208 Prof. J. C. Schiodte on the Classification 



exhibit analogies with Carabidae, as far as their larvse live in a 

 free state, but with Buprestidse 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 theCerainbycidje, 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 Elateridse correspond 

 to Prionini, Asemini, and Callidiini amongst Cerambycidse, just 

 as those Elateridae 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, 'i'hc pe- 

 culiar type of Coleoptera calculated for life in free air, which we 

 describe as Serricornia, will most probably eventually divide it- 

 self into twoprincipal series, each containing three or four families : 

 in one of these series (distinguished by having four Malpighian 

 vessels with free ends, and other characters) Elateridae would 

 correspond to Carabidse, Cyphonidse to Dytiscidse, and Lampy- 

 ridae to Silphidse and Staphylinidse; whilst in the other series 

 (distinguished by possessing, amongst other peculiarities, six 

 Malpighian vessels, of which the ends are fixed to the intestine) 

 Buprestidse would correspond to Cerambycidse, Anobiidse to 

 Curculionidse, Melyridse to Chrysomelidse, and Cleridse to Cocci- 

 nellidse. 



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 



