CLASSIFICATION 6l 



G. Abdomen flexible, and with seven or eight seg- 

 ments visible below Staphylinidae. 



FF. Elytra usually long, covering the greater part of 

 the abdomen ; when short the wings are wanting, or 

 if present are not folded under the short elytra when 

 at rest; the dorsal part of the abdominal segments 

 partly membraneous. 

 G. Hind tarsi five-jointed. 

 H. Antennae elbowed, and clavate. 



I. Elytra truncate behind, leaving two segments 



of the abdomen uncovered Histeridae. 



HH. Antennae rarely elbowed, and then not clavate. 



I. Maxillary palpi as long as or longer than the 

 antennae Hydrophilidae. 



II. Maxillary palpi much shorter than the an- 

 tennae. 



J. Tarsal claws of usual size; ventral abdominal 



segments usually free ; sometimes (Buprestidae) 



the first two are grown together. 



K. Abdomen with only five ventral segments. 



L. Femur joined to the side of the trochanter. 



M. Anterior coxae globular or transverse, 



usually projecting but little from the 



coxal cavtiy. 



N. Anterior coxae globular. 

 O. Prosternum with a process which ex- . 

 tends backward into a groove in the 

 mesosternum. 



P. The first two abdominal segments 

 grown together on the ventral side; 

 Buprestidae. 

 PP. Ventral segments free. 

 Q. Prothorax loosely joined to 

 the mesothorax ; front coxal cav- 

 ities entirely in the prosternum. 

 Elateridae. 

 00. Prosternum without a process 



