82 



front o£ the clypeum, smooth, with short grooves near the 

 rather large eyes, posteriorly there is a conical impressed pit ; 

 the thorax is a little broader than the head, not longer, a little 

 transverse, about the base oblique and very narrow, sparsely 

 but deeply punctate, on the back one deep furrow, each side 

 slightly impressed anteriorly ; the elytra are somewhat broader 

 than the thorax, a very little longer, with a few very deep 

 punctures ; the abdomen rather smooth. Xo difference is 

 detected in the general appearance of the sexes. 



Length. — 2 mill. 



Localities. — Java, Victoria, Adelaide, New South "Wales. 



Observation. — Two specimens forwarded to M. Fauvel from 

 Sydney and Victoria by Mr. Sharp are black, with dark 

 brownish black elytra, the clypeum a dull red, the first four 

 joints of the antennae reddish brown, and the feet yellow. He 

 considers these to have the normal colour of the species. Mr. 

 Sharp also sent him a dozen specimens of a bright colour from 

 Adelaide like those described. 



2. Teibe Staph ylixixi. 



key to geneka. 

 Section I. — Xantlwlini. 

 The antenucT strongly curving ; the second joint of the 

 maxillary palps conical, scarcely narrower than the third at 

 the base. Xantholinus. 



Section II. — StapJiylini. 

 a. Under lip emarginate ; mesosternum transverse, much 



rounded at the top. JEmus. 



h. Under lip entire ; thighs not spiny, the posterior tarsi are 

 equal in the first and fifth joints, the second, third, 

 and fourth are oblong ; the maxillary palps much 

 elongated, at the second joint slender acicular. The 

 metasternum sinuously rounded anteriorly, not 

 salient ; the lateral hairs of the clypeum inserted on 

 the marginal border. Philonthus. 



Section III — Qiiedii. 



a. The second joint of the palps linear or oblong ; the j)ro- 

 thoracic scars obsolete. Qiiedius. 



h. The second joint of the palps small, subovate ; the pro- 

 thoracic scars visible. Heterothops. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF XANTHOLIXVS. 



Antennae black or brown, on the last joint only sometimes 

 testaceous altogether or in part. 



a. Elytra of a beautiful purplish-violet tint, brilliant, feet 

 black, legs having violet spines. pliccnicopterus. 



