DESCRIPTIONS OF MALACODEUMATA 593 



tly to do) some account of the Eastern species of this section I 

 shall give my views on the general classification. 



Genus Silis. 



1. Silis deustus, Reiche, Ferret et Gahn; Yoy. Abyss. 1850, 

 p. 287, t. 17, f. 6 (Tekphorus). 



Hab. Abyssinia, Bogos: Ansaba {Beccavi). 



Two specimens appear to me referable to this species, but the 

 elytra are not so evidently costate as the figure would lead me 

 to expect. The antennae of the male are as long as the body. 



2. Silis scioensis, n. sp. 



Niger J suhnitidus, elylris flavo-och'aceis^ opacis, tenuiter piihe- 

 scentihus, creberrime obsolete punctatis^ prothorace postice fossulato. 

 Long. 8-10 millim. J^ 9 • 



Mas, antennis quam corpus paulo brevioribus, prothorace sub- 

 orbiculato, margine laterali in medio plicato-interrupto; abdominis 

 segmento ultimo veritrali fisso, dorsali bilobato. 



Femina, nitidior, antenìiis brevioribus; prothorax transversus, 

 abdominis segmeiito ultimo ventrali utrinque impresso, medio ca- 

 naliculato. 



Hab. Abyssinia, Scioa: Let-Marefia {Antinori). 



This species will be easily recognised by the black body with 

 ochreous yellow elytra, the only other parts which are not black 

 being the pitchy red mandibles, and in some specimens the 

 apical segment of the abdomen is yellowish or fuscous. In the 

 male the thorax is very slightly transverse, without front or 

 hind angles; but with a distinctly reflexed margin, which in 

 the middle has a very small crease , not giving a distinct notch. 

 In the female this crease , or fold of the margin may still be 

 traced , but very faintly and is seen to arise from the basal half 

 of the margin taking its origin from beneath and independently 

 of the upper half. The eyes of the male are more prominent 

 than those of the female; the fossa on the thorax is nearly 

 equally distinct in both sexes, and the claws are simple. 



Ann. del Mus. Civ. di St. Nat. Vol. XVIII. (15 Febbraio 1883). 38 



