COLEOPTERA. 507 



is entire, and tlie maxillary palpi arc almost as long as the head, terminated in a mass formed of the 

 third joint, the fourth being concealed or very indistinct, and forming a small point terminating this 

 mass, when present, the preceding being very much swollen. These insects live upon the margins of 

 water. 



Pmdenig, Fabr., has the antenns inserted before the eyes, filiform, or gradually increasing in size, and longer 

 than the head ; body long and narrow ; and mandibles toothed and pointed at the tip, with the penultimate joint 

 of the tarsi bifid. Type, Staph, riparius, Linn., [a pretty little common British species]. 



Stilicus, differs in having all the joints of the tarsi entire. 



Procirrus, Latr., has the last joint of the maxillary palpi distinct, and forming a terminal mass ; the head is 

 attached by a long peduncle; thorax long and narrow; and the fore tarsi dilated. P. Lefeburi, Latr., Sicily. 



Evesthetiis, Grav., has the antennae inserted before the eyes, but not longer than the head, and moniliform ; body 

 slightly elongated. E. scaber, Grav. 



Steniis, Latr., has the antenn« inserted near the inner margin of the eyes, and terminated by a mass formed of 

 the last three joints; the eyes are large, and the mandibles furcate. Staph, btguttatus, Linn. ; black, with a red 

 dot on each elytron ; [very common.] 



The third section, Denticrura, differs from the preceding in having the maxillary palpi much shorter 

 than the head, with four distinct joints ; the tibije at least of the fore-legs are toothed or spined ; the 

 tarsi fold back on the tibiffi, and have the last joint as long as all the preceding together, some of which 

 are more or less obsolete. The front of the head is cornuted in the males of some species. 



Oxytelus, Grav., differs from ah the rest in having the palpi terminated by a hatchet-shaped joint, the antenna; 

 moniliform and gradually thickened, with only three distinct joints to the tarsi. [A very numerous genus.] 



Usorius, Leach, has the palpi filiform, the body cylindric, and the mandibles much shorter than the head. The 

 species are from South America. 



Zirophorus, Dalm. (Irentsus, Leach ; Piestus, Grav.), has the body depressed, the fore tibiae alone toothed on the 

 outside, the antennae at least as long as the head and thorax, and mandibles as long as the head. (See Dalman's 

 Anal. Entomol., p. 23.) 



[Leptochiriis, Gerraar, differs from the last in the antennae being very short. The species of both are tropical.] 



Prognatha, Latr. (Siagonium, Kirby) [not Siagona], differs from Zirophorus in the antennae being fihform, and 

 composed of elongated joints. [.S^. quadricorne, Kirby : a rare British species.] 



Coprophilus, Latr. [Elonium, Leach], has the body flattened, but all the tibiae are toothed on the outside ; the 

 antennas much longer than the head, and the mandibles not toothed. Omalimn rugosum, Grav. 



The fourth section, Depressa, has the head free, the labium entire, and the maxillary palpi short, with 

 four distinct joints; but the tibiae are simple, without teeth or spines, and the tarsi distinctly 5-jointed. 



Omalium, Grav. (liaving the thorax as broad as the elytra, and transverse-quadrate), Lcstcva, Latr. (Antho- 

 phagus, Grav., having the thorax narrower than the elytra, and in the form of a truncated heart), have the palpi 

 filiform, but the following have them hatchet-shaped ; — 



Micropepliis, Latr., has the antennae terminated by a solid club, and received into channels of the thorax. M. 

 porcafus, [a minute British species]. 



Proteinus, Latr., has the antennae perfoliated, and thickened towards the tip, but free, and inserted before the 

 eyes. [P. oralis, a common insect found in moss.] 



Aleochara, Grav., has the antenncB inserted between the eyes, or near their lower edge, and free; the thorax is 

 nearly oval, or square, with the angles rounded [A very extensive group of insects, now cut up into a great 

 number of genera and subgenera by Stephens, Erichson, and others.] 



The fifth section, Microcephala, has the head received into the thorax as far as the eyes, not being 

 attached by a neck, nor an evident narrowed space ; the thorax is trapeziform, and enlarged from the 

 front to the hind part ; the body is less elongated than in the preceding, and approaches more an 

 elliptical form ; the head is much narrower, and sharpened in front ; the mandibles of moderate size, 

 without teeth, and simply curved to the jioint ; the elytra, in many, cover more than the half of the 

 abdomen. Some of the species live in fungi, or upon flowers, and others iu dung. 



Lomcchusa, Grav., has no spines to the tibiae ; and the antenna; (often shorter than the head and thorax), after 

 the fourth joint form a perfoliated mass ; and the palpi are tenninated by a hatchet-shaped joint : some have 

 the sides of the thorax not raised. Aleochara bipuncfata, Grav., &c. ; and the others have them elevated : these 

 form Gravenhorst's genus Lomechiisa ; L. paradoxa, &c. 



Tachinus, has the tibiae spiny, the joints of the antennae are pear-shaped, and the palpi filiform. Type, Oxg- 

 jwrus subterraneus, and many other Oxi/pori, Fabr. 



Tachyporits, Grav., is like Tachinus in the tibia; and antennae, but the palpi are terminated by a hatchet-shaped 

 joint. Uxyponis rufipcs, Fabr., Chrysomeliiius, Fabr., and a great many others. 



Vallicerus, Grav., stated by Latreille to be unknown to him, [is oblong depressed; with the last joint of the 

 antennae disi)roportionately long ; the third joint of the maxillary palpi swollen; and the last minute. Type, A". 

 Spencii, K. Curtis, Brit. Etit., pi. J43.J 



Stenosthetus, Meg., and Dej. Cat., must be suppressed, being a true Pselaphus, [or rather an Euplectusl. 



