CHAPTER IV. 



ORDER I. COLEOPTERA. 



The Coleoptera is the order which has usually been first described, and Westwood has 

 followed the common practice in this respect in his Genera of British Insects. This order 

 is thus characterized : 



Anterior wings horny or leathery, concealing the posterior when at rest, placed parallel and 

 joined by a straight suture. Posterior or inferior wings membranous, longitudinally and transverse- 

 ly folded. Mouth furnished with transverse jaws. Pupa incomplete. 



The insects of this order are denominated beetles : they constitute the most beautiful of 

 the class, and occupy the foremost rank among the tribes. They are grouped as follows by 

 Mr. M'Leay : 



1. GEODEPHAGA : containing those beetles which have setaceous antennoe, with the 



outer processes of the maxillte palpiform. 



2. HYDRADEPHAGA. 



In the first division the following families are included, being the old genus Cababus 

 subdivided into 



Cicindelice. 



carabid.e. 



Harpalidje. 



scaritid.e. 



bhachinid.e. 



GyRINIDjE. 



Dyticid,e. 



GEODEPHAGA : 



HYDRADEPHAGA 



The above is regarded as a normal group, and is followed by an aberrant one, character- 

 ized by clavate antennse, or such as become gradually thickened towards the apex, and the 

 external lobe of the maxilla losing its palpiform character. This constitutes the Rypophaga 

 of Stephens. 



