MADEIRAN COLEOPTERA. 169 
Fam. 60. STAPHYLINID/. 
(Subfam. 1. ALEOCHARIDES.) 
Genus 204. FALAGRIA. 
(Leach) Mannerheim, Brachel. 86 (1831). 
481. Falagria obscura. 
Aleovhara obscura, Grav., Col. Micropt. 74 (1802). 
Falagria obscura, Mann., Brachel. 87 (1831). 
, Hrich., Gen. et Spec. Staph. 54 (1839). 
—— ——, Woll., Ins. Mad. 541 (1854). 


Inhabits Madeira and Porto Santo; occurring in wet spots, and 
along the edges of the streams, at low and intermediate altitudes. 
Genus 205. PHYTOSUS. 
(Rudd) Curtis, Brit. Ent. xv. 718 (1888). 
The little genus Phytosus, so well distinguished by its narrow, 
linear, and densely sericeous body, very abbreviated elytra, and rather 
wide head (which is quite as broad as the prothorax), is remarkable 
for its robust legs, strongly spinulose anterior tibia, and fossorial 
habits,—thus curiously calling to mind, at first sight, some of the 
Oxytelides. In all its essential characters, however, as the insertion 
of its antenne, the number of its tarsal joints, elongated and porrected 
ligula, and the structure of its upper lip, it agrees with the members 
of the present Section ; though its exact position therein has been a 
subject of some dispute,—Erichson having regarded it as closely akin 
to Aleochara proper (especially to the A. obscurella), whilst Kraatz has 
more recently brought it, on account of its greatly acuminated para- 
gloss, into immediate contact with Falagria and Autalia ; to which, 
moreover, in the apically subincrassated terminal joint of its labial 
palpi it would appear to be still further related. In its tetramerous 
fore-feet, it agrees with Homalota. 

482. Phytosus nigriventris. 
P. rufo-testaceus dense cinereo-pubescens, capite vix obscuriore, 
elytris brevissimis, abdomine (presertim in medio) nigricante. 
Long. corp. lin. 1. 
Phytosus spinifer g [sed hand vere], Curtis, Brit. Ent. xv.718 (1838). 
2, Erich., Gen. et Spec. Staph. 178 (1839). 
Myrmedonia nigriventris, Chev., in Rev. Zool. 42 (1843). 
Phytosus nigriventris, Kraatz, Stett. Ent. Zeit. xiv. 257. tab. 3. £.6 (1853). 
——, td, Nat. der Ins. Deutsch. ii. 43 (1856). 



