58 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Antennae straight ; 

 Tarsi with a single unguis ; 



Second ventral segment elongated ; last joint of antennae very large. 



Tkimium. 



Second ventral segment not longer than the third. Epplectus. 



Tarsi with two equal ungues. Faronus. 



The last genus is represented by F. Tolulse in the southern 

 Atlantic States, by F. Isabellas in California, and by F. parviceps 

 (Euplectus parviceps Maklin) in Russian America. Trimium 

 has been found in Russian America. The other genera are not 

 represented near the Pacific coast. 



Fam. x.— staphylinid ae. 



Mentum quadrate, usually trapezoidal, the anterior part 

 separate; ligula rarely corneous, usually membranous or co- 

 riaceous; paraglossae usually distinct; palpi usually 3-jointed, 

 rarely (in certain Aleocharini) with four, two, or even one 

 joint. 



Maxillae with two lobes, usually ciliate; palpi 4-jointed, 

 except in Aleocbara, where there are five joints. 



Antennas variable in insertion and form, 11-jointed, 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, epimera 

 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 coxae usually 

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

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

 prominent; middle coxae conical, oblique, not prominent, 

 sometimes contiguous, sometimes distant; hind coxae variable 

 in form, contiguous, except in Micropeplidae, where they are 

 small, rounded, and distant. 



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

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



