26 
T HEL YDESMID^. 
Family THELYDKSMID^, nov. 
The genus Thelydesmus Ck. , while perhaps not unrelated both to 
Pterodesmus and to Comodesmus is so widely different that the 
assumption of affinity inside family lines seems unwarranted. The 
hispid and densely granular segments, and the comparatively narrow, 
tapering and dentate carinse, render it distinct from the Pterodesmidae, 
while the development of carinse, the location of the pores, and the 
structure of the copulatory legs, separate it from the Comodesmidse ; 
indeed it is not impossible that the discovery of other related forms 
may connect it with the true Cryptodesmidae, rather than with the 
other families now known from Airica. 
Family DALODKbMlD^, 7 iov. 
No representatives of any of the above families are as yet known 
from East Africa, but a new genus from Central Madagascar is in the 
Berlin Museum. In general appearance it bears very little resem- 
blance to any of the families previously enumerated, and suggests 
rather Rhachidomorpha or Rhaccdesmus. A suspicion that this new" 
form might be related to Thelydesmus was destroyed by the fact that 
the fifth and sixth antennal joints are wider than long in Thelydes- 
mus, while in Dalodesmus {nov.) the antennae are decidedly slender 
and scarcely incrassate, so that the fifth and sixth joints are much 
longer than wdde ; veitex not granular ; first segment not concealing 
and scarcely wider than the head ; second segment distinctly, though 
not greatly, wider than the first ; dorsal surface of segments minutely 
and regularly punctulate, appearing nearly smooth, coveted with 
rather large and distinct rounded or subconic tubercles, those of the 
carinae and margins smaller and sharper ; carinae in width scarcely 
equal to half the body cylinder, inserted nearly on a plane with the 
middle of the dorsum, subhorizontal; anterior corner wanting, pos- 
terior corner acute, somewhat elevated ; pores large, located near the 
lateral margin, somewhat in front of the corner of the carina, facing 
laterad and dorsad ; legs rather long, especially the last joint ; sterna 
wdth a distinct cruciform impression ; copulatory legs very long, 
slender, and straight, extending farther ahead than the insertion of 
the sixth pair ; apex with numerous spiniform processes. The typi- 
cal and only known species is Dalodesmus tectus. It is uniform dark 
brown in color, and measures about 21 mm. by 2.8 mm. 
Family HYNIDESMID^, 7 iov. 
Body minute and slender, clothed above wdth long, fine hairs. 
Dorsum very convex, the carinse inserted far down, and decurved so 
as to reach below the level of the ventral surface. Antennae short, 
vSubgeniculate and strongly clavate. The genus Hynidesmus { 7 iov.) has 
