OCR Text |
Show 246 MR. G. A. K. MARSHALL ON THE [Mar. 20, short broad basal carina; punctuation and scaling as on the head, only the central carina bare of scales. Antennce moderately long and stout, densely covered with golden yellow or grey scaling; scape only slightly curved, subcylindrical, very gradually thickened from base to apex ; first joint of funicle rather longer than third, the three subterminal joints as broad as long. Prothorax with its width 1| times its length, base truncate, the sides gradually dilated from there to far beyond middle, suddenly constricted near apex, which is also truncate and only a little narrower than the base ; upper surface convex, moderately closely set with small rounded tubercles and with a rounded lateral impression at base ; the central carina variable, complete and distinct in some specimens, abbreviated and irregular in others ; colour black, the central carina and apices of the tubercles bare, the rest with dense grey or golden-yellow scaling. Elytra broadly ovate (a little narrower in the <$), jointly sinuate at base, shoulders obliquely rounded, sides strongly ampliated, broadest before middle ; upper surface convex, with shallow stria? containing rows of large shallow closely-set punctures, which are much reduced towards apex and which are partially hidden throughout by the scaling; the intervals broad and smooth, very slightly convex, finely aciculate and without tubercles or granules of any kind ; colour black with dense grey or yellowish scaling, usually with a dull metallic reflection, the paler scales being silvery and the darker golden. Legs comparatively short and stout, with yellowish or grey scaling and short pale seta?; all the tibia? moderately curved and similar in the two sexes. T Y P E , S in the British Museum, 2 m the Oxford Museum. N A T A L : Colenso [Oxf. Mus.], Frere (G.A.K.M.). TRANSVAAL : Leydenburg [Brit. Mus. & Transv. Mus.]. From the three preceding species, which it resembles in size and facies, obesus may be distinguished by its broad and perfectly smooth elytral intervals, as well as by the more or less complete central carina on the prothorax. 5. SCIOBIUS DEALBATUS Fahr. S. dealbatus Fahr. op. cit. p. 28. Long. 7-8, lat. 3f-4|- m m. Head strongly transverse, coriaceous, finely plicate on forehead, densely covered with white scaling; eyes moderately prominent. Rostrum short, subquadrate, the length equal to the width at base, as long as the prothorax ; the gena? produced into a short but acute projection, which is rather longer and sharper in the S ', upper surface subdepressed, tricarinate, the central carina more distinct than the others, bare, impunctate, the remainder of the rostrum covered with dense white scaling. Antennce moderately long, piceous, with dense white seta?; scape subcylindrical and gently curved, third joint of funicle as long as first. Prothorax very transverse, its length equal to half the width at base, which is slightly bisinuate, apex a little narrower and truncate, sides |