African and Asiatic Species 0/ Melyris. 173 



insect, as in M. rufwentris. The elytral sculpture is like 

 that of M. quinqueseriata from S. Rhodesia. The red abdo- 

 men separates M. congoensis from M. nobilis, var. viridi- 

 ventris, Pic, which is found in the same region. 



17. Melyris apicalis. 



? Melyris apicalis, Harold, Mittheil. Munch, ent. Ver. ii. p. 106(1878). 



" Viridis vel cyaneo-viridis, pedibus et abdominis apice rufis. 

 L. 7-5-9-0 mm." 



Oblong, broad, convex, dull ; green or brassy green, the 

 flattened elytral interspaces obscure cupreous in one example 

 and tbe entire upper surface blue in another specimen ; the 

 antenna? in about their basal half, trochanters, femora, tibiae, 

 and usually the outer and apical portions of the abdomen to 

 a variable extent in both sexes, rufescent, the tarsi and the 

 rest of the antennas infuscate or black ; fusco-pubescent 

 above, the lower surface with long pallid hairs, the tip of 

 the abdomen fringed with very long blackish hairs, the legs 

 also closely set with short, bristly, blackish hairs ; the head 

 and prothorax densely, minutely punctulate and feebly reti- 

 culate. Head small, narrow, somewhat produced in front; 

 antennas short. Prothorax strongly convex, transverse, 

 arcuately narrowing from the base, obsoletely canaliculate, 

 the hind angles obtuse, the lateral caiiua sharp and feebly 

 sinuate. Elytra wider than the prothorax, moderately elon- 

 gate; alutaceous, sharply tricostate, the interspaces irregu- 

 larly, transversely plicate, and with four or five rows of fine 

 punctures traceable between the ruga?. Legs stout ; tarsal 

 claws with a long curved tooth at about the middle. 



^ . Ventral segment 5 transversely, arcuately depressed 

 in the centre, broadly hollowed at apex, G bi-impressed, 

 emarginate at tip, as is also the corresponding dorsal seg- 

 ment; median lobe of sedeagus broadly subtruncate at apex, 

 as seen in profile, shortly pointed, as seen from the ventral 

 aspect. 



Length 7-10i breadth 3£-4f mm. ( tf ? .) 



Hub. W. and W. Central Africa: InnerGuinea, especially 

 near Kabebe (Pogge and Holuneyer: type); Congo Region — 

 Stanley Falls and Pool (Mus. O.con. : $ ? ), Kitobola, 

 Kisantu, Lemba (Mus. Congo Beige) ; Angola — R. Alta 

 Plana, Huilla, alt. 3800-55(l0'ft. (Welwitsch, in Mus. Brit.), 

 Huilla {ex coll. Fry), Lepi, 380 kilom. from coast, alt. 

 3500 ft. (E. Robins). 



Three specimens from the Stanley Falls or Pool, seven 

 from other portions of the Congo Region, and seventeen 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 9. Vol. iv. 14 



