MONOGRAPH OF WEST INDIAN STAPHYLINIDAE 113 



nearly closed behind; coxue large, prominent; middle coxal cavities 

 confluent; elytra dehiscent, sutural apical angles generally broadly 

 rounded ; abdomen margined ; first sternite not present ; posterior coxae 

 contiguous, not at all expanded under the femora ; front tibia with 

 two rows of spines; tarsi 3-seginented. 



Remarks. — This genus is distinguished from Oxytelus by its genicu- 

 late antennae, its subcylindrical form, the semiclosure of the anterior 

 coxal cavities, the union of the middle coxal cavities, and the dehiscent 

 elytra. 



I have examined 79 specimens of this genus, belonging to 8 species, of 

 which 7 appear to be new. 



KEY TO WEST INDIAN SPECIES OF BLEDIUS 



1. Pronotuin with an impressed median line 3 



Median line not impressed 2 



2. Anterior angles of pronotum prolonged 1. caribbeanus 



Anterior angles of pronotum not at all prolonged 2. esposus 



ii. Head armed with four short spines; pronotum prolonged in a 



spine of nearly half its length 8. ceratus 



Head and pronotum not so armed ^ 4 



4. Length 2 mm. or less 5 



Length 4 mm. or more 7. beattyi 



5. Pronotum with more or less distinct scaly ground sculpture 6 



Pronotum without scaly ground sculpture 3. withycombei 



6. Outer apical half of elytra diffuse testaceous 7 



Elytra uuicolorous, rufous 4. cubensis 



7. Vertex with a deep fovea at middle 5. trinidadensis 



Vertex with at most a shallow fovea 6. jamaicensis 



1. BLEDIUS CARIBBEANUS. new species 



Description. — Body black throughout. Head moderately convex 

 above, very feebly longitudinally depressed on each side; supra- 

 antennal ridges scarcely distinguishable; impunctate, but with very 

 dense tuberculate sculpture; antennal segments from 7 to 10 trans- 

 verse; labrum short, broadly emarginate in front and nearly divided 

 into two. Pronotum three-fourths wider than long, semicircular; 

 midline vaguely indicated at apex only; impunctate but with dense 

 finely tuberculate sculpture. Elytra dehiscent; broadly rounded in- 

 ternally but less rounded externally; impiuictate but with tuberculate 

 sculpture as on pronotum. Abdomen irregularly sculptured but 

 shining. Length, 11/2 to 2 mm. 



2'ype locality. — Tobago, seashore 3 miles southwest of Scarborough. 



7'y/?e5.'— Holotype and eight paratypes, U.S.N.M. No. 52372, holo- 

 type collected by me on January 1, 1936. The paratypes were taken 

 at the localities listed below. One paratype has been deposited in 

 the collection of Dr. M. Cameron. 



