1893.] Oy COLEOPTERA FROM BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA. 739 



3. On a Collection of Coleoptera sent by Mr. H. H. 

 Johnston, C.B.^ from British Central Africa. By C. J. 

 Gahan, M.A. 



[Eeceived November 16, 1893.] 



This collection includes altogether examples of ahout 90 species 

 of Coleoptera, some of which, especially amongst the Cetoniidae, are 

 represented by good series. Of many of the species there are 

 unfortunately only a few specimens, and these are as a rule not in 

 a very good state of preservation. It has been possible, however, 

 to identify the great majority of the species ; and eight of those 

 which are believed to be new are here described. Occasion has 

 also been taken to describe a few new forms which have been 

 investigated in the course of working out this collection, but 

 which are not included in it. 



These Coleoptera \\-eve all collected at Zomba by Mr. Alexander 

 "Wh}'ie, F.Z.S., Mr. Johnston's Naturalist, so that, when not 

 otherwise stated in the text, this locality is to be understood as the 

 habitat of the species. Few of the species call for special remark. 

 Goliaihus albosu/natus, Bohem,, and CeratorMna princeps, Oberth., 

 not hitherto represented in the British Museum collection, are 

 amongst the finer species taken. Epicauta nyassensis and DiacantJia 

 conifera must, judging from the numbers sent over, be very abun- 

 dant in this region. The Longicorns are poorly represented, though 

 the number of new forms is proportionally large. 



Caeabid^. 



1, Akthia FOKNASiin:, Bertol. 



STAPHTLINIDiE. 



2. Staphtlinus procerus, sp. n. 



Niger ; capite prothoraceque supra violaceo-cupraseentihus, cre- 

 herrirae reticulatim punctatis, punctis setifjeris, linea media 

 pronoti Iceviore et niticUore; elyttHs crebre minutiusque punc- 

 tatis, atro-tomentosis, griseo-plarjiatis ; ahdomine supra atro- 

 iomentoso, segmentis 2", 3", G", 7° utrinque griseo-plagiatis ; 

 corpora subtus leviter pubescente, nitidiore, segmentis abdominis 

 utrinque griseo-sericeo maculatis ; tarsis anterioribus et tibiis 

 apice nonniJiil fulvo-seiosis ; anfennis nigris, hasi subtus plus 

 minusve testaceis. Long. 27, lat. 6 mm. 

 One female was taken at Zomba. 



Four examples, including two males and two females, of what 

 I consider to be this species are amongst the Coleoptera collected 

 by Emin Pasha at Karague. These differ from the Zomba speci- 

 men in that the greyish or somewliat fulvous-grey pubescence 

 extends over a greater surface on Ihe elytra, and leaves only a few 

 small patches black. In the Zomba s})ccimen the entire posterior 

 third of the elytra as well as small patches anteriorly are black. 

 The somewhat silvery-grey spots on the underside of the abdomen 



