6 



STAPHYLINIDiE, 



ii. Posterior coxae small, widely separated ; antennae terminated 



by a distinct club SxENlN^, 



II. Antenna? inserted on the anterior margin of the head. 



i. Antennae distant; prosternum not developed iu front of 



_ anterior coxai STAPnYLiNiN.'E. 



ii. Antennae approximate; prosternum developed in front of 



anterior coxae Xantholinin.e. 



III. Antennae inserted under the sides of the front. 



i. Prothoracic stigmata conspicuous on removing the front coxa. 



1. Posterior coxae transverse. 



A. Antennae filiform, not verticillate Tachtpoeinj-;. 



B. Antenna; capillary and verticillate TEicnoPHTiuiE. 



2. Posterior coxeb triangular, prominent ; antennae capillary 



and verticillate Habroceein^. 



ii. Prothoracic stigmata difficult to perceive on account of pro- 

 minence of sides of prothorax. 



1. Anterior coxaj very small ; antennaj inserted inside the 



base of the mandibles, terminated in a club Et^3Tuetin.ik. 



2. Anterior coxae prominent, conical. 



A. Vertex without ocelli. 



a. Last joint of labial palpi dilated, very large, crescent- 

 shaped ; last joint of maxillary palpi large, not much 



shorter than penultimate OxxPOEIN^. 



b. Last joint of labial palpi not dilated ; last joint of 



maxillary palpi minute, often scarcely visible, 

 a*. Posterior coxae conical, 

 b*. Posterior coxae transverse. 



af. Posterior trochanters small, one-fifth the length 



of femora; head with distinct neck OxYTELlNiE. 



bf . Posterior trochanters large, one-third the length 



of femora ; head without distinct neck . . . . PHLCEOCHAEiNJi. 



B. "Vertex with two ocelli Homaliin^. 



3. Anterior coxae transverse, sublinear. 



A. Vertex without ocelli ; elytra covering the greater part 



of hind body . ■ PEOTElNlN.t;. 



B. Vertex with one ocellus ; elytra only slightly passing 

 metasternum PHLCEOEiiNiE. 



4. Anterior coxae globose Piestin^. 



Of the atove sub-families Dr. Sharp includes under the Oxytelinse 

 Erichson's Phloeocharina?, Proteininse, and Piestinaj, on the ground that 

 it is impossible to separate them now that we are acquainted with a 

 greater number of forms : in all these groups there is a great variation in 

 the form of the anterior coxae and the pieces of the prothorax adjacent 

 to these, but the Jnodifications are considered by Dr. Sharp to be too 

 gradual to be used for classification, and he prefers as characters the 

 structure of the tarsi and of the front of the head ; for convenience sake, 

 however, the sub-families have been retained in this work in their usual 

 positions, as the characters are correct as far as our genera and species 

 are concerned, and it would cause great confusion at present to alter the 

 classification. 



