442 Descriptive Catalogue [1896. 



tinge, third interval with a puncture above the posterior dechvity ; 

 (there is one exception, H. fulvicornis) ; seventh interval with one 

 apical puncture, outer margin with a series of punctures interrupted 

 in the median part ; tarsi of the anterior and intermediate legs 

 of the male much dilated, broadly cordiform, the basal one of 

 the intermediate tarsi less broad than in the fore-legs ; under 

 side with a series of squamae en chevron on each side, fourth 

 joint of the anterior and intermediate tarsi incised ; in the female 

 the joints of the fore tarsi are slightly dilated and subcordiform, 

 the fourth one is not incised, those of the intermediate ones are 

 elongate and both are glabrous underneath. 



There can be little doubt that the larvae of Harpalus are phyto- 

 phagous but like most larvae of Coleoptera they are seldom met with. 

 In the imago state, Harpahis is found under stones or heaps of 

 decaying vegetation. The great likeness of one species to another 

 renders the identification of species very difficult indeed. The 

 South African species are seldom intensely black, mostly piceous 

 black, and occasionally with the elytra brown, light brown with 

 an aeneous tinge, and also, though seldom, metallic green, and even 

 in that case there is a tinge of brown. 



I am far from satisfied with my synoptic arrangement of the 

 species, although I believe that, owing to their uniformity, the 

 shape of the prothorax is worth consideration in the grouping of 

 the South African species. 



Synopsis of Species. 



Prothorax sinuate in the posterior part ; posterior angle sharp. 



Elytra oblong. 



Head infuscate ; prothorax and elytra light testaceous, the 

 latter with two longitudinal infuscate lines on each side . . . . xantlwrajpJms. 



Elytra without any infuscate lines fallax. 



Elytra with a broad juxta-sutural infuscate band extending 

 from the suture to the fourth interval dorsiger. 



Elytra elongate. 



Light testaceous with the median part of the elytra infuscate miles. 



Upper part piceous, basal impressions of prothorax distinctly 

 punctured defects. 



Piceous red, basal impressions of prothorax not punctured . . errans. 



Prothorax with the base as broad as the median part, outer 

 sides nearly straight from the lateral seta to the posterior angle. 



Elytra parallel. 



Prothorax and elytra piceous red ; intervals subconvex . . . . diibius. 



Upper part black, shining, intervals of elytra plane . . . . luguhris. 



Prothorax and elytra piceous, the former with a distinct 

 rufescent outer margin ; intervals plane angustipcnnis. 



Outer margin of prothorax hardly rufescent ; antennas with 

 the exception of the three basal joints infuscate ; femora and 

 apex of tibiae piceous red nanniscus. 



