442 Transactions Soutli African Philosoioliical Society, [vol. xii. 



the sides reflexed but overhanging laterally, the inferior one in an 

 auriculate shape, base bi-sinuate, posterior angles acute ; scutelium 

 elongate, triangular ; elytra ovate and having eight costae, costae 

 2, 4, 6, and 8 being less raised than the others, intervals transversely 

 crenulate ; under side densely punctate, legs short, the four posterior 

 ones bi-carinate and denticulate. 



Length 4 mm. 



Hah. Port Natal." 



Gen. EHYSSEMUS, Muls., 

 Coleopt. d. Franc. Lamellic, 1842, p. 314. 



Mentum very deeply incised at the tip ; ligula small, hardly pro- 

 jecting beyond the mentum, basal joint small, second one much 

 broader than long, apical one larger than the other two put together, 

 swollen, sub-acuminate towards the apex, and directed inwardly ; 

 apical lobe of maxillae partly horny, inner one entirely horny ; and 

 both ciliate inwardly; apical joint of maxillary palpi strongly fusiform 

 in the inner part, and nearly straight outwardly ; mandibles with 

 a horny molar tooth ; head convex, upper part of the eyes hidden ; 

 prothorax much rounded laterally behind, moderately convex, and 

 having transverse, serrulate ridges ; elytra covering almost entirely 

 the pygidium ; anterior tibiae tri- dentate outwardly and obliquely 

 truncate inwardly as in Ajphodius ; abdomen somewhat convex, 

 apical segment separated from the penultimate one by a deeper 

 and broader sulcus ; metasternum of Aphodiiis. 



The genus is represented in Europe, Northern America, Ceylon, 

 Africa (Senegal, Angola). 



The South African species, with one exception, closely resemble 

 B. germanus of Europe, which has been met also in Abyssinia, 

 in Gallaland and Massailand according to Kolbe, and is also found 

 in the Cape Colony. The South African species have on the 

 prothorax four transverse crenulate, slightly arcuate ridges, the two 

 posterior of which are interrupted in the centre and united by a 

 longitudinal raised ridge, which is the wall of a posterior sulcus. 



Key to the Species. 



Elytra with four very sharply carinate costae, much more raised 

 than the alternate ones cariiiatipennis. 



Elytra with all the costse of equal height, the carince made 

 serrate by a series of transverse, deep punctures atramentarius. 



