Carabid taxa inhabiting the montane forests of México and Central America are analyzed using cladistic biogeographic methods. Taxa exhibiting the Nearctic, Meso-American Montane, and Paleo-American distributional patterns are included in the analysis. Widespread taxa are assumed to indicate that the areas of endemism they inhabit are closely related, and the general pattern of area relationships is determined using parsimony analysis. Of the nine areas of endemism recognized in the analysis, the Sierra Madre Oriental is considered the most distinct. The northern Sierra Madre Occidental, Arizona Mountains, and Sonoran Desert comprise one monophyletic set of areas, as do the more southerly areas of the Sierra Transvolcanica, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapan–Guatemalan highlands, and Talamancan Cordillera. The southern Sierra Madre Occidental area of endemism is equivocally related to both areas to the north and areas to the south. Biogeographic information derived from widespread species is as congruent with the general area cladogram as information derived from groups with precinctive species, indicating that the same biogeographic barriers often limit distributions of both widespread species and more inclusive clades comprising precinctive species. Taxa exhibiting the Meso-American Montane Pattern are more congruent with the general area cladogram than those representing the Nearctic Pattern, even though they exhibit less fidelity to highland habitats.

Six major subgroups of the Brachycera are recognized under the names Stratiomyomorpha, Vermileonomorpha new infraorder, Tabanomorpha, Nemestrinoidea, Pleroneura, and Eremoneura. Recent suggestions regarding the possible sister-group of the Brachycera are reviewed, and all found to be inadequately supported. Characters used to support possible relationships between the major subgroups (i.e. possible synapomorphies) are reviewed with respect to morphological interpretation and polarity. On the basis of this analysis, five partly conflicting possible groupings are discussed: (1) all other Brachycera as the sister-group of the Stratiomyomorpha; (2) Muscomorpha sensu Woodley (Nemestrinoidea + Heterodactyla); (3) inclusion of Nemestrinoidea in Tabanomorpha; (4) Heterodactyla sensu Lameere (Pleroneura + Eremoneura); and (5) an asilotabaniform group (Vermileonomorpha + Tabanomorpha + Nemestrinoidea + Pleroneura). Resolution of conflicts among these possible groupings will require critical morphological studies of the phallic complex and embryological studies of groups of Brachycera other than Cyclorrhapha. Because of present uncertainties, it is recommended that authors consider alternatives rather than rely on a single preferred concept of phytogeny at this time. Autapomorphies of the major subgroups are discussed in an appendix.

We describe a litter-washing technique for collecting quantitative samples of ground-beetles (Carabidae), and compare the results with those from liner extraction by Tullgren funnels and pitfall (rapping. We also compare performance of four types of pitfall traps across five habitats. Carabid species composition from litter washing and funnel extraction was similar but washing revealed higher densities. Large-bodied species predominated in pitfall samples and small-bodied species predominated in litter samples. Uncovered, round pitfall traps yielded generally higher catches than rectangular or covered, round traps but the pattern was not consistent over all species or the five habitats. Ecological studies of carabid populations and assemblages using pitfall traps may be improved if they are both designed and interpreted in light of the biology of the group and with regard to the deficiencies of pitfall trapping as discussed here and elsewhere.

Carabhydrus mubboonus, new species (Coleopiera; Dytiscidae; Hydroporinae) from small. closed, forest streams of the Great Dividing Range of northern Queensland. Australia, is described. A key to the five described species of Carabhydrus is presented. The systematic position of the genus Carabhydrus Watts is reviewed. Although it resembles members of the Bidessini Sharp in some characters, others indicate the genus belongs in the tribe Hydroporini Erichson (1837) and has affinities with the subtribe Sternopriscina Van den Branden, However, no clear synapomorphy was discovered that unequivocally identifies the sister taxon.

Courtship displays of empidine dance flies (Diptera: Empididae), which include transfers of nuptial gifts during mating, are reviewed in light of sexual selection theory. Sex-role reversed courtship behavior, involving female swarming and male choice, appears to be correlated with certain female secondary sexual characters that are widespread throughout the Empidinae. The tendency to shift mate choice from females to males, and the apparent development of autogeny in many empidine species, are both hypothesized to have resulted from males monopolizing the proteinaceous food source of non-hunting females, through transfers of nuptial gifts of prey. The autogenous condition appears to have led to the ritualized presentation of various types of inedible nuptial gifts by males of several species, possibly including the development of secreted nuptial gifts, or balloons, as displays of male fitness.

Except for emphasis (as in “. . .very, very good”), it is usual in languages that every following word in a sentence is different. The preceding sentence, this sentence, and the following sentence, are examples of this.

Chinese has double, triple, and quadruple juxtaposed characters, most often for emphasis, but also for changing the meanings (G.-C. Lo, T. Mah, J. Yu, pers. comm.; Fig. la, b, c, and d). The Czech, Slovak, and German languages (M. Pospisil, pers. comm.), and the Ukrainian language each have at least one pair of juxtaposed identical words (see below).