168 Descrijjtive Catalogue [1896. 



palpi thickened and truncate at the tip, labrum long ; convex oblong ; 

 prothorax cordiform, narrowed at the base ; elytra punctato-striate 

 with the intervals raised ; legs moderately long, tarsi thick, clothed 

 w^ith bristles underneath, the three " basal joints of the anterior tarsi 

 of the male with a narrow median series of lamellae. 



This genus is represented in Senegambia and West Africa. 



Synopsis of Species. 



Elytra parallel, intervals equal lugiihris. 



Elytra ampliated, intervals equal Gerstaekcri. 



Elytra ampliated, alternate intervals higher than the others . . agnatus. 



Meladroma lugubris, Schaum., 

 PI. 3, fig. 4, Berl. Ent. Zeit., 1863, p. 79. 

 Helluo grandis, Bohem., Insect. Caffr., i., p. 66. 



Totally black, shining ; labrum smooth ; head covered with broad, 

 closely set punctures ; prothorax deeply and closely punctured, 

 broader than long, gradually narrowed from the apex to two-thirds 

 of the length, the lateral basal part straight and with an angular 

 projection above the outer angle, which is also sharp, depressed, and 

 having a deep impression on each side of the base, a transverse one 

 in the anterior part, and a fine narrow longitudinal groove ; elytra 

 parallel, narrowly punctato-striate, with the intervals carinated from 

 the base to about the middle with the exception of the seventh inter- 

 val which is sharp from base to apex, more convex from the median 

 part, and each interval with one series of deep briefly setigerous 

 punctures in the anterior and two in the posterior part, outer margin 

 with a double series of broad punctures ; under side and legs black, 

 shining, briefly pilose. Length 24-29 mm. ; width 7-9 mm. 



Hab. Transvaal (Potchefstroom), Zambezia (Victoria Falls, Bulu- 

 wayo), Ovampoland. 



Meladroma Gerstaekeri, Chaud., 

 Bull. Mosc, 1877, i., p. 248. 



This species, according to De Chaudoir, loc. cit., agrees in nearly 

 all particulars with M. kiguhris ; but the elytra are shorter, ampliated 

 behind, with the outer sides somew^hat rounded, and the stri^ are 

 not so deeply punctured. 



Hah. South Africa, teste Chaud. 



* Chaudoir says that these lamellae are found on the four joints. Such is no 

 the case in the four males which I have examined. 



