STAPIIYLINIDAE. 89 



Faronus is represented by F. Tolulse. in the southern Atlantic 

 States, by F. Isabellas in California, and by F. parvicepk {Eu- 

 pleclus parviceps Maklin) in Alaska. Trimium lias been found 

 in Alaska, and Trichonyx only in Vancouver Island. The other 

 genera are not represented near the Pacific coast. 



Fam. XIII.-^STAPHYLINIDAE. 



Mentum quadrate, usually trapezoidal, the anterior part 

 separate; ligula rarelj corneous, usually membranous or co- 

 riaceous; paraglossse usually distinct; labial palpi usually 

 o-jointed, rarely (in certain Aleocliarini) with four, two, or 

 even one joint. 



Maxillte with two lobes, usually ciliate ; palpi 4-jointcd, 

 except in Aleochara, where there are five joints. 



Antennte variable in insertion and form, 11-jointcd, rarely 

 10-jointed. 



Eyes usually finely granulated. 



Prothorax with the side pieces not separate, prosternum 

 variable in form, coxal cavities usually open behind. 



Mesosternum short, side pieces large, epimera distinct. 



Metasternum moderately large, side pieces narrow, epi- 

 mera distinct. 



Elytra truncate, leaving a great part of the abdomen ex- 

 posed, except in certain Omalini; wings, when present, folded 

 under the elytra. 



Abdomen with seven or eight visible segments, freely 

 movable, and entirely corneous both above and beneath. 



Legs variable in length and form ; anterior coxse usually 

 large, conical, prominent, and contiguous, rarely (Piestidae) 

 rounded, not prominent, -or (Micropeplidae) transverse, not 

 prominent; middle coxse conical, oblique, not prominent, 

 sometimes contiguous, sometimes distant; hind coxa^. vari- 

 able in form, contiguous, except in Micropepliduc, where 

 they are small, rounded, and distant. 



Tarsi usually 5-jointed, rarely 4-jointed, and in Micrope- 

 plidee and certain Oxytelini 3-jointed; in many genera of 

 Aleocliarini the front, or the front and middle tarsi, are 

 4-jointcd, while the hind tarsi have five joints. 



This family embraces a very large number of species, mostlv 

 of snnxll siz(^, and in many parts of the body shows a very great 

 range of variation.* Genera with short elytra; occur in several 



