246 MR. G. A. K. MARSHALL OX THE [Mar. 20, 



•shorb broad basal carina ; punctuation and scaling as on the head, 

 only the central carina bare of scales. Antennce moderately long 

 and stout, densely covered with golden yellow or grey scaling ; 

 scape only slightly curved, subcylindi-ical, very gradually thickened 

 from base to apex ; first joint of fuuicle rather longer than third, 

 the thi'ee subterminal joints as broad as long. Prothorax with its 

 width 1 1 times its length, base truncate, the sides gradually dilated 

 from there to far beyond middle, suddenly constricted near apex, 

 which is also truncate and only a little narrower than the base ; 

 upper sui'face convex, moderately closely set with small rounded 

 tubercles and with a rounded latei'al impression at base ; the 

 central carina variable, complete and distinct in some specimens, 

 abbreviated and irregular in others : colour black, the central 

 carina and apices of the tubercles bare, the rest with dense grey 

 or golden-yellow scaling. Elytra broadly ovate (a little nai-rower 

 in the S ), jointly sinuate at base, shoulders obliquely rounded, 

 sides strongly ampliated, broadest before middle ; upper surface 

 convex, with shallow stria? containing rows of large shallow 

 closely-set punctures, which are much reduced towards apex and 

 which are partially hidden throughout by the scaling ; the 

 intervals broad and smooth, very slightly convex, finely aciculate 

 and without tubercles or gi-anules of any kind ; colour black with 

 dense grey or yellowish scaling, usually with a dvill metallic reflec- 

 tion, the paler scales being silvery and the darker golden. Legs 

 comparatively short and stout, with yellowish or grey scaling and 

 short pale setse ; all the tibife moderately curved and similar in 

 the two sexes. 



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



Natal : Colenso [Oxf. Mus.], Frere {G.A.K.M.). Traxsvaal : 

 Leydenburg [Brit. Mus. k Transv. Mus.j. 



From the three preceding species, which it resembles in size 

 and facies, obesiis may be distinguished by its broad and perfectly 

 smooth eljdiral intervals, as well as by the more or less complete 

 central carina on the prothorax. 



5. SCIOBIUS DEALBATUS Fllhr. 



aS'. dealhatus Fahr. op. cit. p. 28. 



Long. 7-8, lat. 3|— 4|- mm. 



Head strongly transverse, coriaceous, finely plicate on forehead, 

 densely covered with white scaling ; eyes moderately prominent. 

 Rostrum short, subquadrate, the length equal to the width at base, 

 as long as the prothorax ; the gense produced into a short but acute 

 projection, which is rather longer and sharper in the S ; upper 

 surface subdepressed, tricarinate, the central carina more distinct 

 than the others, bare, impunctate, the remainder of the I'ostrum 

 covered with dense white scaling. Antennce moderately long, 

 piceous, with dense white setae ; scape subcylindrical and gently 

 curved, third joint of funicle as long as first. Prothorax very 

 transverse, its length equal to half the width at base, which is 

 slightly bisinuate, apex a little narrower and truncate, sides 



