222 STAPHYLiNiDiE. [Sfaphi/li7iince. 



StapliylininEe are complete, those of the segments of the hind body 

 incomplete and divided. 



As above mentioned, the sub-family may be divided into two very 

 natural groups, which however, until quite recently, have been defined 

 by variable and inconstant characters, and have been separated more on 

 the ground of external facies than for any other reason ; Dr. Sharp, 

 however (Biol. Cent. Am. StaphylinidjB, p. 320), has lately pointed out 

 that there exists a very constant character which defines the groups very 

 satisfactorily as follows : — 



Prosternum connected with the sides of the thorax behind the an- 

 terior angles which are consequently free QuEDIlNA. 



Prosternum connected with the sides of the thorax at the anterior 



angles which are not free Staphylinina. 



aUEDIINA. 



In this tribe the antennae are inserted at the anterior point of the 

 lateral margin of the front ; the eyes are very often large and prominent ; 

 the thorax is smooth and glabrous and has very few dorsal punctures, 

 those that exist being usually situated on the anterior portion ; it is 

 usually narrowed in front and widened at base, which is at least as broad 

 as the elytra, and the lateral margin is single and acute ; six British 

 genera belong to the tribe, one of -which, QiiedionucJnis, has been recently 

 formed by Dr. Sharp, and is represented in our fauna by the sub-cortical 

 species Q. Icevigatus. 



I. Antennaj geniculate, first joint as long as the four 



succeeding; palpi with the last two joints thickened . ACYLOPHOBUS, Nord. 



II. Antennae not geniculate. 



i. Labial palpi with the last joint securiform .... EuRYPORUS, JEr. 

 ii. Labial palpi with the last joint subulate, very small. Hetebothops, Steph. 

 iii. Last joint of all the palpi elongate, conical or 

 fusiform. 



1. Antennae strongly serrate Velleius, JfanwA. 



2. Antennae simple, not serrate. 



A. Posterior femora not or not strongly spined, 



margins of thorax plainly reflexed .... QuEDius, Leach. 



B. Posterior femora strongly spined ; margins of 



thorax not, or very slightly reflexed .... Quedionuchus, Sharp. 



ACYXiOPHORUS, Ilordmann. 



This genus contains more than thirty species, which are widely dis- 

 tributed in the northern and southern hemispheres ; eight new species 

 have recently been described from Central America and one from 

 Australia, and the genus eventually will probably prove to be a very 

 large one ; our single species is extremely rare, and may at once be 

 distinguished from our other Quediina by the orange-red colour of the 

 base of the seventh segment of hind body, which is especially bright 

 during life. 



