go SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 94 



nae. They have sufficient characters in common which differ from the 

 Oxytelini to justify a separation between the two groups. Leng's ar- 

 rangement is perhaps better for this reason. 



Osoriiis is quite distinct in many respects from the Oxytehni. Its 

 relationship is perhaps best expressed by an assignment as a tribe in 

 the subfamily Oxytelinae equal to the rest of the subfamily or the 

 tribe Oxytelini. 



The members of the Xantholinini studied are very distinct from 

 the rest of the Staphylininae. They differ from the tribe Staphylinini 

 more than do the members of the tribes Xanthopygini and Quediini, 

 and perhaps should be more isolated in the system. It may be that 

 they should rank as a separate subfamily, but this would obscure the 

 facts of their relationship to the other Staphylininae. 



Habrocerus and Hypocyptus both differ considerably from the other 

 Tachyporinae. Habrocerus differs perhaps more widely and is prob- 

 ably correctly placed as a separate subfamily, although its nearest 

 relatives are the Tachyporini. Hypocyptus is more distinct from the 

 Tachyporini and Bolitobiini than they are from each other, but per- 

 haps insufficiently so to be isolated in a separate subfamily. 



The linear arrangement of subfamilies is unsatisfactory as it pre- 

 cludes the possibility of showing relationships except in special cases. 

 No better system has been suggested, and it is merely necessary to 

 bear in mind the fact that the arrangement is more or less arbitrary. 



The classifications in use have been gradually improved to the 

 point where they seem to reflect the general facts in a true picture. 

 Minor refinements will probably be necessary for a long time to come, 

 and the judgment of individual workers will probably indicate many 

 changes. 



LIST OF SPECIES STUDIED 



Subfamily MICROPEPLINAE 



Micropcplus punctatus Lee. 

 Subfamily OMALIINAE 



Tribe OMALIINI 



Gcodromiciis hrunncus (Say) 

 PcJccomaVmm tcsiaccum (Mann.) 

 Tanyrhinus singularis Mann. 

 Lathrimacum pictum Fvl. 

 Subfamily OXYTELINAE 



Tribe PROTEININI 



Proteinus limbatus Makl. 

 Tribe LEPTOCHIRINI 



Leptochirus mexicanus Er. 



