186 



the sternum offers. My observations (nearly confined to the British species) point to 

 this as more invariably related to the aggregate of characters, and as affording a more 

 precise line of demarcation. If it be adopted, the family will fall into three primary 

 groups. 



) . Amphibii. Praesternum dilated and truncated, forming a continuous level with 

 the mesosternum, (viz., the structure of Haliplo'ini). Gen. Omophron. 



2. Abdominales. Mesosternum in front with a short longitudinal ridge received 



into the posterior cavity of prassternum, limiting the motion of the prothorax 

 and giving rigidity to the frame. (Approaching the structure of Dyticidee 

 in general). Genera. — (1. Cychrini). Cychrus. (2. Carabici). Carabus. 

 Calosoma. (3. Nebriani). Leistus. Nebria. Notiophilus. 



3. Pedestres. Mesothorax in front contracted, retiring from the prsesternum, 



and permitting a freer motion of the prothorax. (Approaching the structure 

 of Cicindelidae). Includes Harpalidae, Scaritidse and Brachinidae of MacLeay. 



It is here that the exceptional results occur, in the first subordinate group Ela- 

 phrini, from which the proposed method removes Notiophilus to the preceding primary 

 group, and Omophron as the type of another coordinate group, leaving only the genera 

 Elaphrus and Blethisa. A comparison of the latter with Nebria borealis will enable 

 the examiner to appreciate the comparative precision of the two methods of division ; 

 and the resulting limitation of this group may serve for the test of the method here 

 proposed. 



A. H. Haliday. 



Art. XLV. — Notes on StaphylinidcB. By A. H. Haliday, Esq. MA. 



Family. — Staph ylinid^. Tribe. — Omaliani. 



Genus. — Boreaphilus, Sahlherg. 



Erichson has provisionally referred this genus (known to him only by Sahlberg's 

 description) to the present tribe, expressing some doubts whether the form of the palpi 

 has been rightly described. With the same genus he is disposed to unite Coryphium 

 angusticolle, Steph. Mand. v. 344, were it not for the different figure of those organs. 

 Having two species of the genus before me, I add some observations which may clear 

 up these questions. The genus Boreaphilus belongs without doubt to this tribe, and 

 resembles Lesteva in many respects. The maxillary palpi are as long as the first three 

 joints of the antenna in the first species, shorter in the other. The last joint is almost 

 obsolete, which consideration may explain the discrepancy in the descriptions of Sahl- 

 berg and Stephens. The labial palpi are not filiform, the third joint being small and 

 subulate, the others nearly equal. The mentum is broad, transverse, and truncated 

 before. The labrum is transverse, truncated in front and entire ; very large and dila- 

 ted in the first species, with the margin finely crenulate. The other parts of the mouth 

 I have not seen so distinctly. The inner edge of the long falcate mandible is describ- 

 ed as entire by Sahlberg, unidentate by Stephens. The ocelli are distinct, placed near 

 the occipital line in the second species, farther forwards in the other. The coxae are 

 more exerted than in Anthophagus, but nearly as in Lesteva, the fore pair being cy- 

 lindric. The last joint of the tarsi is shorter than the rest together, in the hind feet 



