626 Mr. D. Sharp and Mr. F. Muir on the Comparative 
MONOMMIDAE = TENEBRIONIDAE 
—-RHYSOPAUSSIDAE 
STENOSIS)  |__ 
ZOPHEROSIS LAGRIIDAE 
—-CISTELIDAE 
FAMILIES OF TENEBRIONOIDEA. 
(7) STAPHYLINOIDEA, OR BRACHELYTRA. 
In this division the family Staphylinidae is of the first 
importance, because of the great number and diversity of 
its forms. This family is characterised by the existence 
of a highly developed median lobe, by the absence of a 
basal sclerite, the lateral lobes being diversified in form. 
In the Xantholinus group we are in presence of one of 
the most highly specialised forms of Coleoptera. In the 
Omaliini we find an approximation to Silphidae. The 
Silphidae are in fact the most primitive of the families 
placed in this division. 
The Silphidae proper differ much from the other 
forms of the family we have examined. In Sathyscia 
and Liodes (= Anisotoma humeralis of the European 
catalogue) there is a very large median foramen, basally 
placed, and a median lobe elongate and tubular in form; 
there is a basal-piece separated from the median lobe, 
and well marked lateral lobes closely connected with 
the basal-piece, and thus forming a well marked tegmen. 
But in Silphidae (S. obscwra) the median lobe is bulbous, 
rather than tubular, with a small median foramen (often 
placed distally), a small basal-piece, with well marked 
lateral lobes forming thus a complete tegmen. This 
supports the division of Silphidae into two families. 
The Silphinae show relationship with Staphylinidae ; 
but if we consider Bathysciinae as more _ primitive 
than Silphinae, then the affinity of Staphylinidae with 
Silphidae s.l. is of an indirect nature. If, however, we con- 
sider (as is frequently done) Bathysciinae and Silphinae 
