BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 59 I 



Lixus copiosus, n.sp. 



Black, somewhat shining; antennfe and legs (posterioi' femora 

 excepted) dark red. Densely covered with white, yellow and 

 ochreous dust irregularly distributed. Head, rostrum, legs and 

 under surface densely clothed with short white pubescence, longer 

 on metasternum and three apical segments of abdomen than else- 

 where; prothorax with sides densely and the disc feebly clothed; 

 elytra rather densely clothed, with a transverse, somewhat curved 

 nude space on each side behind middle and not extending to 

 suture, a smaller similar space on each side near apex. 



Head and rostrum densely and finely punctate; a small deep 

 fovea between eyes. Rostrum short, broad. Prothorax trans- 

 verse, not much wider at base than at apex, sides feebly rounded 

 and feebly biimpressed near apex, base bisinuate; with a feeble 

 median carina; densely and moderately strongly punctate, inter- 

 vening spaces densely punctate. Elytra wider than prothorax, 

 shoulders rounded, subparallel to near apex, apex emarginate; 

 seriate- (scarcely striate) punctate, punctures moderately large, 

 suboblong, rather distant ; interstices almost flat, densely and 

 finely punctate, feebly callous on each side near apex. Under 

 surface densely and finely punctate. Length 8-|, rostrum 1|; 

 width 3J; variation in length 6-9^ mm. 



Hah.—Behn River, E. Kimberley, W.A. (Mr. R. Helms). 



Resembles Mastersi, Pascoe, but differently clothed, the legs 

 differently coloured, and with decidedly stronger punctures on 

 prothorax and elytra. The clothing and punctures have been 

 described from washed specimens. Mr. Helms informs me that 

 on an " old man salt-bush" (Atrijyiex nummularis)*' grown from 

 seed, he could always obtain numerous specimens, but saw none 

 elsewhere. 



Lixus Mastersi, Pasc. — This species is exceedingly abundant 

 in the coastal districts of New South Wales. In size it varie 

 from 6^ to 10 mm. In some of my specimens the elytra a r 



* This plant is not indigenous to North-Western Australia. 



