160 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [4} 



margin, and finally very conclusively by the fact that these 

 margins also exist on the dorsal surface of the segments, 

 being practically continuous from the ventral to the dorsal 

 plate. The coriaceous segments merely serve to connect 

 the abdomen proper to the metanotum, and apparently do 

 not even extend through to the under surface of the meta- 

 sternum, or at least one specimen — from which the drawing- 

 is taken — has the first ventral so far exserted from the 

 posterior margin of the metasternum as to leave a very large 

 extent of membrane exposed to view, and no signs what- 

 ever of a segmental division are visible. 



Another inaccuracy mentioned by M. Jekel, is in regard 

 to the measurement of length in the Staphylinidae, where 

 the abdomen is often extended, This is not, however, of so 

 great importance, as it is much easier to state, if the speci- 

 men be unique, whether or not the abdomen is extended, 

 than to make minute measurements of other portions of the 

 body. If the specimens be numerous, the lengths of ex- 

 treme examples should be quite sufficient for all practical 

 purposes. 



As a source of ambiguity often observable in the writings 

 of coleopterists, may be mentioned the variety of ideas at- 

 tached to the word epipleurce, in describing the elytra. 

 Pascoe has alluded to this subject (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 

 Jan. 1869, p. 2), and suggested a definite meaning for the 

 word; the notation here proposed is similar to that of Mr. 

 Pascoe, with a single exception. 



The inflexed sides of the elytra — for which I would pro- 

 pose the word hypomera — are generally composed of two 

 parts, the first being a more or less elevated lower margin 

 of greater or less width, and the second the remainder of 

 the inflexed side, usually limited above by a more or les3 

 distinctly defined edge, generally reflexed. Above this the 

 disk of the elytra is declivous, the declivity merging grad- 

 ually into the dorsal and central portions of the disk, which 

 are nearly always less convex. When the sloping sides of 



