Casey — Observations on the Staphylinidae. 213 



General form as in Tachyusa but rather stouter, the middle coxae not so 

 closely approximate and with the obtuse but free mesosternal process 

 separated from the rounded projection of the raetasternum by a trans- 

 versely convex and undepressed connecting isthmus; three basal tergites 

 equally deeply impressed at base and coarsely punctured, the punctures 

 transversely crowded, forming fine longitudinal carinae as in Tachyusa 

 but without trace of the medial carina of that genus ; tarsal claws fully 

 as long and slender but with those of the hind tarsi unequal in length, 

 the inner claw the shorter. Europe. [Type Tachyiisa balteataT^r.}. 



Tachyasilla n. subgen. 



General form and habitus as in Tachyusa but with the middle coxae rather 

 less approximate than in the typical forms of that genus, the mesoster- 

 nal process rather shorter, obtusely rounded at tip, free but nearly or 

 practically attaining the metasternal projection, which is obtusely sub- 

 truncate, not flat in a longitudinal direction as in Tachyusa but 

 longitudinally concave, the concavity extending as far as the posterior 

 limits of the acetabula, the latter very feebly closed behind; three basal 

 tergites impressed in base as in Tachyusa and even more broadly, the 

 coarse punctures not forming longitudinal acute rugae but polygonally 

 and irregularly crowded, without trace of the characteristic medial car- 

 ina of Tachyusa; tarsal claws much shorter than in Tachyusaor Tachy- 

 usilla, those of the hind tarsi equal. South Africa. [Type T. gemma* 

 Csy.] Tachyusota n. subgen. 



There is considerable variety in the form of the mesosternal 

 process in Tachyusa, as well as in JSulmsa and other genera of 



* This species may be described as follows from the male:— 

 Form slender, strongly convex, highly polished throughout, pale rufo-testa- 

 ceous, the head and the abdomen toward tip black; legs testaceous, 

 the antennae slightly infuscate distally; punctures very minute, 

 asperulate, very sparse, except toward the middle of the pronotum 

 basally and toward the scutellum on the elytra, where they are more 

 close-set; abdomen subimpunctate, the fourth and fifth segments finely 

 but not densely punctate throughout; pubescence not conspicuous; 

 head small, orbicular; antennae rather short, barely attaining basal 

 third of the elytra, rather distinctly iucrassate distally, the second 

 joint longer and thicker than the third; prothorax fully as long as wide, 

 scarcely as wide as the head, the sides subangulate anteriorly, thence 

 moderately converging and broadly sinuate to the base, not impressed; 

 elytra large, quadrate, moderately produced posteriorly at the sides, 

 fully four-fifths wider and about two-fifths longer than the prothorax, 

 with a small sutural impression at base, convex, the sides arcuate, the 

 humeri rather widely exposed but rounded; abdomen much narrowed 

 toward base, clavate, very much narrower than the elytra, the first 

 three segments constituting fully three-fourths of its length; legs 

 slender, the basal joint of the hind tarsi as long as the next two com- 

 bined; sixth ventral with a small, feeble, broadly rounded sinus at tip; 

 female nearly similar to the male. Length 2.15 mm.; width 0.48 mm. 

 South Africa (Wellington) gemma n. sp. 



