SHORT -WINGED SCAVENGER-BEETLES. 
75 
under, and lcuptos—hent, in allusion to their habit of bending the head 
under the body, which, together with their convex form, gives them the 
appearance ot little globes or balls, much like the genus Agathidium 
referred to above in the family Auisotomidm, and also like Gyroplnena 
in the preceding sub-family of Aleocharides, but in the last the effect is 
produced in a different manner. The genus Coproporus, Kraatz, does 
not seem to be sufficiently distinct from Tacliyporus, nor Byroporus 
from Boletobius, to render the formation of these genera necessary. 
Sub-family OMALIIDES. 
Founded upon the genus OmaUum, Grav., from the Greek omalos— 
level, on account of the comparatively broad and depressed torm of most 
ot the species. Their most essential character is the presence of two 
ocelli, resembling minute glass beads, on the back part of their heads— 
a chaiacter peculiar to this sub-family, with but two or three known ex- 
ceptions. But their most conspicuous character is the comparatively 
greater length of the elytra, which also has a few exceptions. The large 
depiessed elytra give to some of these insects an obvious resemblance 
to the Nitiduhe, in the preceding tribe ; but in these only the tip of the 
abdomen is usually exposed, and their knobbed antenme at once distin- 
guish them from any of the Staphylinidae. The species of the present 
sub-family are of obscure brown or yellowish colors, and small size, 
nei ei attaining a quarter of an inch in length, and often being less than 
an eighth, i heir habits are various, some being found in wet places, 
under stones, or under decayed bark, whilst others are found on plants 
and llowers, and Mr. Walsh bred some of them from fungi. 
Upwards of fifty X. A. species have been described, most of which are 
contained in the following genera : 
A. Mandibles toothed ; bead entirely free ; thorax heart-shaped, narrow bohind. 
B. Last joint of palpi throe times as long ns the preceding Lf.steva. 
B B. Lost joint of palpi not elongated . . . . ’ .Anthoehaqus. 
A A. Mandibles simple; head partly inserted ; thorax not narrowed behind. 
C. Hind tarsi moderately elongated ; elytra covering the greater part of the abdomen ; tibar not 
spinous... OLoi-HRua. 
C C. Hind tarsi short, tlio four first joints combined not longer than the fifth. 
n. Tibiro finally spinous ; elytra covering about half of abdomen OMAUUM. 
D D. Tibife not spinous ; elytra almost or quite covering abdomen Asmioimm. 
Anthophagus , Grav., scarcely differs generically from Lesteva, Latr. ; 
but their habits are different — the former being found on flowers, and 
the latter amongst wet herbage, near the water. They are easily dis- 
tinguished from all other Staphylinidae by the heart-shaped thorax, 
xvliich, together with the free head and prominent eyes, gives them a 
remarkable resemblance to some of the smaller Carabid®. There is a 
small yellowish species in the Walsh cabinet, labeled “ AntlioUum pro- 
tection, LeO., from Mass.,” in which the abdomen is completely covered 
by the elytra. 
