of Buprestidae and Elateridse. 195 



VII. 



With regard to that series of families into which the divisiou 

 Sternoxi has been resolved, the constant verdict of modern au- 

 thors is to the effect that the organs of the mouth are destitute 

 of systematic value, and upon the whole are much reduced, 

 which seems to mean that they are rather short and do not 

 project much from the mouth (Lacordaire, Gen. des Coleopt. iv. 

 21. pp. 95, 96, 131). The same assertion is often made also with 

 regard to other groups. Such a view, however, when properly con- 

 sidered, is always found to be erroneous ; for if the structure of the 

 mouth really remains the same in an extensive series of animals, 

 thisfact is not valueless, but, on the contrary, affords a never-failing 

 indication of their near relationship. I say " never-failing/' 

 for in no case has it ever been found at variance with the testi- 

 mony of the rest of the structure. If, then, the result of the 

 investigation of the mouth is thought unsatisfactory, the fault 

 lies in the preconceived views of the observer who rejects its 

 testimony. It is the method of so many modern authors which 

 leads to results inconsistent with nature ; and if they find that 

 the structure of the mouth is at variance with these results, it 

 is said to be without systematic value, instead of that circum- 

 stance being accepted as a proof that the results obtained are 

 erroneous. Authors are bent on distinguishing, and hunt after 

 marks of distinction — for what ? For those groups and divisions 

 which are constantly being proposed on the strength of mere 

 external and often accidental similarity in shape. Of course, 

 the careful examination of every part of the animal accessible to 

 the pocket magnifier, which constitutes the method of so many 

 even of the best modern entomologists, does occasionally lead to 

 the discovery of good and useful characters for classification j 

 but such a method has really only a limited claim to the name of 

 natural method which it assumes. It approaches the natural 

 system in many points, but it attains merely a superficial contact ; 

 it never penetrates the essence of the natural system. Much 

 material is sifted and laid in store by that method ; but the scien- 

 tific edifice of a natural system makes no progress. Not even the 

 mere elementary task of procuring a survey of the material can 

 be mastered by that method : the enormously complicated animal 

 composition is much too intricate to be overcome by artificial 

 classification ; it must be realized in thought and imagination 

 in its unity and through all its ramifications. 



In order to appreciate properly the organs of the mouth, 

 they, as well as other animal instruments, must be regarded 

 both in their own mutual relation and in their relation to all 

 the other parts of the organism. In Buprestidse their develop- 



14* 



