On the Use of Discriminant Functions in Taxonomy

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Abstract
Three steps in the development of discriminant functions are described. (1) Selection of single characters with the help of K, coefficient of discrimination. (2) Study of the correlation between the selected characters. (3) Construction of discriminant functions and of correlation ellipses. New pairs of functions whose coefficients are the geometric means of the coefficients permit a clean separation of three species in one figure. Subjects of investigation sibling species of Halticinae/Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera/: Haltica oleracea L., H. carduorum Guer., Chaetocnema concinna Marsh., C. heikertingeri Lubisch, C. heptapotamica Lubisch. In the editorial note by Ch I. Bliss a fourth step is outlined, namely the critical inspection of discriminant function, to determine whether all the characters included in it are necessary.

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