36 
THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 
ture of their an ten me ; and these sub-sections are again naturally divi- 
sible into a number of subordinate divisions or tribes. The following 
, table gives a synopsis of the sub-sections, tribes, and families of the 
pentamerous beetles. The names given to these sub-sections are gen- 
erally recognized, and in common use, except the first and the third. 
The term filicornes , though sufficiently characteristic of the predaceous 
beetles as compared with others of the pentamerous section, does not 
sharply distinguish them from some of the beetles of the other sections ; 
and the term monilicornes , applied to the third sub-section — which is 
composed chiefly of the family of Staphylinidae, though tolerably char- 
acteristic, especially of the larger and typical species — is not ordinarily 
applied to them, for the reason that the beetles of this division are more 
readily and strongly distinguished by another character, namely, the 
remarkable shortness of their wing-covers, expressed by the Greek term 
bracheh/tra, by which they are generally designated, or the correspond- 
ing Latin word brevipennes, which is sometimes, but less commonly 
used. 
SYNOPSIS OF THE PENTAMEROUS COLEOPTERA. 
Sub-sec. I. Filicornes. Attenn* filiform, Habits predaceous. 
Tribe 1. Predaceous ground beetles. ( Carnivora terrestria.) 
Geodephaga, MacLeay. 
Families: Oicindelidas ; Carabidae. 
Tribe 2. Predaceous water beetles. ( Carnivora aquatica.) Hy- 
dradephaga, MacLeay. 
Families: Dytiscidas; Gyrinidie. 
Sub-sec. II. Glavicornes. Antennas club-shaped. Habits mostly 
putrivorous. 
Tribe 3. Water scavanger-beetles. ( Putrivora aquatica .) 
Philhydrida, MacLeay. 
Families: Parnidas; Hydrophilidas. 
Tribe 4. Land scavenger-beetles. ( Putrivora terrestria.) 
Necrophaga partly, Latreille. 
Families: Silphidm; Scaphidiidas ; Histerkhe; hTitudilidso; 
Dermestkhe; Mycetophagidae ; Oryptophagidae ; Byrrhidse; 
Anisotoinidie ; Phalacridas; Trichopterygkhe ; Scydmeuidas; 
Trogositidae ; Cucujidaj; Colydikke ; Lathridiidas. 
Sub-sec. III. Monilicornes. Autenme more or less mouiliform 
or bead-like; wing covers very short. Habits mostly pu- 
trivorous. 
Tribe 5. Short-winged scavengers. ( Putrivora brevipennata.) 
Brachelytra, Latreille. 
Families : Staphylinkku ; Pselaphidie. 
