1897.] PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTEEA OJP AFRICA. 557 



metatarsus of the posterior legs very elongate, the second joint 

 but little shorter, third joint very small, claws appendiculate ; the 

 presternum narrowly elongate, the anterior cavities open ; the first 

 abdominal segment very long. 



The genus here proposed is one of the most remarkable amongst 

 the whole tribe of Halticiace, no similar structural peculiarity in 

 regard to the tibiae having ever come under my observation : this 

 consists of an elongate appendage at the end of the tibiae of almost 

 the length of the tibiae themselves, and furnished along the lower 

 margin with a row of teeth ; whether this extra joint is movable or 

 not I am not able to say, but it evidently assists the insect, which 

 seems possessed of great saltatorial power, to judge by the 

 enormously developed posterior femora, in getting a firm hold on 

 the plants which it may frequent. The general appearance of this 

 small species is not unlike that of a Loiujitarsus ; punctate-striate 

 elytra and the tibial process will, however, at once separate the 

 genus. 



The long serrate process at the apex of the posterior tibiae is, like 

 the rest of the legs, of fulvous colour, and the teeth at its lower 

 edge are strongly marked and regularly placed. 



Seeeaphula ^nea, n. sp. (Plate XXXIV. fig. 7.) 



Below black, above dark aeneous ; antennae and legs partly 

 fulvous ; thorax closely and finely punctured and minutely granu- 

 late ; elytra finely punctate-striate. 



Length 1 line. 



Head finely granulate, with a few punctures at the vertex, the 

 frontal elevations strongly raised, trigonate, obscure fulvous ; 

 clypeus triangularly swollen ; palpi pointed ; antennae extending 

 beyond the middle of the elytra, fulvous, the terminal three or 

 four joints fuscous, basal joint long and slender, second and third 

 short, equal, the following joints slightly longer and gradually 

 thickened, apical joint more elongate ; thorax subquadrate, slightly 

 broader than long, not narrowed in front or at the base, the sides 

 very little rounded at the middle, anterior angles obsolete, 

 posterior ones distinct, the surface very finely, rather closely 

 punctured and minutely granulate, greenish or brownish aeneous ; 

 scutellum triangular, rather broad ; elytra ovate, gradually widened 

 towards the middle, finely punctate-striate, the interstices smooth 

 and flat : underside black ; legs robust, fulvous. 



Hah. Mashonaland (&'. Marshall). British Museum Coll. and 

 my own. 



Sphjeeodeema pbmoeatum, n. sp. 



Metallic dark blue, the head, basal joints of the antennae, the 

 thorax, and the anterior four legs fulvous ; elytra semi-geminate, 

 punctate-striate. 



Length 1 line. 



Head impuiictate, fulvous, frontal tubercles small, carina distinct, 

 rather broad ; antennae exteudiug beyond the base of the thorax, 



Peoc. Zool. Soc— 1897, No. XXXVII. 37 



