242 REVISION OF THE AUSTRALIAN CURCULIONID.E, 



Ilab. — W.A. : Swan River. 



The sexual differences are very slight (I have a pair which 

 were taken in cop.); the ^ has the rostrum slightly thinner, 

 longer, and more coarsely punctate and the posterior tibiae ciliate 

 towards apex; the insertion of the scape is the same in both sexes. 

 The extension of the femora to the apex of the abdomen is an 

 unusual feature. 



Melanterius incomptus, n.sp. 



Ovate, moderately convex, shining. Black; antennte, tibiLig, 

 and tarsi somewhat red. Upper surface very indistinctly clothed, 

 the under surface and legs with whitish setae. 



Head densely punctate, punctures rather small and shallow; 

 eyes subreniform, separated for the width of rostrum at base. 

 Rostrum moderately long and slender, distinctly curved ; rather 

 strongly punctate towards base, but punctures scarcely confluent. 

 Scape thin, inserted one-third from apex of rostrum, the length of 

 funicle. Prothorax feebly transverse, base very feebly bisinuate 

 and twice the width of apex, sides rounded. Scutellum suboblong. 

 Elytra briefly subcordate, twice the length of and at base but 

 little wider than prothorax; seriate-punctate, punctures moder- 

 ately large, in shallow grooves; interstices towards base and suture 

 flat and punctate, elsewhere triangularly ridged. Metasternum 

 shorter than usual and rather coarsely punctate, intermediates 

 finely; combined length of the latter equal to that of 2nd or 5th. 

 Femora feebly grooved beneath and rather feebly (except the 

 posterior) dentate ; tibiae comparatively stout, almost straight, 

 punctures scarcely confluent. Length 2|, rostrum 1 (vix); width 

 li mm. 



Hah. — Australia (Sydney Museum). 



The following species would appear on first sight as if generically 

 distinct, but I am convinced that they should go in with Melan- 

 terius, or that at the most they ai'e only entitled to subgeneric 

 rank; they difier principally in the square shoulders, denser cloth- 

 ing, outwardly curved tibite (denoting an apjDroach to Psepliolax .'') 

 and longer rostrum. Two of them, M. congruus and 31. ampli- 



