454 Mr. A. Murray on Coleoptera from Old Calabar. 



the middle of each segment of the abdomen. The segments 

 also show depressions along the sides. The legs are ferruginous- 

 brown. 



I have named this interesting species in honour of my es- 

 teemed correspondent, M. Obert, of the corps of Cadets, Paulow, 

 St. Petersburgh. 



OcHYROPUs, Schiodte. 



Prof. Lacordaire disallows this genus, not considering it suffi- 

 ciently distinct from Scarites, tlie only differential characters 

 given being, that the second joint of the labial palpi is enlarged 

 on the inner side and prolonged at its anterior internal angle, 

 that the mandibles are toothed in their whole length, and that 

 the last joint of the tarsi is of the length of the preceding joints 

 united. The last of these characters is incorrect; the last joint, 

 although long, not being so long as represented, and scarcely 

 longer than that in other species of Scarites. The second cha- 

 racter is wholly unimportant, even although it were not found 

 in other species of Scarites (which it is). But the' first is of 

 more value : the first joint of the labial palpi is long, broad and 

 flat, prolonged inwards at its anterior angle, and strongly ciliated 

 on its inner side, so that it seems to be almost a second maxilla, 

 and no doubt serves the purpose of such. This seems a sufficiently 

 important character to justify us in retaining the genus as di- 

 stinct, the rather that the fades of the insect is somewhat different 

 from that of Scarites. Its thorax is narrowed in front more 

 than in any other species, and its form is deeper. 



1. 0. gigas, Schiodte in Kroyer Naturhist. Tidsk. ser. 2. ii. 

 p. 350. tab. 4. 



Grandis, niger, nitidus ; mandibulis fortiter dentatis, supra bi- 

 carinatis, capite longioribus ; capite foveis duabus elougatis 

 postice convergentibus, fronte impresso, postice lateribus 

 sparsim punctato, vertice impunctato ; tborace antice angus- 

 tato, marginato, linea punctorum ad margineiu et pluribus ad 

 angulos anteriores impresso, margine exciso ante medium ; 

 elytris parallelis, substriatis, interstitio secundo, quarto et 

 sexto sparsim et irregulariter, leviter sed distincte punctatis; 

 crinibus ferrugineis sat lougis ex punctis, tam capite quam 

 thorace et elytris orientibus; subtus minus nitidus; tarsis 

 robustis, articulo ultimo elongato. 



Long. 24 lin., lat. 7 lin. 



