452 BULLETIN 18 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



segments pubescent from fourth or fifth joint ; labrum bilobed ; palpi 

 moderately long and slender, fourth segment of maxillary much 

 longer than third, third segment of labial elongate, truncate, with 

 apex sometimes compressed; gular sutures very approximate from 

 middle; lateral margin of pronotum doubled, lines separate until 

 around anterior angles ; anterior coxal cavities entirely open behind ; 

 front coxae very large, exserted; posterior coxae contiguous, "tri- 

 angular" ; first and second abdominal sternites absent ; intersegmental 

 membranes of abdomen with pattern of irregular rounded sclerotized 

 areas arranged in longitudinal rows; femora unarmed beneath. 



Remarks. — This is a tropical American genus that apparently 

 does not occur in the true West Indies. Xenopygus has always been 

 placed some distance from this genus and apparently has never been 

 compared with it. I am unable to find any character of generic 

 importance to distinguish them, and I therefore reduce Xenopygus 

 to the status of subgenus, although I am not certain that it can be 

 retained even to that extent. It is distinguished by the complete 

 lack of fine pubescence on the fourth antennal segment, by the more 

 prominent subocular ridge, and by the uncompressed tip of the fourth 

 segment of the maxillary palpus. 



I have seen 20 examples from the West Indies. These belong to 

 two species which belong to two subgenera as defined above. 



KEY TO WEST INDIAN SPECIES OF PHILOTHALPUS 



1. Pronotum with punctures evenly scattered except along midline- 1. fasciatus 

 Pronotum with two distinct dorsal series outlining midline 2. analis 



1. PHILOTHALPUS FASCIATUS (Nordmann) 



Philonthus fasciatus Nordmann, 1836, p. 112. — Ekichson, 1839b, p. 397. — Sharp, 



1884, p. 355. 

 Staph ijUnus anceps Erichson, 1839b, p. 396. — Lacordaire, 1854, p. 78. 

 Staphylinus segmentarius Erich.son, lS.39b, p. 397. — Sharp, 1870, pp. 134, 13G; 



1884, p. 355. 

 Staphylinus fasciatus (Nordmann) Erichson, lS39b, p. 397. — Sharp, 1884, p. 355. 

 Philothalpus fasciatus (Nordmann) Kraatz, 1857a, p. 540. — Sharp, 1884, p. 355. — 



Bkrnhauer and Schubert, 1914, p. 402 (as variety). 

 Philothalpus segmentarius (Erichson) Kbaatz, 1857a, p. 540. — Sharp, 1884, pp. 



355, 356, 357. — Bernhaueu and Schurert, 1014, p. 401 (as variety). 

 Philothalpus lutcipes Sharp, 1876, pp. 133, 134. — Bernhauer and Schubebt, 



1914, p. 402 (as synonym of segmentarius) . 

 Philothalpus anceps (Erichson) Bernhauer and Schubert, 1914, p. 402. — 



Plavilstschikov, 1929, p. 30. 



Description. — Head and pronotum black, elytra rufopiceous to 

 testaceous, abdomen piceous with apex of segments paler and an 

 apical band formed by testaceous apex of seventh tergite and testa- 

 ceous base of eighth. Head (including the eyes) nearly one-fourth 

 wider than long; eyes prominent, occupying three-fourths of the 



