668 STAPHYLINIDE. 
MEGALOPS. 
Megalops, Erichson, Gen. et Spec. Staph. p. 751; Sharp, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1876, p. 378. 
In addition to the characters already pointed out by Erichson and myself, I can 
now add the following information:—The antenne, in certain species, are distinctly 
11-jointed, when the basal joint evidently projects beyond the margin of the head; in 
other cases, however, the basal joint cannot be thus detected, and the antenne then 
appear 10-jointed, as they were described to be by Erichson. The structure of the 
tarsi also exhibits some important modifications: in the majority of the species they 
are evidently 5-jointed, and formed as described by Erichson (J. ¢c.); in a few species 
(e.g. M. preditus) the fourth joint is so imperfectly separated from the terminal one 
that the distinction between the two articulations is difficult to detect; a third 
modification is the very peculiar one described by me (J. ¢.), in which the fourth 
joint, though apparently absent, exists as a slender lobe placed beneath and closely 
applied to the terminal joint. 
Hitherto only twelve species of this peculiar genus have been described—two from 
North America, six from South America, two from Australia, and one each from Java 
and South Africa. The tropics of the New World are, however, certainly the region 
most favoured by these insects, as, in addition to the very remarkable series here 
described, I have some ten or twelve nondescript species from South America. 
Some species have been recorded as frequenting chips of wood; Mr. Champion 
informs me that he found them in this way, and also in moss and fungus on stumps 
and recently felled timber. 
§ 1. Larsi simple. 
1. Megalops cruciger. (Tab. XVII. fig. 18, ¢.) 
Niger, nitidus, elytris cruce testacea magna signatis; antennis rufis, pedibus flavis ; prothorace parce punc- 
tato, sat profunde parum regulariter transversim sulcato ; elytro singulo medio punctis quinque impressis. 
Long. 4 millim. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); Guaremata, Zapote, Capetillo, Las Mercedes, Cerro 
Zunil, San Gerénimo (Champion); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 4000 feet, 
Bugaba (Champion). 
Head with a large irregular horseshoe-shaped impression embracing the greater part 
of the front and open behind, this impression more or less distinctly crenate or plicate 
in places; a narrow groove separates the elevation by which it is limited from the eye, 
and there are four punctures, two on the disc, two on the vertex. Thorax about as 
long as broad, with a transverse groove extending across it parallel to and very near 
the front margin, this groove being formed more or less distinctly by large punctures 
