378 FAMILY XI. STAPTTYLINID^E. 



head, sides straight or feebly curved, base broadly curved ; disk coarsely 

 and rather closely punctate, with a narrow, entire smooth median line. 

 Elytra slightly wider than thorax, densely piinrtulate, sparsely pubescent. 

 Abdomen evidently narrower than elytra, slightly iridescent, more coarsely 

 punctate beneath than above. Length 12-13.5 rum. 



Throughout the State; common. February 22-December 8. 

 Occurs on fungi and beneath bark ; hibernates beneath logs, mullein 

 leaves, etc. The specimens taken in Lake County by Wolcott along 

 the beach of Lake Michigan average larger and have the femora 

 wholly reddish-brown. They indicate a distinct race. 



724 (2137). STAPHYLINUS COMES Lee., N. Sp. N. Amer. Col., I, 1863, 36. 

 Resembles the preceding in form and size. Piceous, feebly shining; 



tibia?, tarsi and tip of abdomen pale. Head broader, more coarsely and 

 confluently punctate and more pubescent than in cinnamopterus. Abdomen 

 with an indistinct double row of velvety spots above and sometimes with a 

 pale yellowish spot each side on segments one to five below. Otherwise as 

 in the preceding. Length 11.5-12.5 mm. A member of the Austroripariau 

 fauna. 



Lake, Vigo and Posey counties; rare. April 19-June 9. Oc- 

 curs beneath dung. 



725 (2139). STAPHYLINUS VIOLACEUS Grav., Mon. Col. Micr., 1806, 132. 

 Elongate, rather slender. Black, shining ; head, thorax and elytra dark 



violet blue to cupreous. Antennae piceous, slightly longer than head. Thorax 

 as wide as head, as wide as long, sides feebly, base more broadly curved; 

 disk coarsely and rather sparsely punctured and with a distinct, smooth 

 median line. Elytra slightly wider than thorax, densely punctulate, sparse- 

 ly pubescent. Abdomen narrower than elytra, iridescent, densely and finely 

 punctate at base, more coarsely and sparsely toward apex. Length 12- 

 14 mm. 



Throughout the State; frequent. April 9-August 19. Occurs 

 on fungi, at carrion and beneath bark and logs. The base of ab- 

 domen above is sparsely clothed with silver-gray pubescence which 

 is plainly visible only in a side light. 



8. viridanus Horn, 15-16 mm. in length, occurs from New Eng- 

 land to Michigan and has been taken near Cincinnati. 8. exulans 

 Erichs., 11-14 mm. in length, is said to range from Canada to Geor- 

 gia. Both species probably occur sparingly in the State. 



XXXIII. OCYPUS Kirby. 1837. (Gr., "swift + foot.") 



One elongate, parallel species, having the middle coxse not sepa- 

 rated by the mesosternum and the last joint of the labial palpi oval, 

 dilated, occurs in the Eastern United States and Indiana. 



