Synopsis of the genera and species of the Family PSELAPHIDiE. 



1! Y EMU. 1IRKSDEI, II . P . 



[Mead Jan. \bth, 1866.] 



Tn order to induce Entomologists and Collectors to take more interest 

 in the study of this highly interesting family, I shall draw the outlines 

 of the characters proper to every species in the shortest manner, with- 

 out further description, with the view to enter into correspondence with 

 many on that particular subject- I shall adopt the fundamental clas- 

 sification of Dr. John L. LeCoute,as it is not yet disturbed by any new 

 form discovered since. 



Any member belonging to this family is easily recognized by the 

 stiff, immovable abdomen, with but five or six segments, which excludes 

 the Staphylinidae, and by the abbreviated elytra and the form of the 

 tarsi and coxae, which exclude the Scydmaenidae. The whole family is 

 divided into two sub-families: the Pselaphidae proper and the Clavige- 

 ridaae, which are distinguished by having only 1 — 6 antenual joints, 

 while the Pselaphidse have 10 — 11 in number. The Pselaphidaa are 

 divided thus : — 



A. — Posterior coxae transverse, not contiguous. Abdomen five-jointed. 



PSELAPHINI. 



B. — Posterior coxre conical, contiguous. Abdomen six-jointed. Euplectini. 

 The first section is divided by the form of the head and the insertion 

 of the antennae, thus : — 



I. — Front produced into two approximate tubercles for the insertion of the 

 antenna?. Abdomen marginate. Pselaphi. 



11. — Front not produced, Hat or excavated, and the antennae inserted on the 

 eide and below the frontal margin. Bryaxes. 



The Pselaphi are again divided into those with two equal claws, in- 

 cluding the genera Ceophillus, Cedius, Tmesiphorus, Ctenistes, Tyrus, 

 and Oercocerm; with two unequal claws, which are till now not repre- 

 sented in the United States; with one claw, represented by the genera 

 Psehtphus and Tychus. 



The above mentioned genera, with their species, differ as follows : — 



a. Turn! with two claws. 

 .Intennce moniliform. 

 CEaPHILLUS. Lee. 

 Antennae with equal joints in 9 , unequal in S ; the maxillary palpi 

 with the last two joints lanielliform. 

 C. monilis, 3.3 m. m. long. — Ha'*. Northern States. 



