While the Canadian species of this family are not numerous, they are of considerable interest, and because of the scattered nature of the literature, often quite difficult to identify. The present paper, while containing little that is new, will serve to bring together in conscise form the information necessary to enable the beginner to examine his material intelligently.

In the Leconte and Horn “Classification,” the following characters are used as defining the family: “Mouth-parts normal, palpi flexible, front and middle tarsi with five, posterior with four joints. Anterior coxal cavities open behind, head not strongly constricted at base, middle coxae not very prominent.