1906.] COLEOPTERA OF THE GENUS SCIOBIUS. 237 



Three other species have been erroneously ascribed to this 

 genus, namely : — 



(1) ,S. suhnoclosus Woll. (Ann. Nat. Hist. (3) ix. 1869, p. 416). 

 The insect was described fi-om St. Helena, and I have examined 

 the types in the WoUaston collection in the British Museum. The 

 species is clearly identical with Phlyctinus ccdlosus Boh., which is 

 a common vineyard and garden pest in many parts of Cape 

 Colony, and it is probable that it was accidentally imported 

 thence to St. Helena. 



(2) S. geniculatus Fst., which has proved to be identical with 

 Siteutes cdbicinctus Fst. {vide Stett. ent. Zeit. Iviii. p. 70). 



(3) S. mus Fst. Through the kindness of Dr. Walther Horn, 

 I possess two examples of this species from the XJkami Mts., 

 in German East Africa. They certainly do not belong to the 

 genus Sciobius, nor even to Lacordaire's tribe of " Otiorhynchides 

 ATais," owing to the enclosed corbels of their posterior tibi?e. 

 The species is really referable to the tribe Oosomides, and agrees 

 exti'emely well with both the description and figure of Sphrigodes 

 margaritaceus Gerst. (v. d. Decken's Beisen, Glied. p. 226, t. xi. 

 f. 6), with Avhich it is probably synonymous. 



From all other genera of the Otiorhynchinaa (except Ccdyptops 

 and Phlyctinus) Sciohius may be distinguished by the following 

 combination of characters : — the metasternum is very short ; the 

 three intermediate segments of the abdomen are subequal in 

 length ; the corbels of the posterior tibiae are entii-ely open ; the 

 tarsal claws are quite free ; and the second joint of the funicle 

 is always longer, and usually much longer, than the first, 



Phlyctinus Schh., which contains but a single species, ccdlosus 

 Boh., may be readily distinguished owing to its having the apex 

 of the rostrum entire (whereas in Sciohius it is deeply incised), 

 and also by its very prominent eyes, which are in the form of 

 obtuse cones directed backwards, while their facetting is distinctly 

 coarser than in Sciobiics. On the other hand, Ccdyptops Schh. is 

 much more closely allied to the latter genus, and indeed the only 

 distinctive character woald appear to be the two elevations on 

 the forehead above the eyes. I have not had an opportunity of 

 examining the unique species, C.granosus Boh., but judging from 

 the description and from Lacordaire's figure, it evidently presents 

 a great afiinity to some of the larger Sciobii, which, moreover, in 

 several instances show distinct traces of the supra-ocular ele- 

 "^"ations. It is therefore not impossible that the genus may have 

 to be incorporated with Sciohius. 



Certain species of the genus Systates Gerst. and Isaniris Thorn, 

 present a superficial resemblance to some of the more slender 

 Sciobii, while Mito2ohoru,s Gerst. recalls the more rotund species. 

 But all these three genera may be differentiated by their tarsal 

 claws which are connate (at the base only), and by their antennae, 

 in which the first two joints of the funicle are either equal or the 

 first is longer than the second. 



If we exclude S. paivanus Woll., the genus Sciohms as here 



