102 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XVI 



Buprestidae; Mr. C. Schaeffer, the Ostomidae; and Mr. J. M. 

 Swaine, the Scolytoidea. Mr. J. A. Hyslop helped in the ar- 

 rangement of the famiHes of Elateroidea. The text for the 

 water beetles was prepared by Mr. J. D. Sherman, Jr., and that 

 for the family Melandryidae by Mr. L. B. Woodruff. 



In spite of the fact that catalogues of this kind have sometimes 

 been referred to as " compilations " — even by persons who usually 

 keep them within easy reach for reference purposes — the present 

 work has distinct originality, especially evident in the introductory 

 essay on classification. Under the modest title, " Explanation of 

 Sequence of Families" (pp. 3 to 38), Mr. Leng presents a mas- 

 terly review of the various systems of classification proposed for 

 the Coleoptera in recent times, pointing out their salient features, 

 their merits, and the objections urged against them. The earlier 

 systems of Leconte, that of Sharp, and the so-called " phylo- 

 genetic " systems of Lameere, Ganglbauer, Handlirsch and Kolbe 

 are in turn examined. The value of the genitalia and of larval 

 characters as a basis for classification is also discussed. The 

 general entomologist will be interested to read that " it seems too 

 early in the study of Coleopterous larvae to attempt to draw any 

 definite conclusions therefrom, except as a corroboration of those 

 drawn from the study of adults," and that " alleged resemblances 

 in the larvae have frequently been used to support relationships 

 based primarily on adult characters ; and if such resemblances are, 

 at least in part, cases of convergence, even such may be haz- 

 ardous." A similar conclusion might be drawn from the study 

 of larval characters as known at present in the other holometabo- 

 lous orders. 



Mr. Leng believes that "bearing in mind the speculative char- 

 acter of the phylogeny of the Coleoptera, and the failure of any 

 theory thus far advanced to reconcile all the facts of larval, adult 

 and fossil studies, it would be premature to base any radical 

 changes in Leconte's classification thereon." Thus, balancing one 

 argument against another, he adopts a division into two sub- 

 orders : the Adephaga, with the two superf amilies Caraboidea and 

 Gyrinoidea ; and the Polyphaga for the remainder of the beetles, 

 including the Rhysodidae and Cupesidae, which certain authors 

 place among the Adephaga. The Polyphaga are in turn sub- 



