270 [December, 



posterior tarsi excepted) ; anterior tarsi sleuder ; tibial spurs short ; peiiultiniate 

 joint of the anterior and intermediate tarsi rather broadly, that of the posterior 

 tarsi very feebly, lobed. Aedeacriis narrowly produced at the tip, the latter 

 slightly thickened when seen in profile. Length -if, breadth If mm. 



Hab. : New South Wales, Stanwell Park iu the Syduey district 

 (J. J. Walker: iii.1900). 



Oue male, iu good condition. A comparatively short, broad form, 

 with rather long, coarse pubescence, large eves, short, stout antennae, and 

 the entire upper surface coarsely punctate. It is not very closely allied 

 to any species of the genus known to me, and might easily be mistaken 

 for a Cistelid. The eyes are less deejily emai-ginate than in the Australian 

 S. j^icturata and S. lumdaia, this latter also having a long third joint to 

 the antennae. 



BlOPHrDA. 



BiopMda Pascoe, Journ. Ent., i, p. 53 (1860). 



This genus was based upon a single species, B. unicoJor, from 

 Natal, and provisionally referred by its describer to Melandryidae, the 

 very close affinity with Scraptia not being suspected. In Pic's Cata- 

 logue of the Scraptiidae (1911), BiopMda is assigned to its proper 

 position. Certain discrepancies between Pascoe's 'description and 

 figure* requiring verification, the mouth-parts of a specimen of 

 B. unicolor have been dissected out for study, and the following 

 emendations or additions to his diagnosis become necessary : — Labial 

 palpi with an extremely broad, securiform apical joint, the spongy 

 apical face hollowed, and about one-half longer than the inner or outer 

 sides ; ligula large, broad, membranous, widely cleft down the middle ; 

 mandibles feebly emarginate at the tip ; apical joint of maxillary palpi 

 long, cultriform. The toothed tarsal claws separate Biophida from 

 Scraptia. Three other species from E. Africa are now added, and 

 Scraptia nigrolimbafa Pic also belongs here. B. minor Pic, from 

 Natal, is referred to a separate genus, infra. 



1. — Biophida unicolor. 

 (Plate VII, figs. 12, 12a, mouth-parts.) 

 Biophida unicolor Pasc, loc. cit., p. 54, pi. 3, fig. 4. 

 Hah. : S. E. Africa, Natal ; E. Africa, Eogoro in the Kikuyu 

 Forest (C. S. Betton: 1899), South of Lake George, Uganda, alt. 

 3,200 ft. {8. A. Neave). 



* Tlie labial ijalpi described as "filiform " are figured with a broad, cultrifonn apical joint. 



