chart vertical lines indicate 

 separations based respectively on the sutures, the venation, the lar\'a, 

 the palpi and the antennae, the left hand columns being the most primi- 

 tive; horizontal Unes indicate separations based on the number of 

 abdominal segments and number of tarsal joints, the most primitive 

 being at the bottom of the sheet. A dagger indicates the primitive 

 characters of tarsal lobes, onychium, oceUi, soft, pubescent, elytra ill 

 adapted to the body, or trochantin visible. All the characters used in 

 the tabular presentation are thus included; and the sequence of the 

 series is substantially the same as I there employed. 



I think it will be seen at a glance that in a general way the sequence 

 of the families proceeds quite regularly from the lower left hand corner 

 of the chart to the upper right hand corner, that is, from the most primi- 

 tive in respect of the twelve important characters used to the most 

 derivative. In certain cases, however, a primitive series, Staphylini- 

 formia for example, runs higher in abdominal or tarsal development 

 than the more derivative series that follow. If one used those char- 

 acters only a false idea of the position of the series would result; and 

 I believe Verhoeff's conception of CoccineUidse as a sub-order is an actual 

 example of such a result. I have tried to incorporate in this chart all 

 the characters that have been used to obtain a balanced result. In 

 many of the series, a single or a few genera are placed below the bulk 

 of the families on account of their possessing more primitive abdominal 

 or tarsal characters. This appears to indicate the survival in that 

 series of some of the more prunitive forms, forms that in most of the 

 series have become extinct. While such cannot be entirely disregarded, 

 I think it would be a mistake to class the series according to these sur- 

 vivals alone. Some extraordinary forms are tentatively placed. Para- 

 sitic insects are regarded as a result of degradation, rather than as a 

 primitive indication. If Telegeusis is correctly placed in Teredilia, it 

 may be necessary, as Lameere did, to place that series tirst of the 

 Polyphaga, but its affinities are still disputed. 



I should like to be able to discuss the considerations that have 

 caused me to put each family in the position assigned in the series and 

 continue the same treatment for each tribe in the family, but that is 

 not now practicable. I will, however, briefly review each series, giving 

 the Adephaga and Staphyliniformia the most space. For the purpose 

 of bringing the terminology into harmony with that of other orders of 

 insects, I have, at the suggestion of Dr. J. Chester Bradley, used words 

 ending in oidea except for sub-orders. 



