Oci/puS.] STAPHYLlNIDiE. 253 



OCVPUS, Ericlison. 



This genus comprises some of the largest and finest of the Staphy- 

 linidre ; it contains, at present, about eighty species, which are chiefly 

 found in Europe and the parts of Africa and Asia adjacent ; several, 

 however, occur in Ceylon, Cuba, the Canary Islands, &c. : the differences 

 between Ocypus and StaplnjUnus are very slight, and by some authors 

 they are united ; the genus, however, is so well known that it is better 

 to keep it separate if possible ; there are ten British species, which may 

 be distinguished as follows : — 



I. Mandibles strong, with a tooth on the middle of 



their internal margin. 

 i. Last joint of labial palpi oblong-ovate, truncate 

 or subtruncate at apex ; last joint of maxillai-y palpi 

 somewhat fusiform or cylindrical in both sexes. 



1. Anterior tibia) more or less spinose on their 

 external margin ; head as broad as, or broader 

 than, thorax; upper surface black or cyaneous; 



legs dark. (Sub-Gen. Ooerius, Steph.) 



A. Upper surface black. 



a. Elytra as long as thorax ; upper surface 

 quite dull, extremely finely punctured ; 



size very large O. OLENS, MiiU. 



b. Elytra shorter than thorax ; head and 

 thorax somewhat shining with punctuation 



close, but distinct ; size moderate . . , . O. surnis, F. 



B. Upper surface cyaneous 0. CYAXEUS, Faj/k. 



2. Anterior tibias simply pubescent on their ex- 

 ternal margin ; liead narrower than, or at most 



only as broad as, thorax. 



A. Legs red ; uppf^r surface black 0. bkunnipes, J'. 



B. Legs black or pitchy. 



a. Head and thorax black bronze, very shiny, 

 the latter diffusely punctured ; hind body 



without longitudinal lines of pubescence . . 0. FusCATUS, Orav. 



b. Head, thorax, and elytra rather light 

 bronze, the thorax very finely punctured ; 

 hind body with longitudinal lines of grey 



pubescence O. cupeeus, Bossi. 



ii. Last joint of labial palpi somewhat securiform in 

 both sexes, of the maxillary palpi in male only. 

 (Sub-Gen. Tasgius, Steph.) 



1. Legs red ; elytra blackish-blue ; head and 



thorax thickly punctured O. PEDATOE, Orav. 



2. Legs black ; upper surface entirely black ; head 



and thorax not closely punctured, very shiny . 0. ATEE, Orav. 



II. Mandibles rather slender, not toothed on their 

 internal margin. (Sub-Gen. Anodus, Nord.) 



1. Legs black ; head and thorax somewhat shining, 

 finely, but distinctly punctured, with smooth cen- 

 tral line evident 0. MOEio, Orav, 



ii. Legs red; head and thorax dull, very finely and 

 closely punctured, with smooth central line often 

 scarcely traceable 0. compeessus, Marsh. 



