OF NEW ZEALAND. 87 



FAMILY— STAPHYLINIDES. 



Mentum corneous, nearly always strongly transversal and entire. 

 Ligitla membraneous, rarely horny; its paragloss-.e often distinct. Lobes 

 of the niaxillce of variable form and structure ; the external often bi- 

 articulate. Maxillary /i^?^/ with four joints, the terminal frequently very 

 small and aciculate ;. the labial shorter, ordinarily tri-articulate. Elyti'a 

 usually not longer than the sternum, united when at rest by a straight 

 suture, and completely covering the under-wings. Abdomen very mobile, 

 composed of six or seven segments. Tarsi with a variable number 

 of joints ; terminated by simple claws. 



Group— ALEOCHARID^. 



Prothoracic spiracles visible. Anteniue inserted on the forehead at 

 the inner margin of the eyes. Labnim entire, without membraneous 

 border. Apical joint of the maxillary palpi very small, aciculate. 

 Without ocelli. Elytra leaving the abdomen entirely exposed. Abdomen 

 margined laterally, its seventh segment often indistinct. Anterior coxa: 

 conical ; the posterior transversal. Tarsi with a variable number of 

 joints. A membraneous space underneath ih.e prothorax. 



Gyroplisena. 



Mannerh. : Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Col cop.., Tom. ii.,/. 43. 



Mentum rather short, slightly emarginate in front. Ligula short, 

 rounded, entire, without paraglossje. Labial palpi bi-articulate, the first 

 joint cylindrical, the second a little shorter, slender, almost acuminate ; 

 the maxillary rather short, their second and third joints nearly equal. 

 Maxilhe with their inner lobes membraneous inwardly, corneous ex- 

 ternally, obliquely shortened at the inner side, and furnished with 

 spiniform hairs ; the external somewhat longer, horny in the middle, 

 membraneous at the base and apex. Mandibles unarmed, covered by 

 the labrum. Labnnn transversal, truncate in front. Plead little narrower 

 than the prothorax, bent downwards. Eyes usually rather large, mode- 

 rately prominent. Antenncc of variable length ; their two basal joints 

 somewhat elongate, sub-equal; joints four to eleven gradually incrassated. 

 Prothorax a little narrower than the elytra, transversal, its base rounded. 

 Elytra truncate behind. Abdomen oblong. Legs rather short, the 

 intermediate moderately distant at the base ; anterior tarsi with four, 

 the others with five joints, the basal joint of the posterior a little 

 elongated. 



Body moderately elongate, rather broad, winged, more or less 

 smooth. 



159. G. punctata, n.s. Antemue moderate, the eleventh and 

 the two basal joints testaceous, the others obscure red ; third shorter 

 than second, longer than fourth, cylindrical; fourth obconical, narrower 

 than fifth ; tenth thickened, as well as the immediately preceding joints ; 



