596 STAPHYLINID &. 
SUNIUS. 
Sunius, Erichson, Kafer Mark-Brand. 1. p. 523. 
Sunius (genuini), Erichson, Gen. et Spec. Staph. p. 637. 
Mecognathus, Wollaston, Ins. Mader. p. 595 (1854). 
This genus is at present an extensive one, comprising over one hundred described 
species. It is a very difficult one to treat, owing to the want of accord as to the validity 
of genera that have been described as allied to it, and also to the fact that it actually 
includes more than one valid genus. I find that Dibelonetes and Stilicopsis can be 
accepted as valid, and by separating them the genus is left in a much more satisfactory 
condition ; and I therefore treat them as distinct in the following pages. All the 
species placed by Erichson in his section “ Sunius spurit” are to be removed from the 
genus, and it will be found that I have enumerated in the remarks on other genera 
what appear to be their correct positions according to my views. As I propose to 
limit it, the genus is still a very extensive one and distributed over most parts of the 
world ; it appears to be nowhere better represented than it is in Tropical America. 
The Munich Catalogue of Coleoptera credits the genus to Stephens ; but that author's 
Sunius contains no species of the genus, and the name must therefore be regarded as 
due to Erichson. 
1. Sunius longinasus. (Tab. XV. fig. 17.) 
Elongatus, perangustus, nigerrimus, antennis, palpis pedibusque pallide flavis; capite posterius angustato, ante 
oculos prolongato. 
Long. 6-643 millim. 
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, David (Champion). 
Antenne very slender and elongate, the penultimate joint several times longer than 
broad. Head elongate, dull, covered with very fine thread-like reticulations, the eyes 
placed at a considerable distance behind the insertion of the antenne, the sides behind 
the eyes considerably narrowed to the neck. Thorax very elongate and slender, quite 
twice as long as broad, sculptured like the head. Elytra about as long as the thorax, 
closely, coarsely, and deeply punctured, slightly shining. Hind body very long and 
narrow, coarsely punctured. The male has an elongate, polished, depressed space on 
the penultimate ventral plate, and a deep angular excision on the following segment, 
the greater part of the excision being occupied by a pallid membrane. 
Of this very distinct species a series of ten examples was obtained. Our figure is 
taken from a female. 
2. Sunius cognatus. 
Elongatus, angustus opacus, niger, griseo-pubescens, antennis, palpis pedibusque pallide flavis; capite sub- 
oblongo. 
Long. 53 millim. 
