BY A. SIDNEY OLLIFF, F.E.S. 455 



16. Aleochara. 



Graven horst, Col. Micr. p. 67(1802); Lacordaire, Gen. Col. II., 

 p. 40; Kraatz, Linn. Ent. XL, p. 17 (1857). 



Mentum very short, narrowed and slightly emarginate in 

 front. Ligula very short, broad, bifid. Maxillary palpi 5-jointed, 

 the 2nd and 3rd joints subequal, the 5th very small. Labial 

 palpi 4-jointed, the 1st joint longer than the others, the 4th very 

 small. Maxillae like those of Homalota. Mandibles unarmed. 

 Labrum transverse, truncate in front. Head ovate, retracted, not 

 narrowed behind. Antennas short, thickened towards the ex- 

 tremity, 1st, 2nd and 3rd elongate, the following, with the exception 

 of the 11th, transverse. Prothorax broadly transverse, narrowed 

 in front, rounded at the sides. Elytra slightly rounded behind, 

 Abdomen either parallel-sided or narrowed behind. Legs rather 

 short; intermediate coxae somewhat remote; tarsi 5:5:5, first joint 

 of posterior pair distinctly longer than 2nd. 



This is a genus of world wide distribution, but is better repre- 

 sented in the old than in the new world. The Australian species 

 do not seem to differ in habits from those of Europe being found 

 under dead birds, mammals, &c, and in any decaying animal or 

 vegetable matter. 



Section 1. — Prothorax with two impressed rows of punctures. 



64. Aleochara speculifera. 



Aleochara speculifera, Erichson, Wiegm. Archiv. VIIL, p. 134 

 (1842). 



Elongate, moderately broad and convex, shining black, tinged 

 with brassy green ; prothorax with two deeply impressed longi- 

 tudinal rows of punctures on the disc ; elytra strongly and rather 

 closely punctured, a large discal patch and the sides near the 

 humeral angles highly polished and free from punctures. 



Head somewhat depressed between the eyes, strongly, irregularly 

 and not very closely punctured near the sides, almost destitute of 

 punctures on the disc. Antennae with the second joint a little 

 more than half as long as the third, 4th shorter, 5-10 strongly 





