1900.] Catalogue of the Coleoptera of South Africa. 493 



which is also sharp ; the anterior part is sHghtly bi- sinuate and 

 broadly marginate, while the base, which is marginate like the outer 

 sides, is sinuate close to the outer angle ; scutellum moderately long, 

 triangular; elytra elongate, oblong, convex, multi- striate, covering the 

 pygidium and also the abdomen ; epipleura narrow, almost grooved 

 in the posterior part ; abdomen six-jointed, apical joint alone free ; 

 coxae contiguous, except the intermediate ones which are divided by 

 a narrow sulcus ; legs robust ; anterior tibiae tri-dentate outwardly, 

 serrulate above the digits, and having a strong apical spur set in the 

 rounded inner angle, intermediate and posterior tibiae broadly 

 carinate on the upper side and having a very distinct transverse 

 median ridge, dilated at tip, where they are not deeply scooped, but 

 ciliate ail round, and having two slightly compressed spurs set in the 

 inner angle ; tarsi shorter than the tibiae, somewhat thick, except the 

 anterior ones, and wdth the four basal ones nearly of equal size, claws 

 simple. The valves of the penis seem to be bifid owing to the median 

 membrane becoming chitinous at the tip, and being produced there into 

 a deeply sinuate lobate lamina running parallel with the valves when 

 open (plate xxxviii., figs. 38, 39). 



The species of this genus are said to occur in sandy spots, and are 

 very commonly caught at camp-fires, or at lights during thundery 

 weather. They are easily recognised owing to the shining body 

 and the numerous punctate stria of the elytra. 



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

 India, and Africa (Senegal, Central Africa, Abyssinia, the Galla 

 country, and Sierra Leone). 



Key to the Species. 



Prothorax with fine, not closely set punctures, base |^sliglitly 

 sinuate near the outer angle; anterior tibiae with three obtuse serrate 

 teeth above the digits illigeri. 



Prothorax with fine, not closely set punctures, base very deeply 

 sinuate near the outer angle ; anterior tibiee with four or five distinct 

 serrate teeth above the digits ruficornis. 



Prothorax with deep, closely set punctures, base very deeply sinuate 

 near the outer angle ; anterior tibise with somewhat obtuse serrate 

 teeth above the digits grossus. 



Hybosorus illigeri, Reich., 



Annals Soc. Entom. d. France, 1853, p. 88. 



Piceous black on the upper side, piceous red beneath, glabrous 

 above, shining, antennae flavous ; clypeus semicircular, slightly 



