68 



THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 



principal sections or sub-families into which it has been divided. Mod- 

 ern authors divide the family into eleven sub-families, but seven of 

 these contain all but a few rare or exotic species. 



The following table exhibits the most conspicuous of their distinctive 

 characters : 



A. Bod}' narrow and elongated. Elytra (except in the Taclijqjorides) covering less 

 than half of the abdomen. No ocelli. 

 B. Head as wide, at least, as the thorax, and usually attached to it by a short neck. 

 C. Labrum bilobed. Antennse inserted upon the anterior edge of the front. 



Size often large STArHYLixiDES . 



C C. Labrum usually entire. Auteunre inserted at the sides of the front. Size 

 moderate or small. 

 D. Maxillary palpi short. Posterior coxfe wide. Tibo3 usually spinous on 

 tlie outer edge. Tarsi usually three-jointed. Abdomen parallel. 



OXYTELIDKS. 



D D. Maxillary palpi long and clavate. Posterior coxae much longer than 

 wide. Tarsi usually five, sometimes four-jointed. Abdomen more or 

 less tapering. 



E. Anterior coxa3 large. Ej^es not prominent Pederides. 



E E. Anterior coxas small. Eyes large and prominent Stenides. 



B B. Head narrower than the thorax, and more or less inserted in it, often imper- 

 fectly visible from above. 

 F. Body depi-essed, of equal width and obtuse. Elytra usually covering 



a third or less of the abdomen ALEOcnARiDES. 



F F. Body convex, conical and pointed behind. Elytra sometimes cov- 

 ering half or more than half of the abdomen Taciiyporides. 



A A. Body broad and depressed. Elytra usually covering half or more tlian half of 

 the abdomen. Two ocelli on the vertex. Size small Omaliides. 



Sub-family STAPYLINIDES. 



This group stands at the head of the family containing all the large 

 species, sometimes exceeding an inch in length, though some of the 

 t^*p:^28.] genera also contain small species. Its two most ^^'s- 29.] 

 distinctive characters are those given in the table. 

 The antenuie are inserted upon the epistoma, which 

 is the ridge which borders the face below, just 

 above the mouth. In the other groups of this 

 family the antennae are inserted above the episto- 

 ma, at the sides of the face, and are usually cov- 

 ered at the base by a little prominence. The spe- PHirfiNinrsAn- 

 Laiva of cies are usually found amongst rubbish, or under te"Kiiey.'^'~'^ 

 oLENs: dead leaves or stones. They have been supposed to be mostly 

 westwood. rypophagous, but some of them are known to be eminently 

 predaceous. 



More than a hundred N. A. species have been described. 



