III.—Coleopterological Notices. V.

greater age for tho Stapbylinidz than for some other fanlilies of The following detached studies are nierelg intended as a beginning, and in drawing up the goneric diagnoses, I havo employed to Borne extent the differential characters suggested by Rey in tho "Br6vipennes" of France; so that ono familiar with that work can refer the genera to their most probable positions in the Europou scheme.It is to be regretted, on the scoro of simplicity, that it has been found necessary to propose so many new genera, but I feel quite sure that those here described are really essential.In fact several species now referred to Leptusa, Oxypoda and Rheochara, s i l l ultimately have to form distinct genera.This mutter of generic subdivision is, however, becoming an important one from thc ntere standpoint of numbers, and, in the Aleocharini, if we go beyond Aleochara, Yyrmedonia, Bolitochttra nod others, as determined by the number of tarsal and antenna1 joints, it is difficult to tell just where to draw the line.One good rule to follow in such cases, is to avoid defining new geuera unless thore be at least three or four important structural differences; bcies, however, here as clsewhere, frequently goes far as a guide, and is much more important thnti any single organic structural peculiarity.There is one important point concerning the nonienclature of the Aleocbnrini, wbicb should be continually borne in niind.IIonialota Mann.was founded upon a single defiiiitely etnted species, the Bleochara plana of Qyllenhall, which was subsequently found by Reg to have but four internicdiate tnrsal joints.This necessitntca the complete abnndonnient of all our old ideas of Iloninlota as extended by Ericbson, and tile true nud only IIornelota is the genus named Epipeda by Rey.In future, therefore, when we t h i n k of the E r i c h s h a n Honialota, we should bavo i n mind Athete, Colpod o h , Amiscba, Liogluta and a score or so of other genera.)Whcn I Thin Is eel forth with sufficient clenrneas in the recent catalogue of IIeydrn, Reitter and Weise.I cannot agree with the authors of Ihat work, honrvar, in changing csrtaill fnnrily names by reaon of the rehabilitation of Orollroy's genera.For instauce, undor Mylnbriy, OaoB., p. 331, I am unable to llnd n eingle species named by OwfTroy.Gunara nre and must l a fnundwi up011 species, and if no spec& were described by OeoUroy under Lntin nnmas, it followa that that alltilor had not ndoptud a proper binomial nnmeldalure when he founded his genera.We nre compelled to m u m u eomc: definite beginning, and tllat beginniiig is the date when the names Of SPccit.a were drat published un&y the true binomial form.It is possible that 8 0 ~ gellera .Coleoptera.284 Coleopfarological Notices, V.there is the least doubt, a name long established in connection with certain species should not be changed, hut in n case of this kind, where there can be no doubt whatever, the sooner me overcomo our conservatisnl ond adopt what is manifestly p r o p nnd right, the easier it will be for the generations of systematists who nre to conie into tho world during' the next few hundreds or thousands of penrs.It is our duty to lap a8 immorable a foundation 11s possihle in the nomcnclnturc of BII sciences.The time, be it greater or less, during which wo have beconie nccuatomed to a certain status or condition, !\ill count as a mere nothing in future ages. A LEOCUARIDES.dntannm 11-jointed ; tnni 6-6-6-joi111ed. MASEOCUARA Sharp.Of this interesting Kcnus we have four species.First, a large form with red elptra, which is without niuch doubt semivelutinn Solsky ; second, n similar species, having the bnse of the prothornx cqiinlly rounded with the sides, but with thc elptra black, described I I ~ LcContc under the ttanie valida (= californica Csg.).Third, n rRther snialler and notably more slender spccies with black elytra, having the hnsal angles of the protborax diatinct, recently mode known hy Dr. Sharp under the nnnie opncella, and fourth, the followink very hninll species allied to ysari2is Shp.DI. piiberula n. sp.-Blark, each elytron feebly fiuUusad with rnfopiceous townrd-but nnl attaining-the suture ; legs tIiroughon1 and nntennze toward bosa dnrk rufn-picrous ; iiitegumrnts aliitscrous, the alytra ratliar more shining, thr abdomen strongly shining ; head and pronotiim feehly and sparsely punctntr, the t4ylra more closdy and n littla more disrinotly, tho alrdoinrii rntlirr stroiigly but iiot drnsely, t l ~e imprrssrd basal nreas impunctnte ; pebescence rat lwr long, coarw and platiful.eoiiapicuous, though much IrS3 so on tlia nl~lniuan.Ilcad orbiciilar, rather longer than wide, the eyes nt fully tlrrir own length from tiin Law; anteniie fully as long 88 the head and prolliornx, fvably incrnsrnle, second and third joints eqanl, tenth onehalf wider than long.fiofhornr one.fourth to one-third wider than long; d t ?l parnlld, Imadly, errlily nrcuata : bircle.1 anglrs obtiise b u t very distinct, foiiiiiled ilpon iindricribed species mny hare been more recently accepted, but this would ncnrcrly be 3 cnsc 111 point, since thn ndoption of them took place long after tlir bitioniial sjntcm wns Brmly estalJlislled.To cdablirA a systcrm 1.i quite another mnttrr, aiid rrqiiirw tho rigorous fulOllment of certain coiidltions.