292 Descrii^tive Catalogue [1896. 



the rainy season in Natal and the more northern parts, Bechuana, 

 Transvaal, Zambezia, or Damaraland. 



Eunning with extreme rapidity, they are not always easy of 

 capture, but, in spite of their colour blending so harmoniously ^\dth 

 that of the soil, such species as have darker or black dorsal markings 

 are very conspicuous on the ochraceous or reddish-coloured plains of 

 the Karoo, almost destitute of vegetation, or in the openings of the 

 grass country, farther north. As I have already said, they appear 

 suddenly after the first summer rains, and it was a pleasant sight for 

 me to witness at Kimberley, after a good shower, the apparition of a 

 great many representatives of several species [G. ancora, cordiger, 

 pusillus, vittiger) scouring the place in all directions, where the day 

 before not one was to be seen, and apparently heedless of the 

 presence of a large number of Manticliora tibialis that seemed, 

 however, more busy fighting for the possession of a mate than on 

 the look-out for food. 



Like Mantichora and Anthia, Graphipterus seems to be fearless of 

 what enemy it may encounter, relying seemingly on the power of its 

 weapons (its mandibles are very strong and long, and the width of 

 head and prothorax testifies to a great munching power), and goes 

 about in a fast, jerky manner not unlike that of Mantichora. When 

 seized the anal segment opens and contracts, as if emitting the same 

 pungent and volatile fluid thrown out by the x\nthia, but I have not 

 been able to detect either smell or trace of it in the species I have 

 personally captured, but Mr. G. A. K. Marshall is very positive that 

 G. mashu7ius, G. lineatus, and G. nanniscus emit a pungent odour, 

 and that this power of ejecting a pungent fluid is most developed in 

 the first-named species. 



Certain species, much alike in general facies, vary a good deal in 

 the dorsal markings where their habitat is restricted to mountainous 

 country, owing to their incapacity for flight. It is not so, however, 

 on the undulating plains of the high plateaux of South Africa, mainly 

 in the northern and north-western parts. Several species first re- 

 corded from the Lake N'Gami and occurring also in Damaraland are 

 also met with as far south as Griqualand West, in the Cape Colony [G. 

 suturalis, lateralis) ; others occurring in Ovampoland are also found 

 in Zambezia (Salisbury), and even so far east as Delagoa Bay {G. 

 tibialis). Some, but with a very slight differentiation in the shape 

 of the dorsal markings {G. cordiger, liaviatus, Waldbergi), have the 

 widest range of all, extending from D'Urban, Natal, to Zambezia 

 (Salisbury), Damaraland, Ovampoland, and even to the northern 

 parts of the Cape Colony (Kimberley, Calvinia). 



The vestiture of the South African species of Grapliiptenis con- 

 sists of a thickly set, very short pubescence, varying from greyish to 

 fulvous, marginated with white or light yellow, and with discoidal 



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