117 



Soma tic us, Hope. 



The type of this genus is Sepidium Rugosum of 

 Fabricius, The type of Trachynotus is S. Reticu- 

 latum of the same author, and all the species 

 belonging to it, have the body depressed, the elytra 

 scarcely exceeding in width the broadest part of 

 the thorax ; in Somaticus the body is greatly en- 

 larged, being nearly twice as broad as the neck ; 

 the thorax is convex, as well as the elytra, each of 

 which has an elevated ridge on the centre of disc, 

 commencing at the base of the wings, and ter- 

 minating gradually before it reaches the apex. On 

 the under side the elytra appear considerably larger 

 than the abdomen, overlapping the body ; the sides 

 of the wings are also remarkable for a broad furrow, 

 which extends throughout their length. I have no 

 observations to make on the Fabrician species, and 

 have given Hipomelus of De Jean as one of the 

 genera, but feel doubtful if its characters are yet 

 published. With regard to Vieta of Castelneau, 

 it appears to be too nearly allied to Sepidium to 

 separate it ; as however its concise characters are 

 published, I have inserted it. The Sepidium elon- 

 gatum of Herbst and Olivier has been supposed 

 to come from the East Indies, which is probably 

 erroneous, as I obtained a specimen from Lee's 

 cabinet, labelled as received from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. 



