10 Transactions South African Philosophical Society, [vol. xiii. 



are, however, very easily rubbed off; anterior tibiae bi-dentate, 

 anterior tarsi long, slender in both sexes ; hind femora wide, com- 

 pressed ; posterior tibiae ampliated and curved inwardly, the two 

 apical spurs long, but slightly shorter than the basal tarsal joint, 

 apical margin of coxae moderately slanting, and leaving the angle of 

 the fifth abdominal segment uncovered ; claws cleft underneath, the 

 lower tooth wider than the upper, and both equally curved in both 

 sexes. 



I consider that the characters of Lepiserica are not of sufficient 

 distinctive value to separate the genus from Autoserica. The pre- 

 sence of scales in the punctures is after all its main distinctive cha- 

 racter, and this varies so much, not only in the species but in the 

 individuals, that it is impossible to say often of two specimens caught 

 in the same locality, and at the same time, if they belong to Autoserica 

 or to Lepiserica. These species are also so closely allied that only 

 an examination of the genitalia of the male can lead to the identi- 

 fication of most of them. Brenske has described five species, which 

 I have not been able to identify, three of which have 9- jointed 

 antennae. All the examples which I have examined, often with a 

 high power, have 10-jointed antennae. In only one female example 

 of L. lucidula, Pering., have I found that two joints were so fused 

 that the antennas appeared to be 9-jointed. 



Key to the Species. 

 A 2 . Elytra not deeply striate. 



B 2 . Club of male not longer than the pedicel. 



a 2 . Posterior tibiae slightly sinuate inwardly, moderately 

 dilated. 



b 2 . Third and fifth intervals raised, rounded. 



Elytra with a plain brown tessellation (genit., 



pi. xlvi., fig. 18) tessellata. 



Elytra with the tessellation much less distinct 



(genit., pi. xlvi., fig. 20) lucidula. 



b 1 . Third and fifth intervals tectiform. 



Elytra plainly tessellate annecten*. 



a 1 . Posterior tibiae very broadly dilated (genit., pi. xlvi., 



fig. 22) fartula. 



B 1 . Club of male longer than the pedicel. 



Elytra with the intervals plane. 



b 2 . Clypeus with the median part of the anterior margin {proteana. 

 plainly angular (genit. of proteana, pi. xlvi., fig. 19) . . } rhodcxiaiirt. 



