STAPIIYLINIDAE. 59 



Aleocharini the anterior tarsi are "ijointed, while the middle 

 and hind tarsi have five joints. 



This family embraces a very large number of species, mostly 

 of small size, and in many parts of the body shows a very great 

 range of variation. Genera with short elytra occur in several 

 families of Coleoptera, but in no other are they associated with 

 an entirely corneous abdomen having seven or eight visible seg- 

 ments. 



I have separated the family into the same divisions as those 

 adopted by Kraatz in the second volume of the Insecten Deutsch- 

 lands, but I am not in accord with him in considering them all as 

 of equal value in classification. The form of the anterior coxa? 

 seems to me of greater significance than the other characters used 

 in separating the different groups which have been previously 

 called tribes, and I have made the primary division on the form 

 of those organs into sub-families. 



The prothoracic breathing-pores (stigmata) are visible in cer- 

 tain tribes (Aleocharini, Tachyporini, Staphylinini), but invisible 

 in the rest of the family. This character is sometimes difficult to 

 perceive ; but I have not been able to follow the example of Duval, 

 in excluding it from a primary place in the synoptic table of tribes. 



I would divide the family into three sub-families : — 



Anterior coxse prominent ; anterior coxal cavities open behind. 



Staphtlinid^:. 

 Anterior coxse not prominent ; anterior coxal cavities entire ; 



Anterior coxse globose, posterior contiguous. Piestid^e. 



Anterior coxse transverse, posterior distant. MicropepliDjS. 



Sub-Family I.— STAPHYLINIDAE (genuini). 



This sub-family contains the great bulk of the species, and is 

 much less homogeneous than the other two ; the tribes composing 

 it are as follows : — 



A. Prothoracic stigmata visible ; insertion of the antennae — 



Upon the front, at the internal margin of the eyes. I. Aleochakixi. 

 Under the sides of the front, behind the mandibles. II. Tachypokini. 

 At the anterior margin of the front, inside of the mandibles. 



III. Staphylinini. 



B. Prothoracic stigmata not visible, covered by the sides of the pronotum ; 



Posterior coxse conical, anterior coxse large. IV. P;ederini. 



Posterior coxse conical, anterior coxse small. V. Stexlni. 



