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ORDEE—COLEOPTERA. SECTION—PENTAMERA.
SPECIES 1 (77)—SCAPTOBIUS CiVFFEB,.
PLATE X, PIG. 8.
Niger, obscurus, cicatricoso-pimctatus ; protlioracis Literibus in medio angulatis et pone medium cmai'-
ginatis, angnlis postieis subspinosisj disco postice convexo ; elytris obtuse tricarinatis, carinis iniequalibus, mterstitiis
lineolis arcuatis striolatis ; tarsis 5-articulatis \
Long. corp. lin. 4 ^5.
Habitat ; Cape of Good Hope, Caffraria. In Mus. Hopeiano Oxoniie, &c.
STN. : Scaptobius Cqfer. Schaum, in Germar Zeitsclir. iii. p. 262 ; Burmeister, Plandb. iii. p. 672.
This species is at once distinguished by the peenliar form of its protborax, wbieb is strongly angulated in
the middle of each side, the lateral margin behind the angle being suddenly narrowed and emarginate. The
hind angles are slightly incised, and there is a small impression running obliquely from the incision on eachside.
The middle of the head between the eyes is raised obtusely. The maxillas (pi. X, fig. 8) are armed mt h
two strong acute teeth; and the mentum (8d, underside of head; Be, ditto seen sideways) is produced behind
into a strong deflexed conical point.
SPECIES 2 (78)—SCAPTOBIUS CAPEIiSIS.
PLATE X, FIG. 6.
Oblongo-ovatns, fnsco-niger obscnrus ; clypeo rotundato, e vertice impressione curvata sej aneto ; prothorace
transverso kteribus rotrmdatis dorso granulato, extrorsum longitudinaliter aciculato, medio obsolete silicato, basi
utrincpie impressa, angulis posticis acutis et profunde incisis ; scutello crebre punctato ; elytris depressis, triplici
serie tuberculatis luteoque setosis ; tarsis 4-articulatis.
Long. corp. lin. 5 | {9^II|- mill.) ; lat. lin. 3 i (4Ì-51 mill.)
H a b i t a t ; Caffraria tot a passim. In iSTus. Hopeiano Osoniie, &c.
STN. : Gremastocheihis capensis. Gory et Perch. Mon. Get. 117, 13,
p. 63.
XVI, fig. 6; Schaum, A'erz. Lam. Melit.
Scaptobius capensis. Burmeister, Handb. iii. p. 672, i ; Boheman, Ins. Caffr. pars ii. p. 53; Scliaum,
Zeitachr. iii. 262 ; Ann. Soo. Ent. France, 1843, p. 53.
The maxilliB (pi. X, fig. 6 a) have the apex of the mando transverse, with the extremity obliquely truncate ;
the galea is cm-ved and acute. The mentum is broader than long (fig. 6Ò, seen within) ; the fore angles are
rounded off, the sides below the insertion of the labial palpi are slightly widened, and the base is externally
produced into a conical point. The anterior tibiie have three obtuse teetlr, and the tarsi are 4-jointed (fig. 6 d).
SPECIES 3 (79)—SCAPTOBIUS PENTAETHEIUS.
PLATE X, FIG. 7.
Priecedeiiti {Sc. capensi) omnino simillimus at paidlo major ; tarsis omnibus 5-articulatis (fig. 7 a) ; abdomine
subtus articulis omnibus convexis, quinto ad basin transverse depresso, minus tamen quam in specie praicedente.
An ejus sexus alter ? an fcemina ?
Habitat ; Port Natal. In Mus. Parry, &c.
SYN. : Scaptobius pentartlirius. Westw. MS ; Harold et Gemmingcr, Cat. Col. p. 1337.
I n this and the preceding species (if, indeed, they be distinct), the mentum completely covers the under
surface of the head, the point in the middle of its hinder margin exactly fitting the curve of the anterior coxie
> Dr. Burmeister states (Handb. ubi supra cit.), that 'in Herrn Hope's Sammhmg sab ioli Indiyiduen mit yier 111^
mit fiinf Fuss-glicdern.' The specimen with 4-jointed tarsi, to Tvhich Dr. Burmeister alludes, st.Il bears tlie label ft.
Caffer ? Burm.° and is certainly a specimen of G. oapensis.
F A M I L Y - C E T O N I I D Ì E . SUB-FAMILY—CREMASTOCIIEILIDES.
when at rest. On raising it a little, however, the short setose prosternai point is seen distinctly in front of the
anterior coxffi. I allude to this because Dr. Burmeister expressly says of the genus, ' das Prosternum ohne Zapfen
(Op. cit. p. 671).
SPECIES 4 (80)-SCAPTOBIUS ACICULATUS.
PLATE X, Fic. 10.
Niger; thorace transverso, lateribus rotundatis, postice utrinque profunde inciso ; elytris aciculatis obsolete
bicostatis.
Long. corp. 9 mill. (4 lin.)
Habitat ; Cape of Good Hope et Port Natal. In Mus. Hopeiano Oxonia;, D. Buqnet, &o.
Sra. : SoaptoHus aciculatus. Schaum, in Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 2nd Ser. tom, ii. 1844, P- 420 ; 1845, p. S3-
Scaptobius obsciiratus. Westw. MS. olim.
Scaptobius variolosus. Mus. Berol.
Ma-nitndine et statura Sc. capensi simillimus et thorace ut in hoc formato; elytris brevioribus aciculatis,
obsolete "bicostatis; omnino tamen distinctus. Corpus totum nigrum parce breviter setosiim. Caput dense
punctatum ; clypeo carina transversa obsoleta a fronte sejuncto. Thorax transversus lateribus valde rotundatis,
antice profunde emarginatus, angulis anticis productis; posticis acntis, incisura profunda e niargme posteriore
seiunctis; supra punctatissimus, postice medio obsolete impressus. Elytra subquadrata, longitudinaliter aciculatoriigulosa,
plana, sutura costisque duabus in singulo obsolete elevatis. Pygidium apice carina brevi instructum.
Cm-pus subtus cum pedibus nigrum. Tarsi omnes in individuo viso 5-ai-ticulati. ^
From information given to me by Dr. Schaum (in litt. 9 Feb. 184-7), it is evident that the insect to which
I had o-iven the MS. name of Scaptobius ohscuraUs is identical in all respects with the t j ^ e of acicnlaUs described
by Dr. 'schaum in the Collection of M. Buquet, having been compared together by Dr. Aubé ; the term • punc t a -
tissimus,' however, employed in the description, is erroneous, as the insect has the thorax not punctured at all.
SPECIES 5 (81) -SCAPT0BIUS NATALENSIS.
PLATE X, FIG. 9.
Ovatus,niger, opacus; prothorace transverso, confertim granulato, basi utrinque leviter impressa, postice ad
ángulos profunde emarginato, angulis acutis ; elytris obsolete punctatis, singulo in dorso bicostato.
Long. corp. 8-8-5-mill. ; lat. 5 - 5 | mill.
Habitat ; Port Natal. In Mus. Berol.
SYN. : Scaptobius iTatalensis. West,Y. MS ; Schaum, Verz. Lam. Melit. p. 64 ; Boheman, Ins. Caffr. pars ii. p. 53-
So capensi affinis sed nonnihil brevier et latior, prothorace posterius magis angustato, utrinque basi leviter
impresso, subtilius punctato ; elytris obsolete punctatis, singulo legator bicostato. Caput nigrum, subopacimi
subtiliter crebre punctatum; clypeo apice subrotundato leviter reflexo marginato. Oculi parvi parum convey
nigi-i Antennre nigrin. Protborax latitudine multo brevier apice truncatus, lateribus pone apicem valde
rotundato-ampliatus, dein subito angustatus, basi rotundato-productus, medio ^dx emarginatus, utrmque ad
ángulos profunde emarginatus, angulis retrorsum productis; parum convexus niger opacus, subtiliter crebre
rngoso-granulatus, basi^itrinque leviter impressus. Scntellum triangulare, nigrum, opacum crebre punctulatum.
Elytra prothorace latiora et duplo longiora, bumeris rotundatis obtusis ; pone humeros sinuata, dem vix
angustata, apice conjiinctim late rotundata, obtusa, in dorso subplana, nigra, subopaca, obsolete punctata, singulo
costis duabus parum elevatis instructo; corpus subtus nigrum opacum obsolete punctatum. Pedes nigri opaci
obsolete punctati. , , , . , ,, .
A specimen in the Collection of Major P. J. Parry, from Natal, which I regard as belonging to this species,
is much broader, less flattened (and consequently thicker) than acieulatns. It is 5i lines long; the head is
more quadrate in front, the front margin being slightly emarginate in the middle, as well as ra her reflexed ;
the prothorax is slightly wider and shorter, the disc is less strongly granulose, but thick y clothed with luteons
short setose scales ; its greatest width is rather m advance of the middle of its length, and the laterally produced
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