73 



INTRODUCTION. 



the banks of ponds or rivers or on the sea-shore, and several 

 species occur considerably below highwater-mark in shingle and 

 seaweed. A large number of all these feed on the various small 

 insects, larvae, pupae, etc. that occur in their habitats, although 

 many (e. <j. the fungus-frequenters) certainly feed on the sub- 

 stances in which they are found. 



A considerable number are found associated with ants, some of 

 these exuding a fluid which is devoured by the ants (Lomechusa, 

 Atemeles, etc.), while others probably act as scavengers ; it is 

 plain, however, that some are by no meaus friends, as they have 

 been observed devouring auts. Velleius is only found associated 

 with hornets. Certain species, such as Ocyjms olens, assume a 

 menacing attitude if disturbed, and a large number have the power 

 of exhaling a strong and disagreeable odour. 



There are some very conspicuous and brilliantly coloured 

 members of the family, but the majority are sombre and un- 

 attractive and have therefore been passed over by collectors in 

 favour of the more conspicuous Lamellicorns, Longicorns, etc. 



The Staph ylinidje are very widely distributed throughout the 

 world, although the family is apparently Holarctic rather than 

 Tropical, and several of the chief genera are cosmopolitan. They 

 have, however, as above remarked, been much neglected, and 

 comparatively little is known of the Indian species. Erichson, in 

 1840, recorded the following genera from India : — Myrmeclonia, 

 Tachinus, Xantholimts, Stdphylinus, Qaeclius, Philonthus, Pcederus, 

 Pinophilus, Osorius, Bledius, Leptochirus, and Palcestrinns, the 

 latter being peculiar to India. In Gemminger and Von Harold's 

 Catalogue (1868) a considerable number of the common European 

 genera are represented by Indian species, many of them being 

 described by Kraatz from Ceylon ; but in Duvivier's Supplement 

 (1883) no further species from the country are added. It is to be 

 feared therefore that it will be a long time before the Staphylintd.ze 

 of India can be dealt with in a monograph, although it is probably 

 rich in species of the family, and a considerable number have more 

 recently been described by Eauvel and others. 



As the different tribes or groups are in so many cases the same 

 as we find in Europe, we need not, and in fact could not, in 

 the present state of our knowledge, go beyond the ordinary 

 classifications. 



The following is Erichson 's classification : — 



I. Prothoracic stigmata conspicuous. 



i. Antennas inserted on the face at the interior 



margin of the eyes Aleocharinje. 



ii. Antennas inserted under the lateral margin of 



the front Tachyporin^e. 



hi. Antennas inserted on the anterior margin of 



the front . . , Staphylinin^:. 



II. Prothoracic stigmata concealed, 

 i. Posterior coxae conical. 



1. Prothorax with the space behind the anterior 



coxae membranous P^ederin^e. 



