CLASS V. IKSECTA. 171 



Stirps 3. — Labial palpi scarcely distinct: antenna placed in an ex- 

 cavation of the thorax: mandibles with tlieir apex arcuate and 

 acute. 



Genus 103. MICROPEPLUS. Latr., Leach. 

 Antenna with the club composed of but one joint: maxiUari/ jxilpi with 



the last joint subulate. 

 Sp. 1 Micr. porcatus. Black ; elytra cancellated. 

 Staphylinus porcatus. Pai/I;ull. 

 Inhabits sandy ground. 



Fam. XT. Stapiiyi.ixid.?;. 



Antenna gradually thickening towards their extremities, or terminated 

 by a perfoliated mass: elj/tra covering about half the alxlumen, or 

 less, but very rarely more : bodj/ long, and more or less narrow. 



Gravenhorst has written an admirable monograph on this family, 

 entitled Monograp/iia Culcoptcroium Micrvpterorum. 



This is a very extensive family; several hundred species are foinid 

 in this country. They inhabit fungi in all its states; dung, roots of 

 grass, flower?, under the bark of trees ; and may be found in immense 

 numbers in sand pits, and in the dung of animals, from which they 

 may be driven by immersing the dung in water in the spring and 

 summer months ; by this means many hundred specimens may be 

 obtained in a single day : the smaller species should be placed on 

 a piece of gimimed paper, with the legs and antenna; carefully ex- 

 tended to show their characters. It is necessary to collect great 

 numbers of them, as they demand a very minute examination, 

 which, in many instances, requires the aid of a microscope, the 

 characters being so very obscure. 



Division I. — Anterior margin of the head (hearing the mandibles) imme- 

 diately behind the ei/cs, terminated by a trunsverae straight line, (or with 

 a line slightli/ bent in the middle,) not rounded or crooked at their sides. 

 Antenna inserted belozv the middle part oj' the above mentioned line. Tho- 

 rax long. Neck distinct. Body zery long and narrow. Elytra coTei'ing a 

 very small portion of the abdomen. 



Genus 104. STAPHYLINUS. Linn., Fubr., Lair., Oliv., Lam., 

 Gravenh., Leach. 



Palpi filiform: antenna towards their extremities distinctly thicker, 

 moniliform, the last joint obliquely truncate or emarginate : lip 

 deeply emarginate. 



Sp. 1. Staph, erythropterus. Black; the greater part of the antenna', 

 elytra, and feet red; hinder margins of the head and thorax, the 



