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 straight seam ( sutura) and together form a good cover for the wings. Their 

 side margin which is tent inward toward the breast, side-cover ( epipleura) 

 is in several Staphylinids (e.g. Tachyporines) separated by a sharp carina 

 from the dorsal plane, in others (Oxytelines and Omalines) defined by an 

 impressed line; in the majority the dorsum is not especially bounded from 

 the side cover (as in Aleocharini . Staphylinini , Stenini at al.; Dinarda 

 is among the Aleocharines an exception). - On ventral side of mesothorax 

 the medial breastbone ( mesosternum) is noted, its middle paxt tapering runs 

 in between the middle coxae. This tip varies from being short and rectangular 

 to longer, more tenuis. In many species the mesothorax is finely carinated 

 in medial line, otherwise as a rule smooth. These varying features are in 

 several cases significant as specific characters. Of the raesothoracic side 

 parts: episternura and epimera, the latter is especially always distihct. 



c. The hind breast ( metathorax ) (see Pig 1 and 5) is the hindmost ring 

 of the breast. It bears on dorsal side the second pair of wings, flying 

 wings (alae), which are membranous and show only longitudinal veins ( venae) 

 or longitudinal ribs, of which the flexible joint lies closer to the base 

 than to the middle (Fig. 7); the Staphylinids thereby agreeing with the 

 rest of the families of the family series Staphylinoidea (see preceding). 

 With the help of the flexible abdomen the wings are folded three or two 

 times together and thus laid entirely in under the elytra. Only a small 

 number of Staphylinids are wingless. ATiere this is the case, the elytra 

 become unusually short and most often also somewhat sunken ( Astilbus et al.). 

 - On ventral side of metathorax the space between middle aiid hind coxae is 



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