1896.] of the Goleoptera of South Africa. 549 



Abacetus natalensis, Chaud., 

 Bull. Mosc, 1869, p. 377. 



Black, shining ; basal joint of antennae piceous, the other joints 

 and also the legs black ; palpi rufescent ; head smooth ; frontal sulci 

 very deep ; prothorax rounded laterally from the apex to past the 

 middle, narrowed behind, slightly sinuate above the basal angle 

 which projects slightly, median and lateral basal grooves very 

 distinct, no punctures in the base ; elytra oblong, slightly sinuate 

 laterally in the middle, a little broader at the base than the pro- 

 thorax, striate, with the intervals convex and smooth ; under side 

 and legs black. Length 6 mm. ; width 2|- mm. 



Hah. ' Mozambique (Rikatla). 



Abacetus obtusus, Bohem., 

 Insect. Caffr., i., p. 184. 



Black, shining ; the three basal joints of the antennae, palpi, and 

 legs rufescent. Closely allied to the preceding species, from which 

 it differs, however, by the more cordate shape of the prothorax, 

 which is more suddenly narrowed behind above the base, the 

 posterior angle is also more acute, there is no puncture in the base, 

 the shape of the elytra is identical, but the elytra are a little more 

 convex ; under side black. Length 6 mm. ; width 2J mm. 



Hab. Natal (Isipongo, Zambezia, Salisbury). 



Abacetus alacee. 



Piceous black or piceous brown ; antennae, palpi, and legs flaves- 

 cent ; head smooth ; frontal sulci moderately deep, arcuate ; pro- 

 thorax rounded anteriorly from the anterior part to the middle and 

 a little narrowed laterally from there to the basal angle and very 

 little sinuate, posterior angle sharp but not projecting, basal part 

 impunctate; elytra as in the two preceding species, intervals smooth 

 and a little convex. 



Shape of the two. preceding species, but a little narrower ; it is 

 easily distinguished from them by the shape of the prothorax, which 

 is narrower, less ampliated in the anterior part, and less suddenly 

 narrowed behind. My specimens are probably immature, and this 

 species will be found to be black on the upper part. Length 5 mm. ; 

 width 2 mm. 



Hab. Zambezia (Salisbury). 



Abacetus nanus, Chaud., 

 Bull. Mosc, ii., 1869, p. 379. 



Light, testaceous, probably immature. In the type it is said 

 to be brown and the basal joints of the antennae and the legs ferru- 



