148 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



of this genus is exemplified in the conspicuous spe- 

 cies represented. 



STAPHYLINUS ERYTHRURUS. 

 PLATE V. FIG. 1. 



It is about an inch and a half in length, of a black 

 colour, rather smooth and glossy, with the two last 

 segments of the abdomen rust red. The mandibles 

 are very large, and armed with strong teeth on their 

 internal edge. The head, which is large and square, 

 having the surface thinly punctured, is united to 

 the thorax by a short neck. The thorax is nearly 

 half an oval, and considerably narrower than the 

 head and elytra. The latter are rather thickly 

 punctured, and have a narrow longitudinal ridge on 

 each side of the sutural line. The abdomen is black, 

 with the two apical segments deep red, and fringed 

 on the sides with hair. The under side of the body, 

 and the legs, are black. ' 



The individual from which the above figure is 

 taken was obtained from North America. 



