638 STAPHYLINIDA. 
abruptly sinuate on each side so as to form a short broad median lobe, which is asym- 
metrical, having been, as it were, forced a little towards the left, the right angle being 
quite rounded, while the left is acute. The cedeagus presents strongly marked 
distinctions in the two species, though, owing to the extremely contorted form, these 
are not easily described. Unique. 
19. Palaminus filum. 
Parvus, gracilior, testaceus, abdomine ferrugineo ; dense punctatus; prothorace minus transverso, basin versus 
angustato. 
Long. 4 millim. 
Hab. British Honpuras, Belize (Llancaneaux) ; Nicaracva, Chontales (Janson). 
Antenne only slightly thicker at the extremity; terminal joint quite short. Head 
short; eyes attaining the vertex. ‘Thorax a little narrower than the elytra, a little 
broader than long, very distinctly narrowed behind, coarsely and densely punctate. 
Elytra elongate, slender, not quite twice as long as the thorax, densely and rather 
finely punctate. 
This species, on account of the less transverse thorax and more finely punctate elytra, 
comes near P. parvulus; but P. filum has less ample wing-cases and different sexual 
characters. The two examples of P. filuwm have an angular emargination in the middle 
of the hind margin of the last ventral plate; and although in this genus such a character 
is usually characteristic of the female sex, yet I have little doubt these two examples 
are males, as the emargination is accompanied by an evident prolongation of the plate 
and on each side of it there isa small prominent angle. Moreover, a third example, 
which, though only 33 millim. in length, is, I have no doubt, the same species, has the 
terminal ventral plate simple. 
20. Palaminus debilis. 
Parvus, testaceus ; abdomine ferrugineo, elytris circa suturam leviter infuscatis ; fortiter punctatus ; prothorace 
transverso. 
Long. 4 millim. 
Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Janson). 
Terminal joint of the antennz elongate (in the male), about three times as long as the 
tenth joint. Thorax rather strongly transverse, coarsely, rather closely punctate. Elytra 
nearly twice as long as the thorax, coarsely, rather closely punctate. In the male the 
terminal ventral plate is much produced in the middle, and so strongly twisted to the 
left as to be sub-uncate; on each side there is a minute tooth. 
Very similar to P. deformis ; but, in addition to the male characters, it is probable 
that the species may be distinguished by the darker colour of the middle of the 
wing-cases. Unique. 
