(57) 



Notes on the Coleopterous Family Clerida^, vntJi. descriptiovs 

 of Nev Genera and Species ,• liy the Eev. H. S. Gorham. 



In preparing the present paper on the Clerida^, I have fonnd 

 myself olihged to deviate in some measure from my original 

 jilan. 



I had intended at the first to attempt a complete revision of 

 the family, — a work that a very slight acquaintance with the 

 catalogued species would soon make it apparent to any one was 

 needed. But as I went on I found it impossible to gain acquaint- 

 ance (excepting in certain genera) with more than half the 

 described species ; and this from the very reason that former 

 authors have found thQmselves situated as myself. Attractive as 

 a family from their varied patterns and colouring, nearly every 

 author of note has added his quota to the list of species, the 

 types of which are scattered or lost ; while few possessed any 

 general knowledge of the family as such, and hence referred 

 their species to genera with which they often have no affinity. In 

 revising the family it will be necessary, then, to commence with 

 the genera, which under such treatment have often become mere 

 collections of heterogeneous species. 



I have kept before myself in this work the necessity of 

 (I.) — Indicating the true type of every genus, or at least of 

 selecting the type from the original constitution, where none 

 was fixed by the founder. II. — Eliminating from the genus 

 such species as could not be associated with the type without 

 rendering any definition useless. III. — Creating new genera 

 for such of these species as could not be brought into any 

 -existing ones. 



CiSTULA EnTOMOLOGICA, 

 August 7th. T876. 



