1897.] of the Coleoptera of South Africa. 115 



which the median is the smallest, and joined by an angular, trans- 

 verse sulcus ; elytra moderately short, more than twice as broad as 

 the prothorax at apex, much attenuate at base, rounded laterally, 

 shoulders obliterated, base bifoveate ; abdomen larger than the 

 elytra ; femora slightly thickened, tibiae straight, slightly clavate at 

 tip ; metasternum transverse, slightly convex, foveate close to the 

 intermediate coxae, broad at apex and truncate in a straight line; 

 last ventral segment a little longer than the preceding one, and obso- 

 letely impressed transversely. (Sex uncertain.) Length 1-40 mm. 



Hab. Cape Colony (Cape Town neighbourhood, Newlands). Three 

 examples. 



Sub-Family CLAVIGEBHLE. 



The ClavigeridcB, in spite of their peculiar facies, which makes 

 them easily distinguishable, even by beginners in entomology, from 

 the true Pselaphida, do not in fact differ very much, and they appear 

 to be a degraded form of the latter. However, the head, antennae, 

 mouth, abdomen, and sternum show some difference ; the head is 

 more or less conical with the lateral part of the epistoma always 

 more or less dilated laterally ; the antennae are thick, short, and 

 comprise never more than six joints, the first of which is concealed 

 under the frontal part in a lateral fovea in which the antenna is 

 inserted, the ultimate joint is always larger than the others, and, except 

 in very few cases, truncate at tip ; the mouth is very rudimentary and 

 consists of long fascicles of soft hairs adapted for suction ; the 

 maxillary palpi are not visible, and have been found to consist of one 

 joint only in such genera as have been dissected ; the first dorsal 

 segments of the abdomen coalesce, so that it has three dorsal seg- 

 ments on the upper part, while underneath it consists of the normal 

 number ; the intermediate coxae are always apart, the metasternum 

 being produced between them ; this is a somewhat abnormal feature, 

 because when the intermediate coxae are apart, which is seldom the 

 case in the PselaphidcB, it is the mesosternum which is produced 

 backwards between the coxae ; the posterior coxae are always very 

 broadly separated, and the trochanters of all the legs are very long 

 and clavate, the femora being inserted on the apex of the trochanters 

 and very remote from the coxae ; the base of the abdomen is always 

 more or less, but generally very much, excavated, and each side 

 is provided with large fascicles of hairs ; these fascicles are always 

 connected with tegumentary glands secreting a liquid of which, it 

 is supposed, the ants, among which the Clavigeridce are always 

 found, are very fond. Some of these insects (Claviger, Adrancs) are 

 entirely eyeless. 



