Austin.] 4 [October 25, 



they are in some places overlaid by Sillery sandstones; but inasmuch 

 as it now appears that the Sillery is really the lowest member of the 

 Quebec group, it is clear that these crystalline schists must belong to 

 a more ancient series. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. John Cutter, 

 of Charlestown, for the gift of a King Fish (Menticirrus 

 nebulosus Mitch.) from the Merrimack River. This is an 

 exceedingly rare fish in our waters. 



Dr. Kneeland observed that, during the past summer, the 

 Hair-finned Dory (Argyriosus capillaris Mitch.) was taken 

 in abundance near Cohasset, although previously almost un- 

 known north of Cape Cod. 



Section of Entomology, October 25, 1876. 



Mr. E. P. Austin in the chair. Eight persons present. 



The following paper was read : — 



On the Species of Sunius and P^ederus found in the 

 United States. By E. P. Austin. 



Among the Coleoptera of the United States no large group except 

 the Cureulionidse has been so much neglected as the Staphylinidee; 

 although most of the species are very common, yet, owing to their 

 small size and superficial similarity, nearly or quite half of them 

 remain undescribed, and they have been so neglected by collectors 

 that comparatively little is known of the distribution of such as are 

 described. These facts will be a sufficient excuse for the following 

 attempt to arrange the species of the two genera, Sunius and Psede- 

 rus, as well as for the incompleteness of a paper written mainly for 

 the purpose of calling the attention of collectors to this group, in 

 order to accumulate the materials for a complete knowledge of it. 



The species of Sunius may be divided into two groups: the gen- 

 uine Sunii, which constitute the principal part of the genus, in all 

 of which the sculpture of the upper surface of the head and thorax 

 consists of raised lines crossing each other, so as to form lozenge- 



