368 Mr. G. C. Champion on 



Dr. Marshall's collection, and two others found by Mr. 

 R. E. Turner at Mossel Bay in September 1921. 



Pagurodactylus. 



Pagurodaclijlus Gorham, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) v, 

 p. 78 (1900). 



This genus, type P. vitticejjs from Natal, its Dasytiform 

 facies notwithstanding, was referred by Gorham to the 

 Malachiidae, and he called attention to the unequal anterior 

 tarsal claws of the ^ as a character not hitherto known in 

 that group. Pagurodactylus, however, wants the extensible 

 lateral vesicles of the prothorax and abdomen, and must 

 therefore be removed to the Dasytinae, one well-known 

 European genus at least, Danacaea, having unequal tarsal 

 claws in the two sexes. The male only of P. vitticeps was 

 known to Gorham ; the P has slender, basally-subangulate, 

 equal tarsal claws, very similar to the lower one of the 

 anterior pair in (^. In this sex, moreover, the anterior 

 tarsi are more or less thickened, with joints 1-3 obliquely 

 produced at the apex (2 sometimes dentiform) in the 

 typical forms, and 5, at least, nigro-setidose beneath, these 

 short spinules or setae forming a sort of brush. The 

 S. African forms here placed under Pagurodadylus diiier 

 greatly inter se in their general facies, the shape of the head, 

 etc. ; but they all possess the above-mentioned (^ tarsal 

 characters, which are sufficient to separate them from 

 Dasytes, even in the wide sense adopted by European 

 writers. Most of these insects have a short epipleural fold 

 to the elytra, this being elongated in P. angustissimus Pic, 

 but the dividing ridge is sometimes obsolete. The denti- 

 form second tarsal joint and the elongated upper anterior 

 tarsal claw together form a powerful grasping-organ in 

 the J(^ of P. fihidalus, etc. 



The terminal joint of tlie maxillary palpi is narrow, 

 rather short, pointed at the tip. 



The following table, based upon the (^(^ only, will serve in 

 most cases to identify the $$ also.* 



1 (18). Head not or moderately rostrate. 



2 (13). Upper surface pilose or with intermixed 



longer hairs or setae. 



* 5? only known of P. Itigcns (No. 6) and fiavucinct us (No. 11). 



