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splendour they must yield to the rich metallic Bu- 

 prestidse. If we look to more important ends, viz. 

 the actual benefit derived from groups of insects, and 

 then contrast the Caraboidea with the Lamellicorns, 

 Entomologists, at least, if not others, will allow the 

 superiority of the latter. As to the grouping of the 

 families, I by no means consider them satisfactory ; 

 it has been my endeavour to place before the reader 

 what has been done, and, as far as the extent of 

 my private library goes, the modern genera have 

 been weeded out of many volumes, and incorporated 

 in this Manual. If some of the various sub-divisions 

 turn out to be in accordance with nature, my time has 

 not altogether been thrown away. If others prove 

 erroneous, and these errors should induce others to 

 pay attention to isolated groups, and reconstruct 

 them more accurately, I shall equally also not have 

 written in vain. 



