(Page 8) 

 ments are found, but in consideration of all practical dicision only 8 fig- 

 ure in his description. Later investigations (Verhoeff : Deutsche Entom. 

 Zeitschr. 1893. ^35) have proved, that abdomen (typically) consists of 10 

 dorsal segments eind 8 developed ventral ser^ments. To this however must be 

 remarked, that the segments are not always equally distinctly developed. 



(Page 9) 

 In the largest species ( Staphylinus, Lathrobium , Paederus et al. ), when 

 the elytra are removed and the abdominal tip is not drawn in, all 10 seg- 

 ments can most often without difficulty be counted, but in most of the 

 smaller species, especially in all Aleocharines, practically only 9 can be 

 considered, as the true ninth segment is rudimentary. In all Staphylinids 

 the first dorsal segment of abdomen is entirely concealed and solidly con- 

 nate with the metathorax, of which the last ring is revealed as a triangu- 

 lar plate ( postscutellum ) , which dorsally divides the segment into two side- 

 halves, each provided with an unusually large spiracle (see Fig.l^ . Also the 

 second dorsal segment of abdomen is partly or entirely concealed beneath 

 the elytra, so that the first free uncovered segment is the third. This seg- 

 ment will therefore in the following description be mentioned as the first 

 free dorsal segment and the following counted as the second, third, fourth 

 etc. free Segments. The true seventh dorsal segment -a=thG fifth free, is of- 

 special significance for the correct count of the dorsal segments, in that 

 its posterior margin in most of the species, particularly among Aleocharines, 

 is provided with a narrow, very fine, white suture, which is easily seen, 



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