1)20 MR. G. A. K. MARSHALL ON [DeC, 11, 



varlcolor and deceptor in the shape of its elytra, which are more 

 bluntly rounded apically and much steeper on the declivity. 

 It is more nearly allied to the latter, but lacks the curved 

 furrows on the rostrum. 



Rhinosomphus mutabilis, sp. nov. (Plate LXVI. fig. 4.) 



Long. 8|-11, lat. 3|-4| mm. 



Head almost plane above, with a deep central furrow, densely 

 clothed with pale brownish or whitish scales and with a few 

 scattered erect setse ; strongly constricted behind the eyes, which 

 <ii'e subpedunculate, prominent and very convex. Rostrum sepa- 

 rated from head by an angulated impressed line, about twice as 

 long as head, but shorter than the prothorax, narrower than the 

 forehead between the eyes, its sides slightly dilated apically ; 

 upper surface almost plane, with a very shallow central im- 

 pression, the scaling dense and similar to that on head. Anteimm 

 ilensely squamose and with scattered suberect seta?. Prothorax 

 transverse, apex narrower than base, sides subparallel from base 

 to middle, thence rapidly converging towards apex ; basal margin 

 strongly bisinuate, apical margin gently lobate dorsall}^ ; upper 

 surface convex, with five deep longitudinal fui-rows, the central 

 one straight and the costa on each side of it broad and rounded, 

 the two lateral furi-ows rather sinuate and the costa between 

 them narrower and subcarinate : the costa? with very dense pale 

 scaling and with scattered dark setigerous punctures, the furrows 

 dark brown. Elytra much broader than prothorax at base, 

 shoulders very prominent and subrectangular ; sides subparallel 

 to middle, then rapidly narrowing to apex, the posterior declivity 

 very steep and subcompressed ; scutellum distinct, with dense 

 pale scaling ; upper surface convex, with distinct strise containing 

 rows of large deep punctures which are more or less hidden by 

 the scaling, the intervals slightly convex, coriaceous, and with 

 rows of closely-set erect dark seta? ; scaling dense ; colour variable : 

 in the type form the ground-colour is light brown with an 

 irregular angulated common, dark mai-king before the middle 

 and another behind the middle, the two enclosing a broad 

 V-shaped patch of the ground-colour ; these two markings are 

 liable to become more or less obsolete ; the ground-colour too 

 varies to hoary white, and in some cases the intervals are alter- 

 nately hoary white and dark brown, the dark discal markings 

 being rather indistinct ; the elytra are occasionally entirely 

 abraded, appearing then of a shiny black colour. Legs with 

 dense uniform pale brownish or white scaling and scattered 

 setse. 



Mashonaland : Salisbury, Umfuli R. and Rusapi {G. A. K. M.), 

 Umtali {A. Bodong) ; Matabeleland : Sebakwe {D. Dodds). 



Types, $ in the British Museum, S in the Oxford Museum. 



The genus Rhinosomphus Fairm. (Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1896, 

 p. 463) contains only one other species {Stigmatotrachelus^ 

 gidtiferiis Waterh. from Madagascar, which is a very difierent 



