1896.] of the Coleoptera of South Africa. 573 



tarsi dilated in the male, triangular or cordiform, the fourth one 

 short, narrower than the others and deeply incised, all four with a 

 double series of lamelliform squamae and lateral long hairs under- 

 neath, grooved or not on each side of the upper part,''' while the 

 intermediate and posterior ones, and all three in the female are 

 always grooved ; claws not pectinate ; the male is a little more 

 slender than the female, and has the median lateral part of the 

 prothorax a little more aculeate. 



This genus, with its numerous synonyms or sub-genera, t occurs 

 in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia, and New 

 Zealand. 



The South African species can be divided in three sections, w^hich, 

 however, differ too little from one another to be entitled to rank as 

 genera. 



Mentum with a long median tooth ; paraglossse 

 united with the ligula almost up to the tip, and 

 curving inwards ; the three basal joints of the anterior 

 tarsi of the male elongate, triangular, and grooved on 

 each side of the upper part, the fourth one short, sub- 

 cordiform, deeply incised Suh -gen. Meg alomjchus. I 



Mentum with a long median tooth ; paraglossse 

 disunited from the ligula at about the median part, 

 longer by one-fourth and slightly curving inwardly ; 

 second and third joints of the anterior tarsi of the 

 male short, cordiform, not grooved laterally in the 

 upper part ,, Ancliomemis. 



Mentum of Anchomenus ; ligula broadening towards 

 the apex, straight across the tip, but rounded later- 

 ally ; paraglossse adhering to the ligula and very 

 slightly longer ,, Agonum. 



Synopsis of Species. 



Sub-Gen. Megalonychus. 



Prothorax broad, cordiform, posterior angles not rounded ; 

 intervals of elytra plane ; the second, third, and fourth joint of 

 antennae infuscate gilvipcs. 



Prothorax broad, cordiform, posterior angles rounded ; in- 

 tervals of elytra convex ; antennae black with the exception of 

 the basal joint crenato-striatits. 



Prothorax suborbicular, roughly shagreened ; intervals of 

 elytra plane Iati;pe7inis. 



* There is a faint stria on the outer part of the third anterior tarsus in some 

 species. 



f Gemminger and Harold, in their ' Catalogus Coleopterorum,' give no less 

 than seventeen synonymous names. 



\ In the South African species the last joint of the tarsi is not longer than in 

 Ancliomenus or Agonum. 



