296 BULLETIN 1S2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



then the species keys out to Scopaeoma^ in which it seems to belong by 

 the combination of other characters. 

 The type was caught flying at dusk. 



XXXIX. Genus MONISTA Sharp 



Monista Sharp, 1876, p. 271. 



Genotype. — Monista typlca Sharp (original designation; Interna- 

 tional Eules, xVrticle 30, 1, h). 



Diag^iosis. — Head finely punctate, sometimes biimpressed to form a 

 median ridge; eyes small; antennae posteriori}' flexile, not strongly 

 geniculate, basal segment not much elongate, first and second not 

 enlarged; labrum rather large, feebly emarginate, without denticles; 

 gular sutures separated but parallel and very approximate; fourth 

 segment of maxillary palpus subulate; neck one-fifth as wide as head 

 or less ; prothorax not prolonged in front ; prosternum rather widely 

 dilated under the front coxae but widely separated from the hypomera ; 

 hypomera feebly lobcd behind the coxae; front coxal cavities narrowly 

 open behind ; anterior coxae large, exserted ; middle coxal cavities con- 

 fluent; ix)sterior coxae contiguous, "conical"; first and second abdomi- 

 nal sternites absent, eighth emarginate in male; aj)ex of posterior tibia 

 with a distinct ctenidium (mly on the inner edge; tarsi 5-segmented, 

 fourth segment lobed beneath. 



Remarls. — The West Indian species of this genus are at once 

 distinguished from all Staphylinidae known to me by the peculiai- 

 carinate structure of the vertex of the male. This is apparently not 

 present on many of the species described from South and Central 

 America. The genus has been placed near Astenns and Echiaster but 

 is more similar in structure to Scopaeus and SUlicus. 



I have seen from the West Indies 34 specimens belonging to four 

 species of which three are new. 



KEY TO WEST INDIAN SPECIES OF MONISTA 



1. Pronotmn with fine giouiul sculpture ; cophnlic carina close to neck. 



1. personata 

 Pronotura without distinct ground sculpture; cephalic carina distant from 

 nock 2 



2. Head minutely tuberculate 4, vola 



Head more or less distinctly punctate, not at all tuberculate 3 



3. Punctures of head and pronotum obsolescent 2. trinitatia 



Punctures of head and pronotum distinct 3. darlingtoni 



1. MONISTA PERSONATA Cameron 



Monista personata Camekon. IDlBb, p. 339. — Leng and Mutchler, 1917, p. 198.' — 

 ScHEERPELTz, 1933, p. 1210.— Br.ACKWETj)EB, 1939a, p. 106. 



Description. — Rufotestaceous, apex of elytra paler. Head orbicu- 

 lar; eyes small, not prominent; vertex modified in male; impunctate, 

 but with a few tiny tuberculi especially above the eyes; with distinct 



