172 STAPHYLINID A. 
deal shorter than broad; terminal joint stout and rather elongate, quite as long as the 
two preceding together. Head broad and short, but narrower than the elytra, and 
much narrower than the thorax. This latter very broad, much broader than the 
elytra, transversely convex, sides rounded, not narrowed in front, the surface almost 
impunctate. Elytra not longer than the thorax, rather more obscure in colour than 
the rest of the surface, very obscurely punctate. Hind body not in the least narrowed 
till the sixth segment is reached, very obsoletely punctulate. | 
The three individuals found do not exhibit any sexual characters. 
HOMALOTA. 
Homalota, Mannerheim, Brachel. p. 73 (1830); Er. Gen. et Spec. Staph. p. 80. 
This is an enormous genus, comprising 600 or 700 described species found in various 
parts of the world, with no doubt a vast number of others still unknown, Europe alone 
possessing over 200 of these species. ‘They are perhaps the most obscure and difficult 
of all the forms of Coleoptera to deal with; and although C.J.'Thomson and Rey have 
attempted to divide the genus into a large number of smaller genera, yet their efforts 
have not proved satisfactory, except in the case of a comparatively few of the better- 
marked forms. The Central-American species are apparently numerous; and it is 
probable that the forty-eight here enumerated form in fact only a small proportion of 
those actually existing in the region. This number, however, is sufficiently large to 
render it advisable that some grouping should be attempted with a view to facilitate 
reference. But I regret to say that the attempts I have made to do this are not satis- 
factory; for the species will not lend themselves to an arrangement such as that used 
by Kraatz in the ‘Insecten Deutschlands,’ vol. ii., for the European species, neither 
will their minute structural differences allow them to be reconciled with the numerous 
genera and subgenera proposed by C. J. Thomson and by C. Rey. The arrangement | 
adopted is in a vague manner that used by myself for the British species; in it the 
forms with most elongate antenne and greatest development of the prothorax are 
placed first, as being the most highly developed forms of the genus. In the case of a 
considerable number of species I have indicated structural peculiarities which will, I 
hope, allow the determination of the species I have described in something like a 
satisfactory manner by those who may in the future enter on the difficult task of 
studying these insects; while the comparisons I have made with well known and 
defined European forms will greatly help any one familiar with these. 
1. Homalota consors. (Tab.V. fig. 8.) 
Nigro-fusca, depressa, parallela, antennis fuscis, basi sordide testacea, pedibus dilute testaceis; subtilissime punc- 
tulata; antennis gracilibus, extrorsum haud crassioribus ; abdomine crebrius punctato; tarsis brevibus. 
Long. 23 millim. 
Hab. GUATEMALA, San Joaquin (Champion). 
