96 Transactions SuutJi African rhilosojjJiical Societi/. [vol. xii. 



the anterior part with the outer angles sharp, the lateral part is very 

 diagonally ampliated from the apical angle for one-third of the 

 length, and parallel from there, the base is not very much arcuate, 

 the upper part is convex ; elytra not broader than the prothorax and 

 not quite twice as long, convex, sub-orbicular, edged laterally l:>y 

 a ridge overhanging the outer margin ; epipleura moderately broad ; 

 pygidium sub-vertical but overhung by the elytra ; metasternum 

 produced in a sub-quadrate shape in the middle, and separated from 

 the prosternum by a distinct impressed line, prosternum somewhat 

 broad; legs moderately long, femora swollen, tibiae incurved, 

 especially the posterior ones, the anterior ones have three equi- 

 distant, moderately short, sharp teeth at the upper external part, 

 and are serrulate from the digits to the base, thickened and emar- 

 ginate at tip, and have a short spur, directed slightly outwards 

 not at the inner angle of the thickened part, but midway and 

 close to the insertion of the tarsi, the fourth of which is as long as 

 the four preceding, and armed with a feeble bifid claw, inter- 

 mediate and posterior ones compressed, and dilated at tip, the 

 two apical spurs of the intermediate ones are very small, and 

 those of the posterior ones are wanting ; tarsi moderately long, 

 compressed ; the basal joint shorter than the one following, claws 

 very small. 



Nearly all Epilissiis occur in Madagascar, but the genus is 

 represented in South Africa l)y one species, which is found in 

 decaying vegetable matter, and the sculpture of which seems to 

 differ from that of the Madagascar species. Harold has described 

 one species from Brazil. 



Epilissus subtilis, Boheni., 

 Insect. Caffrar., ii., p. 201. 



Piceous red, with the edges of the clypeus, the palpi, the antennae, 

 with the exception of the club, and the legs reddish brown, glabrous ; 

 head a little depressed in the middle in the anterior part, and 

 covered with round, shallow punctures set moderately closely to one 

 another; prothorax deeply sinuate at middle in the anterior part,. and 

 with the outer angles sharp, diagonally attenuate laterally towards 

 the anterior angle for about one-third of the length, but the other 

 two-thirds are straight, the base is not much arcuate in the middle, 

 but the outer angles are much rounded ; it is convex, and covered 

 with oblong punctures enclosing a smaller one and set moderately 

 close to one another; elytra sub-or])icular, convex, a little dehiscent 

 behind from about the middle, smooth and having impunctate 



