African and Asiatic Species r^Melyiis. 17'J 



in c?, and 4 and 5 in $ , rufo-testaceous, as in typical M. 

 nigripes. [Kukurn River, Nyasaland, and Ft. Jameson, 

 N.E. Rhodesia.] 



Hab. E. and Central Africa 2 , Nyasa ' (Mus. Brit., 

 Thelwall, Simons), Blantyre (Dr. J. E. S. Old, Dr. J. B. 

 Davey), Fort Johnston {Dr. W. A. Lamborn), Mombera 

 District and Valley of S. Rukuru River, alt. 3000-4000 ft. 

 (S. A. Neave : vi. 1910), between Ft. Mangoche and Chikala 

 Boma, alt. 4000 ft. (S. A. Neave : iii. 1910), Mamboia (Mus. 

 Brit.), Tabora 3 (G. Revuil, ex coll. Fry), Lualaba River, alt. 

 2500-4000 ft., and Kambove, Katanga, alt. 4000-5000 ft. 

 (S. A. Neave : iii. and vi. 1909) ; Belgian Congo — Bonia- 

 Coqnilhatville, Kasenga, Le Marinel, Shindensa (Mus. Congo 

 Beige) ; Central and S. Angoniland — Dedza District, alt. 

 4000-5000 ft. (S. A. Neave : v. 1910), Tete to Ft. Jameson 

 {S. A. Neave : 10. iii. 1904) ; N. Rhodesia— Fort Jameson 

 to Lnndazi, alt. 4000 ft., and Luwumbu Valley, Upper 

 Luangwe, alt. 2500-3500 ft. (S. A. Neave: vi., vii. 1910), 

 Petauke to E. Lnangwe Valley (S. A. Neave : iii , iv. 1905 : 

 Mus. O.con.), Broken Hill (E. A. Copeman : xi. 1912 — ii. 

 1913), Namaiila near Namwala, and Mwengwa (H. C. Doll- 

 man: 11. iv. 1913, and 1. ii. 1911). 



To judge from the large amount of material before me 

 (300-400 specimens), this is by far the commonest species 

 of the genus in Central Africa. It is recognizable by its 

 elongate shape; the rather sparsely, transversely plicate, 

 rugulose, strongly tricostate elytra, the inferior margins of 

 which are crennlate; the moderately convex, transverse 

 prothorax, with strongly crenulate margins ; and the black 

 hairy legs. The colour of the abdomen is variable, the last 

 three ventral segments being rufescent in typical $ nigripes, 

 specimens of each sex occurring with the terminal t-egments 

 wholly or in part metallic or black, the sixth ventral segment 

 being invariably black in ? . Fresh examples are somewhat 

 thickly clothed witli lung, erect, blackish hairs, which arc 

 easily abraded. In some parts of Nyasaland the form with 

 brassy or coppery elytra ;s dominant; most of those from 

 the Mombera District are uniformly green, while others 

 from Fort Johnston and Blantyre are violaceous or blue, as 

 in specimens labelled type, from Nyasa in the Genoa Museum. 

 The tarsal claws have a long tooth at about the middle. The 

 length varies from 5-10 mm. Two males, from Mombera 

 and Katanga, dissected show a similar genital armature to 

 that of M. bequaerti and M. lemairei, Pic. The Central 

 African M. viridipennis, a specimen of which from the Congo 

 named by its describer has been lent me by M. Schouteden, 



