550 | STAPHYLINIDA. 
the front of the mesosternum. This character appears to me of primary importance in 
the classification of the genera hitherto associated under the name of Lithocharis, and to 
it I would subordinate the structure of the labrum, the width of the neck, the dilatation 
of the front tarsi, the relative proportions of the joints of the hind tarsus, and the structure 
of the fourth joint of this latter organ. By so doing a series of very natural genera is 
obtained ; while, on the other hand, if this be not attended to, it will be found impos- 
sible to separate Lithocharis from the genera near Lathrobium at the one extremity, 
and those near Sunius at the other. Lithocharis then will be specially characterized by 
the small development of the supra-coxal process and the side pieces of the prosternum, 
by the quite slender neck, the undilated front tarsi, the four basal joints of the hind 
tarsi decreasing gradually in length, the fourth joint being simple in structure and 
interposed in the normal manner between the third and the fifth. The genus is repre- 
sented in the warmer regions of Asia and America, and one species has been distributed 
by commerce so as to be nearly cosmopolitan. 
Most of the species obtained by Mr. Champion were found on the sandy banks of 
streams. . 
1. Lithocharis mendax. 
Fusca, opaca ; capite prothoraceque opacis, subquadratis, omnium subtilissime invisibiliter punctatis, hoc medio 
linea subobsoleta levigata ; elytris quam prothorax paullo longioribus, dense subtilissime rugulose punctatis, 
margine apicali spe parum distincte pallidiore ; antennis rufis; pedibus sordide testaceis. 
Long. 47 millim. 
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba, David, San Feliz, Tolé 
(Champion).—Sovta America, Colombia (coll. Chevrolat). 
Antenne moderately long, not at all thicker externally, the. tenth joint as long 
as broad. Head just as broad as the thorax, rather large, straight at the sides. 
Thorax not quite so long as broad, its medial line not raised. In the male there is a . 
broad shallow emargination of the last ventral plate. 
This insect is very similar to L. diffinis, Sharp, but the punctuation of the thorax is 
still finer and more imperceptible, and the male has a distinct though slight emargination 
of the last ventral plate. The species was called LZ. limbata, Er., in Chevrolat’s collection, 
but from the description it cannot be that insect. 
2. Lithocharis limbata. 
Lithocharis limbata, Er. Gen. et Spec. Staph. p. 621°. 
Hab. GUATEMALA, near the city, Aceytuno (Champion); Panama, David (Champion). 
—Sovutn America, Colombia 1. 
I refer with some hesitation these examples to Erichson’s species, but the male has 
the hind margin of the last ventral plate nearly truncate, and thus differs from L. mendax. 
L. diffinis is considerably smaller, and has the elytra infuscate behind. On the other 
