487 



On the sea coast of California, extending to Alaska, is a very 

 anomalous insect, whose affinities are difficult to discern, called 

 Empln/ustps picic'da, from its occurrence under the sea-weed cast 

 up by the waves. It is represented in Australia by several spe- 

 cies of a nearly allied genus Aphela, found in similar situations. 



and by the vague and opinionative genera founded upon charac ters 

 of small importance. The Coleoptcra alone, thus far described, 



terial to master the* whole -nb et. and from the laudable zeal of 

 collectors to make known what they suppose to be new objects, 



Catalogus Coleopterorum of Gemminger and Harold, a permanent 

 record of the untiring industry of those two excellent entomolo- 

 gists, species of the genus Trechicus founded by me upon a small 

 North American insect, are mentioned under five generic names, 

 only one of which is recognized as a synonym of another. These 



1 :)•>, 1 Hi and 289. U 



The two closely allied genera of Rhynchophora mentioned 

 above are separated by no less than 1G8 pages. 



It is therefore plain, lha! before imidi progress can be made in 



that now adopted. The necessity is every day more apparent that 

 descriptions of heterogeneous material are'rather obstructive than 

 beneficial to science, except in the case of extraordinary forms 

 likely to give information concerning geographical distribution or 

 clarification. Large typical collections affording abundant mate- 

 rial for comparison, for the approximation of allied forms, and the 

 elimination of doubtful ones must be accumulated; and in the 



At the same time, for this investigation, the study of insects is 

 collecting, and little cost of preserving the specimens, but because 



