108 



INTRODUCTION". 



Family 36. EHOTYLIDJE. 



Form and size very variable; antenna' inserted in front of or between 

 the eyes , eleven- jointed, with a three- or four-jointed club ; anterior 

 and intermediate coxa; globose, not prominent, posterior pair trans- 

 verse ; epimer a of mesosternum not reaching the middle coxal cavities; 

 mesosternum moderate, metasternum rath.tr long; elytra entirely 

 covering abdomen ; abdomen with Jive free segments ; tarsi distinctly 

 hve-jointed (Dacni^-E) or apparently four-jointed, the fourth joint 

 being minute and hidden in the lobe of the third joint (Erotylinje 

 and Laxguriin.e). 



The position and composition of this family have heen very 

 much disputed. The formation of the tarsi in the greater number 

 of its members has caused it to be placed by 

 many authors with the Chrysomelid.e, 

 with which however it has very little real 

 relation ; among other things the loop of the 

 median vein of the wings, which is one of 

 the chief characteristics of the Clayicorxia 

 group, is very distinct in Erotylus. 



The relation of this family to the Crypto- 

 PHAGiDiE through the DACNijsrirc has long- 

 been recognized, and there is much to be 

 said for placing the families together, some 

 authors having actually adopted this course. 

 Fi«x. 51.— Episcapha Sharp (Biol. Centr.-Amer., Col. ii, pt. 1, 

 indica. p. 579) practically says that he would have 



done so if the EiuxrYLiDiE of Central America 

 had not previously been dealt with by Gorham ; and Ganglbauer 

 {Die Kafer von Mittel Europa, iii, p. 633) includes the Crypto- 

 phagie.e under the Erotylid.e, of which he forms three sub- 

 families as follows : — 



1. Anterior coxal cavities entirely closed 



behind Erotylijoe. 



II. Anterior coxal cavities open behind or at 

 least not entirely closed, 

 i. Antennae inserted before the eyes under 



the side margins of the forehead .... Cryptophagin.33. 

 ii. Antennae inserted between the eyes, the 

 space of forehead between them 

 forming an angled or rounded process, 

 which, in the middle, slopes more or 

 less plainly towards the clypeus .... Atomariinje. 



Lacordaire observes (Gen. Coleopt. ii, p. 421) that the inclusion 

 of the Cr yptoph a GiDiE under the Erotyliile is all very well 

 ("il n'y a rien qui blesse le sentiment des analogies") so far as 



