MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY 185 



legs formed for walking, anterior pair with elongate 

 coxae ; antennae usually moniliform, slightly thick- 

 ened at tip. Voracious, living on decaying animal 

 and vegetable matter. 



26. Family. — True Rove-Beetles (Staphylinidae). 



Antennae short, stout, inserted between the 

 eyes ; maxillary palpi short, filiform ; labrum 

 mostly with a deep notch in front ; head ex- 

 serted, neck distinct ; thorax quadrate or 

 sub-ovate ; body elongate ; elytra moderate ; 

 tibiae spinose. Usually found under dead 

 leaves, stones, or dung. 



27. Family. — Large-eyed Rove-Beetles (Stenidae). 



Antennae sub-filiform ; mandibles long, acute, 

 sharply toothed internally; maxillary palpi 

 long, clavate, apical joint minute ; labrum 

 entire ; eyes usually very large ; head large, 

 exserted, with a short neck ; thorax rounded, 

 heart-shaped, or globose; tibiae simple. Inha- 

 bit damp situations ; run with great agility. 



28. Family. — Burrowing Rove-Beetles (Oxytelidae). 



Antennae thickened towards apex ; maxillary 

 palpi short ; apical joint distinct ; labrum en- 

 tire ; head exserted ; neck distinct ; thorax 

 mostly heart-shaped ; body linear ; anterior 

 tibiae spinose or toothed on outer margin. 

 Burrow underground, under dung, or form 

 galleries in rotten bark. 



29. Family. — Broad-bodied Rove-Beetles (Omaliidae). 



Antennae rather short, thickened at tip, rarely 

 filiform; maxillary palpi short, apical joint 



