56J: Transactions South African Philosophical Society, [vol. xii. 



mediate and posterior tibiae instead of one. The claws are equal 

 only in the genus Phcenomeris where they are also dentate under- 

 neath in the four anterior legs in the manner of many Melolonthinje. 

 With the Dynastin^e they are connected by the position of the 

 spiracles which is nearly similar. The foi'm of the punctate 

 striation on the elytra of many species of Anomala is somewhat 

 similar to that found in many species of Dynastixje. 



Most of the South African Rutelix.e are nocturnal or crepuscular ; 

 only a few are found on flowers in daytime. They remain mostly 

 hidden in the foliage during the day, but I have found some Adorctus 

 buried under a thin layer of earth at the foot of trees during the 

 daytime. The specific study of the African species is extremely 

 difficult, with a few exceptions in the genus PopilUa and kindred 

 genera, and on that account I have found a comparison of the genital 

 armature of the male most useful, not only for discx'iminating between 

 South African species, but also between those from other African 

 localities. 



In South Africa we have two aberrant forms ; one has been already 

 mentioned — i.e., Phcenomeris — but Isoplia is perhaps still more ab- 

 normal owing to its adaptation to a floral life. In that way it has 

 acquired characters not unlike those found among the HctcrocJiilus 

 of the Sub-Family Hopliin^, and, as in many of the latter, the upper 

 lobe of the maxillae has a pencil of hairs. This is the only instance 

 known to me among the RuTELiNiE. 



The South African species and genei'a are divided into four Tribes. 



Labrum vertical, greatly developed, antennffi ten-jointed ; man- 

 dibles convex, hollowed inwardly, sharply acuminate and falcate at 

 tip, narrowly pubescent along the basal part only of the inner edge ; 

 elytra without membranaceous epipleura ; antennse ten-jointed . . Adoretini. 



Labrum nearly horizontal, short, not projecting beyond the 

 clypeus ; mandibles plane underneath, not much hooked at the 

 tip, and pubescent along the whole inner edge; elytra with 

 membranaceous epipleura; antennae nine-jointed; anterior coxee 

 transverse ; mesosternal epimera not pi'ojecting ; claws of the tarsi 

 often incised except the posterior ones Axomalini. 



Labrum quite horizontal, continued in a line with the clypeus ; 

 mandibles plane ; elytra without membranaceous epipleura ; 

 antennte nine-jointed, anterior coxae longitudinal ; mesosternal 

 epimera projecting; all claws simple Isopliini. 



Labrum horizontal, projecting much beyond the clypeus ; man- 

 dibles plane ; elytra without membranaceous epipleura ; antennae 

 ten-jointed, anterior coxae longitudinal ; mesosternal epimera pro- 

 jecting; claws of the four anterior tarsi with a curved median tooth 

 underneath Phcenomerini. 



