1900.] Catalogue of the Colcoptcra of South Africa. 311 



well-defined, sub-basal, longitudinal line, and separated from the 

 raesosternum by a distinctly impressed, transverse line, mesosternum 

 having a smooth, median, slightly raised space, broad, and in the 

 shape of a truncated pyramid ; anterior legs very strongly tridentate 

 outwardly, and having a long, tbin inner spur, intermediate and 

 posterior ones pluri-dentate outwardly. 



The sexual differences are found in the armature of the head and 

 of the thorax in the male, liut there is another one which holds good 

 for the South African species with the exception of H. gigas : i.e., in 

 the male the apical outer spine of the fore-tibiye is less curved out- 

 wardly than in the female, is truncate at tip, and is often provided 

 there with a vei'tical spine or mucro, which is the continuation of the 

 upper carina. 



The genus is represented in Asia, but the greatest number of 

 species are found in Africa. 



Like Catharsius and Copris they produce a feeble stridulating 

 noise by rubbing the propygidium against the elytra. 



They are the largest of Copkin^ and they are far from rare in 

 some localities. The late Dr. Bradshaw told me that when on the 

 Zambesi River (Victoria Falls) and neighbourhood, he w^as in the 

 habit of digging them out in kaffir cattle kraals, where they were 

 found in plenty. 



I have received a ball made by H.-pirmal, and containing a 

 withered pupa. This ball, which was found on the banks of the 

 Vaal River, is a perfect sphere, 88 mm. in diameter ; there is round 

 the cavity a coating of vegetable matter 11 mm. thick ; covering this 

 herbaceous zone there is another coating of hardened reddish ground 

 forming the outer rind, and the outer part of it has been thoroughly 

 well masoned by the clypeus and rake, or trowel-like forelegs, of 

 the parents, and it bears their distinct imprint ; on one side there 

 is a round spot, not covered with clay, and filled with herbaceous 

 matter which, on a section of the " ball " being made, is seen to pass 

 through the layer of earth, and abut in the cavity. This tunnel is 

 the weak part of the sphere, which the imago attacks in order to 

 break loose when the summer rains have sufScientl}' relaxed or 

 softened this way of exit. 



I have received two male examples of HcUocopris gigas found 

 dead in the veldt, and brought to me with the cephalic and thoracic 

 horns still locked. One of the examples had been overturned and 

 was lying belly uppermost. I have also been told that other Helio- 

 copris have been found in situ, in the same position. 



The shape of the valves of the penis, which are almost symme- 

 trical, is of two sorts ; they are either moderately curved at apex 



