This family is very extensive, containing at least 2700 species, many of which are splendidly coloured insects, of gigantic size, amongst which is a group essentially African, remarkable for the numerous pencils of short erect hairs dotted over their whole upper surface (Genus _Julodis_, Eschscholtz). The species of _Steraspis_ and _Sternocera_ are also of large size and great brilliancy. Twenty-seven genera of these insects occur in South Africa, of which six are peculiar, but Mr. Oates only collected four small and obscure species. The singular Genus _Polybothris_, with widely dilated elytra, is peculiar to Madagascar, no species of the genus having been found on the African continent. Family ELATERIDÆ. This family is also of great extent, consisting of not fewer than 2700 described species, many of which are exclusively natives of South-Eastern Africa and Madagascar, the finest group being _Tetralobus_, and its immediate allies, having flabellate antennæ, which are almost restricted to Africa, a few only occurring in New Holland. Of this group Mr. Oates collected a very interesting species, which I have figured in Plate G, fig. 4, and which appears to be identical with _Tetralobus bifoveolatus_ of Boheman (although apparently differing in certain points). Family PAUSSIDÆ. Africa possesses a number of species of this singular family, found in Natal by Herr Guienzius in ants’ nests. Mr. Oates, however, collected only one species, _Pleuropterus alternans_, Westw., Thesaurus Ent. p. 74, pl. 16, f. 2. Family HISTERIDÆ. These insects, which are generally found in excrement, appear to be numerous in individuals, although only about eight species were taken, one of large size. Family SILPHIDÆ. Of the carrion beetles one alone, _Silpha_ (_micans_, Fabricius), was captured. Family BOSTRICHIDÆ. Of the numerous family of wood-boring beetles, five species were found in considerable numbers, including _Apate_ (_monacha_ and _cornutus_, Fabricius). Family TENEBRIONIDÆ.