1881.J COLEOPTERA OF SOCOTRA. 477 



towards the apex. Inner lobe of the maxilla terminating in aiiorny 

 hook ; the palpi moderately large, the apical joint strongly securi- 

 form. The mandibles emarginate at their apex. Labrum transverse, 

 projecting and exposed, entire. Head imbedded in the thorax as 

 far as the eyes : the epistoma separated from the forehead on 

 each side by a fine line, the front margin emarginate. Eyes mode- 

 rately transverse, the canthus half dividing them ; the upper and 

 lower parts nearly equal. Antennae rather short ; the second joint 

 a little longer than broad ; the third twice as long as the second ; 

 the fourth a little longer than the second ; the fifth and sixth 

 shorter ; the seventh as long as broad, very narrow at its base, very 

 broad at the apex ; the eighth nearly an equilateral triangle ; the 

 ninth and tenth very transversely cup-shaped ; the eleventh nearly 

 as broad as the tenth joint, flat, somewhat circular in outline. 

 Thorax as in Alphitobius, but more convex and with the lateral 

 margins slightlj' impressed. Elytra very convex, very little broader 

 than the thorax, very little longer than broad, descending at the 

 apex, strongly striated, the epipleural fold rather broad at the base, 

 gradually narrowed posteriorly, terminating suddenly a little way 

 from the apex. Legs slightly rough and finely pubescent; the tarsi 

 clothed beneath with close fine hair : the anterior tibiae more linear 

 than in Alphitobius. Anterior coxfe slightly transverse. Pro- 

 sternum arched between the coxse, very slightly produced posteriorly. 

 Mesosternum sloping and gently concave. JMetasternum short. 

 Body above not pubescent. Wings none. 



I have great difficulty in placing this genus ; but, on the whole, 

 it seems best arranged near Alphitobius, although its broader and 

 convex form give it a different appearance ; the tibise are more linear 

 than in that genus, and the whole legs more punctured and pubescent. 

 The under flanks of the thorax are concave as in Crypticus quisquilius, 

 but it has not the long slender legs as in that insect. It is apterous : 

 a character which is hitherto foreign to the Ulomince, but which I do 

 not consider a fatal bar to its being placed in that subfamily. 



11. Apithesis obesa, n. sp. (Plate XLIII. fig. 4.) 



Breviter oblongo-ovata, convexa, nigro-picea, sat opaca; thorace 

 crebre punctulato, bast marginato, utrinque tinea brevijuxta basin 

 et ad eamparallela, elytris thorace paulo latioribus sicut inflatis, 

 fortiter striatis, interstitiis crebre subtiliter punctulatis. 



Long. Sj lin. 



Head closely and rather strongly punctured : clypeus very closely 

 and more finely punctured, oblique at the sides, emarginate in front, 

 the margin pitchy. Thorax convex, twice as broad as its length in 

 the middle, gradually arcuately narrowed from the base to the front ; 

 moderately thickly, evenly, finely, but distinctly punctured ; the 

 sides narrowly impressed above, very delicately margined ; the pos- 

 terior angles slightly acute ; the base rather strongly sinuate on each 

 side, finely margined ; on each side, almost on the margin, is an 

 abbreviated impressed line, particularly visible when viewed from 

 behind. Elytra at the base as broad as the thorax, a little wider 



