OF NEW ZEALAND. 87 



FAMILY STAPHYLINIDES. 



Mentum corneous, nearly always strongly transversal and entire. 

 Ligula membraneous, rarely horny; its paraglossae often distinct. Lobes 

 of the maxilla of variable form and structure ; the external often bi- 

 articulate. Maxillary /##/ with four joints, the terminal frequently very 

 small and aciculate ; the labial shorter, ordinarily tri-articulate. Elytra 

 usually not longer than the sternum, united when at rest by a straight 

 suture, and completely covering the under-wings. Abdomen very mobile, 

 composed of six or seven segments. Tarsi with a variable number 

 of joints ; terminated by simple claws. 



Group ALEOCHARIDJE. 



Prothoracic spiracles visible. Antenna inserted on the forehead at 

 the inner margin of the eyes. Labrum entire, without membraneous 

 border. Apical joint of the maxillary palpi very small, aciculate. 

 Without ocelli. Elytra leaving the abdomen entirely exposed. Abdomen 

 margined laterally, its seventh segment often indistinct. Anterior coxa 

 conical ; the posterior transversal. Tarsi with a variable number of 

 joints. A membraneous space underneath the prothorax. 



Gyrophsena. 



Mannerh. ; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop., Tom. ii.,/..43. 



Mentum rather short, slightly emarginate in front. Ligula short, 

 rounded, entire, without paraglossae. Labial palpi bi-articulate, the first 

 joint cylindrical, the second a little shorter, slender, almost acuminate ; 

 the maxillary rather short, their second and third joints nearly equal. 

 Maxilla with their inner lobes membraneous inwardly, corneous ex- 

 ternally, obliquely shortened at the inner side, and furnished with 

 spiniform hairs ; the external somewhat longer, horny in the middle, 

 membraneous at the base and apex. Mandibles unarmed, covered by 

 the labrum. Labrum transversal, truncate in front. Head little narrower 

 than the prothorax, bent downwards. Eyes usually rather large, mode- 

 rately prominent. Antenna of variable length ; their two basal joints 

 somewhat elongate, sub-equal; joints four to eleven gradually incrassated. 

 Prothorax a little narrower than the elytra, transversal, its base rounded. 

 Elytra truncate behind. Abdomen oblong. Legs rather short, the 

 intermediate moderately distant at the base ; anterior tarsi with four, 

 the others with five joints, the basal joint of the posterior a little 

 elongated. 



Body moderately elongate, rather broad, winged, more or less 

 smooth. 



159. G. punctata, n.s. Antennce. moderate, the eleventh and 

 the two basal joints testaceous, the others obscure red ; third shorter 

 than second, longer than fourth, cylindrical; fourth obconical, narrower 

 than fifth ; tenth thickened, as well as the immediately preceding joints ; 



