444 



paussidx. 



PAUSSIl^E. 



Structure. 



Form rectangular, longer or shorter, usually more or less de- 

 pressed, but sometimes very convex, rarely subcylindrical ; size 

 very variable. 



Head variable in shape, usually narrower than the pronotum, 

 sometimes very short, small, and transverse, sometimes large, 

 more or less hexagonal, and much produced before the eyes. 

 Eyes sometimes large and prominent, occupying practically the 

 whole of the sides of the head, sometimes comparatively small 

 and scarcely at all prominent ; temples usually, but not always, 

 more or less visible behind the eyes. Antennae inserted on the 

 front, under the frontal ridge (if it is present), extremely variable 

 and abnormal, with from two to eleven joints. Labium trans- 

 verse, subquadrangular, or spoon-shaped, sometimes subtrian- 

 gular, with the anterior margin truncate, subtruncate, or more 

 or less emarginate ; paraglossia wanting, or scarcely traceable. 

 Mandibles short, stout, and curved, almost always unidentate. 

 Maxillce very variable, the external lobe being often wanting, and 

 even when present as a rule very narrow and sometimes styliform ; 

 it is in some cases reduced to a prominence or a tooth. Maxillary 

 and labial palpi very variable and affording tribal and generic 

 distinctions ; these will be treated of below under the various 

 headings of the divisions of the family. 



Pronotum also extremely variable, and affording in certain cases 

 generic distinctions, sometimes simple, sometimes more or less 

 divided by a furrow, and in the case of the genus Paussus often 

 completely divided by a large transverse excavation, which is in 

 many cases furnished at the sides with tufts of yellow pubescence. 

 The latter appear to be secretory and to have some connection 

 with the myrmecophilous habits of the species. Mesonotum : a 

 small triangular scutellum is visible which is very rarely absent. 

 The prosternum has the episterna large, but the epimera very small 

 and obsolete. Mesosternum transverse, with the episterna well 

 marked, but with the epimera scarcely traceable. Metasternum 

 usually large, but shorter in some genera than in others, with the 

 episterna large and variable, usually in the form of an elongate 

 triangle, visible along the whole length, or partly hidden by the 

 epipleurae of the elytra ; epimera very small and almost always 

 completely hidden by the elytra. 



Elytra oblong, more or less rectangular, rarely subcylindrical, 

 never dehiscent, and usually leaving the pygidium uncovered; the 

 sculpture is usually very fine ; the shoulders are often well marked 



