1892.] of the Gohoptera of South Africa. 19 



This species was up to lately one of the rarest beetles in collections. 

 I came across it quite by accident. It is found on the sea-side, lying 

 in the day time in burrows in the sand-dunes from which it emerges at 

 night or dusk. I have found several together in a single burrow. Mr. 

 R. Lightfoot has kept some for a long time in captivity. They would 

 bury themselves in the sand with very great rapidity, and come out at 

 night to devour the flies given them during the day. 



They are very pugnacious and courageous, using their mandibles 

 freely when captured ; their colouring, which harmonises wonderfully 

 well with that of their surroundings, is transparent white, turning to 

 pale-yellow after death. 



Cape Colony (Table Bay, Houts Bay, Berg Eiver, Port Nolloth). 



Var. SUTURALIS. Bering, 

 pi. 11, fig. 1. 



P. SUTUEATA. Paring. 

 Trans. Phil. Soc, 1888, p. 67. 



Very similar to the type-form, from which it differs merely by having 

 two fuscous spots on the prothorax ; the suture from the base to a 

 little short of the apex is deeply infuscated ; the punctures on the 

 anterior part are deeper, and the granulation in the posterior part a 

 little more defined. 



Damaraland (Walfish Bay, Sandwich Harbour). 



Length, 12-13- ; width, 5-6"»*^"- 



Var. PLAGIATA. 



pi. 11. fig. 2. 



Differs from the var. suturalis by having besides the black sutural 

 band an ovate fuscous plaga extending on each side of the suture. 



Length, 11-13 ; width, S-G'"'"^' 



Damaraland (Walfish Bay). 



