138 Annals of the South African Museum. 



The metanotum behind the keel is closely, rugosely punctured, 

 more or less reticulated on the sides ; the depressed basal slope 

 smooth and shining ; the part behind the keel is stoutly, irre- 

 gularly, obliquely striated, the striae twisted ; the apical slope is 

 closely, transversely rugose. The transverse keels are interrupted 

 in the middle ; the basal lateral tooth is minute ; the apical 

 prominent, broad ; there is no distinct basal area, it being indicated 

 by two longish, indistinct longitudinal keels. Propleurse closely 

 striated, more strongly in the middle than elsewhere ; the meso- 

 and metapleurae closely rugose, more or less reticulated. Metanotal 

 spiracles about three times longer than wide ; the metapleural keel 

 obsolete. Abdomen shining. Areolet 5-angled, the recurrent 

 nervure received in the middle ; transverse median nervure inter- 

 stitial. 



The (? is similarly coloured, except that the antennae want the 

 white ring, and the base of the petiole is not black ; the face has a 

 rufous mark in the centre ; the red mark on the scutellum is more 

 obscure and the two keels on the base of the metanotum are obsolete. 

 The hind tarsi are not ringed with white, neither wnth the $ nor 

 with the (? . 



Allied to C. capcnsis, Cam., and C. muricatus, Tosq. 



'■^ Cryptus simillimus, sp. nov. 



Black ; the abdomen and legs red ; the sides of the first abdominal 

 segment and the coxae and trochanters black ; w^ings hyaline, the 

 stigma and nervures black ; the wings are iridescent ; the transverse 

 median nervure is received shortly behind the transverse basal ; the 

 stump on the disco-cubital nervure is distinct, longish ; the recurrent 

 nervure is received in the middle. J . 



Length 14-15 mm. ; terebra 5 mm. 



Cape Colony, 



Antennal scape black ; the flagellum absent. Front in the 

 middle closely transversely striated, more strongly above than 

 below ; the sides weakly punctured ; there is no central keel. 

 Ocellar region finely rugose. Face opaque, closely minutely 

 punctured ; the centre clearly separated, raised, depressed below. 

 Clypeus more shining, minutely, distinctly punctured. Palpi black. 

 Pronotal depression smooth in the middle, striated on the sides ; 

 the sides are closely rugosely punctured ; the pleurae stoutly closely 

 striated, the strias twisted in the middle. Meso- and metapleurae 

 coarsely rugosely punctured-reticulated. Mesonotum irregularly 



