490 Mr. D. Sharp and Mr. F. Muir on the Comparative 



The Carabid aedeagus consists of a more or less 

 asymmetrical median lobe, with small but very varied 

 lateral lobes attached to the dorsal side of the base of the 

 median lobe, often very asymmetrical and often very much 

 reduced. The basal piece absent, or rather not to be 

 distinguished from the second connecting membrane. 

 Internal sac often complex and well developed, contained 

 in median lobe when invaginated (not passing through 

 median foramen). When withdrawn into abdomen the 

 aedeagus lies on its side. 



The absence of a basal sclerite separates this family 

 from the Cicindelidae. 



Family PAUSSIDAE. 



The form examined appears to be the S. African Ortho- 

 pterus smithi Macl. Our specimen has no locality label. 

 Fig. 41 PI. XLIX. 



Orthoptterus smithi (PI. XLIX fig. 41). 



Median lobe a chitinous curved tube, thinner at distal end than at 

 base ; median foramen as large as the lobe, with the lateral lobes 

 attached to its dorsal edge ; median orifice formed by an asymmetrical 

 slit at distal end, the right edge being produced into a small curved 

 knob, the left into a curved flattened ' point. Right lateral lobe 

 broad, and flattened, reaching to near apex of median lobe, left 

 lateral lobe narrow and slightly shorter ; a small thin sclerite is 

 attached to connecting membrane between the lateral lobes on 

 ventral side (not shown in figure) and appears to be homologous to 

 the basal-piece in Diitiscus. Internal sac fairly large and when 

 evaginated funnel shape. 



This aedeagus is distinctly Caraboid and strongly reminds 

 one of Nebria. If we may judge from a single dissection 

 the family differs from Carabidae by the possession of a 

 scleritic basal-piece. 



Family RHYSODIDAE. 



Form examined is a species from Queensland, not con- 

 tained in the British Museum Collection. It is a large 

 form somewhat resembling the European R. sulcatus. 



Fiir. 36 PI. XLVIIl. 



