130 | [Avausr, 
Although the labors of Mulsant have served to establish many natural groups 
among the species of this difficult tribe, I can by no means agree with him re- 
garding the generic value of such groups. However constant may ke the char- 
acters used by him, yet they are entirely too unimportant to be used for sepa- 
rating species, otherwise closely allied. A genus to be natural must differ from 
its neighbors by some decided modification of structure, accompanied with a re- 
coxnizable difference in external form: and although it may be convenient to give 
names to subordinate groups, yet they cani n no case be admitted as genera. 
For this reason, I find it impossible to adopt Mulsant’s numerous genera, and 
therefore present the following table as showing the. relations between such of 
our native genera, as appear to be really separated by trenchant and recognizable 
characters. 
Div. I. COCCINELLA. 
Antenne articulo 1mo crasso, 2ndo brevi rotundato: tarsi semper dilatati, 
articulo 3i0 minuto recepto: palpi maxillares securiformes; alarum margo 
simplex. 
A. Mandibule simplices vel, bifide. 
1. Antenne longiuscule basi liber. 
a. Metasterno non diviso, epimeris maiusculis : 
(corpus oblongum.) 
Ungues simplices, tenues . “4 ’ ° 4 - Awnrsosticta Chevr. 
Ungues dentati. : : - Hipropamia Chevr. 
b. Metasterno diviso, epimeris minoribua : (cor- 
pus precipue rotundatum, ungues semper 
dentati.) 
Antenne clava lata truncata : . ‘ 5 - CocerneLua Lin. 
Antenne clava lata apice rotundata. ; Psytiopora Chevr. 
Antenne clava elongata: (corpus rotundatum glabrum) Myzra Muls. 
Antenne clava elongata, apice emarginata: (corpus 
oblongum pubescens) . 5 5 - CoccrpuLa Kug. 
2. Antennz breves, basi oben 
Labrum occultum 5 4 - ; 3 5 - CurtLtocorus Leach. 
Labrum conspicuum . : : - Exocuomus Redt. 
3. Antenne brevissime, basi liber 
a. Prosternum antice non Jobatum. 
Corpus glabrum, pedes antici dentati 5 : - Bracutacantua Chev. 
Corpus glabrum, pedes mutici, ungues dentati_. « Hyprraspis Chevr. 
Corpus glabrum, pedes mutici, ungues simplices - Oxynycuus Lec. 
Corpus pubescens, ungues dentati : - Scymnus Kug. 
b. Prosternum antice lobatum, os obtegens - Qines Muls. 
B. Mandibule multidentate . . : -» Eprttacuna Chevr. 
Antsosticta Chevr. 
1, A.seriata Lec. Cocc. seriata Mels. Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. 3, 177. | 
Nemia litigiosa Muls. 31. 
The genus Nwmia does not seem sufficiently distinct. 
Hrrropamia Chevr. 
This genus may be divided into two groups: 
a. Ungues omnes acute dentati. (Hippodamia and Adonia Muls.) 
8. Ungues omnes obtuse dentati. (Megilla Muls.) 
The following species, except (5), belong to division (4.) 
1. H.convergens Guérin: Muls. Cocc. modesta Mels. Proc. Ac. Nat. 
SC. Ss Ss 
