1904.] Catalogue of the Coleoptera of South Africa. 173 



most species, the apical part is seldom sparsely bristly (S. trans- 

 vaalica) ; the tarsi are moderately long, and the joints of equal 

 length, the two or three basal ones spinose inwardly at tip, the 

 claws are moderately robust, much curved, and each one has under- 

 neath a basal and a sub-median vertical tooth Vcirying in length and 

 also in position in the different species according to the sex. 



The species of Sparrmannia are massive insects mostly clothed on 

 the head and prothorax, the pectus and the abdomen with extremely 

 dense and long pubescent hairs, giving them a very singular appear- 

 ance ; this pubescence, however, is thinner in two species (S. flavo- 

 fasciata, S. bechuana), but in others it is like a thick felt on the 

 upper side except on the elytra. They are crepuscular insects ; in 

 the Karroo they appear in great numbers as the light disappears 

 (there is no twilight proper in South Africa), and my colleague, 

 Dr. Purcell, informs me that they are very numerous although local, 

 and their flight produces quite an audible noise. I have some 

 reasons to believe that, like some species of Schizonycha they pass 

 some of their early stage in the accumulated, excrements of the white 

 ants, Hodotermes, sp. sp. They seem to appear in the months of 

 October and November in the Cape Colony. 



Several of the species are very closely allied, but the shape of the 

 clypeus varies in every one. The valves of the genital armature 

 differ very much. The only outward character distinguishing the 

 females from the males are the wider apical spurs of the hind 

 tibiae. 



The genus is restricted to South Africa. 



Key to the Species. 

 A 2 . Elytra concolorous. 



B 2 . Antennae 11- jointed. 



C 2 . Head and prothorax with a thick, felt-like pubescence 

 hiding the teguments. 



D 2 . Clypeus incised in front. 



Head entirely hidden by the pubescence ; clypeus 

 moderately reflexed, deeply incised in the centre 

 and not sinuate on either side of the incision 



vertumnus. 



leo. 



Head not hidden by the pubescence, clypeus dis- 

 tinctly reflexed, deeply incised in the centre, and 

 sinuate on either side of the incision transvaalica. 



Head hidden by the pubescence, clypeus moderately 

 deeply incised in front, the angles of the incision 

 not projecting much beyond the margin which is 

 very little arcuate prieska. 



