PSELAPHIDAE. 55 



segments; dorsal segments entirely corneous, free in the 

 second sub-family, the anterior ones connate in the first. 



Anterior coxaa conical, prominent, contiguous; middle 

 coxas rounded, contiguous; posterior coxee narrow, trans- 

 verse, usually not contiguous. 



Legs long; femora stout; tibiae usually slender, and with- 

 out spurs; tarsi short, 3-jointed, the first joint very short, the 

 second long, except in Clavigeridas and in Farouus; claws 

 simple, sometimes equal, sometimes unequal, and frequently 

 single. 



The species of this family are very small, not exceeding one- 

 eighth of an inch, and of a chestnut-brown color, usually slightly 

 pubescent ; the head and thorax are most frequently narrower 

 than the elytra and abdomen, which is convex, and usually obtuse 

 at tip. Many are found flying in twilight ; their habits at other 

 times are various, some being found in ants' nests, while others 

 occur under stones and bark. North America seems to be rich in 

 this family ; more than fifty species are known to me, and several 

 of the genera have not occurred in other countries. 



This family approaches closely the Staphylinidae, but the ven- 

 tral segments are fewer in number, and not freely moving, and 

 the eyes are composed of large lenses. 



According to the structure of the antennas and abdomen, I 

 divide them into two sub-families, which are regarded as tribes 

 by Lacordaire, groups by Duval, and as families by the German 

 authorities. 



Antennae with less than six joints. Clavigerid^e. 



Antennae 11-jointed, rarely 10-jointed. Pselafhid.«. 



Sub-Family I.— CLAVIGERIDAE. 



This sub-family is represented in our fauna, thus far, only by 

 Adranes csecus Lee, found in ants' nests in the upper part of 

 Georgia. The genus Adranes is distinguished by the antennae 

 having but two joints, and by the absence of eyes. 



The genera of this sub-family have the head narrow, and the 

 palpi rudimentary, of but one joint ; the three anterior dorsal 

 segments are connate, and deeply excavated, forming a large 

 cavity, at the sides of which, and at the external apical angle 

 of the elytra, are tufts of hair. The ants which support these 



