206 REVISION OF THE AUSTRALIAN CURCULIONIDiE, 



I think some latitude may be allowed. If the mesosternal 

 receptacle (or plate as it appears in this and allied genera), and 

 the pectoral canal be regarded as the main generic features (as I 

 think they should), several technical genera would be required; 

 yet in this genus undoubtedly closely allied species differ in these 

 important features. In one species (porcatus^ the type of the 

 genusj, the rostrum is perfectly straight, and Pascoe erects a genus 

 (Euthebus) on this one detail. In several species the legs are 

 not, or scarcely, dentate. In a number there exists a narrow 

 groove above the scrobe, whilst others are without it. The 

 abdomen is sometimes feebly convex and sometimes a depression 

 exists in the 1st or 1st and 2nd segments, and this is, moreover, 

 often sexual. The majority of the species appear to be glabrous 

 at lirst sight, but under a lens minute scales or setose hairs may 

 be seen; they are alwa3's more noticeable on the under than on the 

 upper surface, perhaps on account of the punctures (in which they 

 are placed) being deeper on the upper surface. 



Melanterius and its allies are perhaps worthy of being erected 

 into a subfamily which on the one hand would be separated from 

 the Erirhinides by the mesosternal plate and pectoral canal, and 

 from the Gryptorhynchides by the rostrum not terminating in a 

 mesosternal receptacle and continued beyond its position ; this 

 continuation of the rostrum is an exceedingly important feature, 

 and except in Melanterius and its allies is seen in no genus of Cryp- 

 torhynchides* although sufficiently common in the Erirhinides. 



Following is a table of the species : — 



Rather densely squamosa, ghoulders square. 



Metasteinal episterna each with a single row of 



punctures uniseriatus, n. sj) . 



Metasternal episterna densely punctate. 



Apical segment of abdomen distinctly larger than 



intermediates combined congrims, n. sp. 



Apical segment smaller than intermediates ampHpevnis, n.sp. 



Rarely more than feebly pubescent, shoulders rounded 

 or oblique. 



* In Myrtesis the rostrum is continued beyond the metasternum, but 

 when at rest is received into a pectoral canal for its entire length. 



