10 



the sub-order Hydradephaga, Each sub-order is composed of families — 

 groups possessing certain family likenesses, for instance, the Carabidse or 

 ground beetles, the Cicindelidse or tiger beetles; each family may con- 

 tain a large number of different kinds of beetles, all having a family likeness, 

 but still differing strongly from each other in minor points, just as the mem- 

 bers of one human family, possessing a strong likeness in common, differ from 

 all other families. These latter sub-divisions we call genera, and, in referring 

 to any particular kind, we place the name of its genus (equivalent to the 

 surname among ourselves, Jones, for instance) first. Then in order to dis- 

 tinguish between the different members of a genus, which we call species, we 

 give a specific name to each, this specific name being equivalent to the Christ- 

 ian name among ourselves, only that it follows the surname, just as our 

 names are placed in a directory — .Tones, John; Jones, Mary; Jones, Robert; 

 for instance. Thus, we speak of Bemhidium biguttatum, Bembidium mini- 

 mum, Bembidium pallidipenne, meaning the two-spotted Bembidium, the 

 small Bembidium, and the pale-winged Bembidium respectively. Each beetle 

 then, indeed every insect, has two names a generic and a specific name, and 

 in uniting these the generic name is always commenced with a capital, the 

 specific only being so commenced when it is derived from a proper name, as 

 Nebria Gyllenhalli, Sitones Waterhousii, Eros Aurora, &c. 



Beetles are differently classified by various writers, but I think the old 

 plan of dividing them into thirteen sub-orders is by far the simplest for the 

 beginner, especially as it does not materially alter the arrangement if later 

 styles of classification be followed, in which sub-orders are omitted and a large 

 number of families created. These sub-orders are — 1, Geodephaga ; 2, Iiy- 

 dradephaga; 3, Palpicornes ; 4, Brachelytra; 5, Necrophaga; 6, Lamelli- 

 cornes ; 7, Sternoxi ; 8, Malacoderma ; 9, Heteromera ; 1 0, Rhynchophora ; 

 11, Longicornes ; 12, Eupoda, and 13, Pseudotrimera. 



For the convenience of young Coleopterist, I have constructed the follow- 

 ing table of Sub -orders : — 

 A, Antennse filiform. 



a. Tarsi 5 -jointed. 



1. Legs formed for running - Geodephaga. 



2. Do. swimming - Hydradephaga. 



3. Elytra very short - - - - - - Brachelytra. 



4. Pro-sternum furnished with a spine - Sternoxi. 



5. Bodies generally soft and elytra leathery - - Malacodermi. 



b. Tarsi 4-jointed. 



1. Antennse very long ----- Longicornes. 



2. Do. often slightly thickened at apex - Eupoda. 



