454 Transactions SoutJi African Pliilosophical Society, [vol. xii. 



lanceolate, and is thus a form of transition between Phoberus and 

 Omorgus. 



The identification of the South African species is extremely difficult 

 owing to the sculpture of the teguments being so very much alike ; 

 this difficulty is enhanced by the great variation in size of some of 

 the examples, but the shape of the genital armature of the male gives 

 a very good key to the identification. I regret that I was not able 

 to have all of them figured, but I have endeavoured to give a com- 

 parative description of the non-figured ones. I am quite satisfied, 

 from the experience I have gained, that most of the closely aUied 

 African forms can be easily identified by means of these organs. 



The species found in South Africa are not all winged {nanniscns, 

 horridus, nasiUus). They stridulate feebly when captured. They 

 are found, sometimes in great number, under partially dried 

 carcases or skins of animals, and I have found no fewer than 

 three species together in the western part of the Cape Colony. 

 The range of some of the species in Africa is very great. The 

 wingless species have naturally a much restricted area of dis- 

 tribution, being confined, so far as I know, to the western part 

 of the Cape Colony. 



The genus is represented in Europe, America, Asia, Australia, and 

 Africa. 



Keif to tJie Species. 



k". Mesosternum and metasternum projecting between the 

 intermediate coxte. 

 B-. Scutellum not narrowed at base, triangular or ogival. 

 C"-. Intermediate and posterior tibiaj witli five rows of stiff 

 ciliffi, and not denticulate (Phobcnis). 

 D'. Head with two transverse carinas and a median longi- 

 tudinal one. 

 a-. Elytra with four costre or series of tubercles. 

 b-. Elytra with four nearly continuous sharp costse. 



Clypeus sharply acuminate, head with a median 



carina reaching the apex of the clypeus . . . . rlnjparoidcs. 



Clypeus not sharply acuminate, head without the 

 median carina . . talpa. 



b'. Elytra with four rows of penicillate tubercles. 

 C-. Anterior tibiae serrate above the basal tooth. 

 d-. Wings under the elytra. 



Clypeus slightly bifid at tip; elytra sub-parallel, tufts 



of hairs dense, black fasciculi avis. 



d'-. No wings under the elytra. 



