474 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, 



AA. Elytra ovate, not parallel-sided. 



B. Size very minute microscopicus, n.sp. 



BB. Size ordinary. 

 C. Elytral markings confined to shoulders. 

 /. Prothoracic elothinf^ in four conspicuous ridges. . albohtinieralis,i\.Hip. 



J^ Prothoracic clothing not in such ridges e.7€*(J(s011. 



CC. Elytral matkings not confined to shoulders. 



D. Prothorax with pale clothing along middle afffitnx Oil. 



DD. Prothorax without a pale median line. 



E. Prothorax without pale basal markings... . cupreoni(/er, n.sp. 

 EE. Prothorax with snowy basal markings. 



F. Elytral pubescence variegated glorioswi, n.sp. 



FF. Elytral pubescence of unifoim colour anrhora/ii, n.sp. 



Family BOSTRYCHID/E. 



Xylopsocus bispinosus Macl.((J). 



X. elongatula Macl.(2); X. Leai Lesne(^). 



In examining some twigs of the cultivated fig, in Decem- 

 ber, 1903, I saw numerous holes made by these insects. In 

 most instances, the hole was made close to a bud, and went 

 almost round the twig, just under the bark. In nearly every 

 instance, two insects were in each drill ; the one nearest the 

 entrance and always with its tail blocking up the opening 

 was a male ; the other, which was always at the head of the 

 drill, was a female. I never saw these positions reversed. 



The explanation seems to be that the males guard the 

 entrance to the drill to prevent the females being devoured by 

 Clerida-, or other insects, which devour so many small boring 

 beetles. Frequently when examined, the male was found 

 dead, but the female living ; in other instances, both were 

 found dead, so that it would appear that, even in death, the 

 male protects the young brcod. The synonymy is now first 

 recorded. 



Rhizopertha DOMINICA, Fabr. 



Ent. Syst. 1, 2, p. 359; Lesne, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1897, 

 p. 332; R. picea Marsh; R. rufa Hope. 



This almost cosmopolitan species can now be recorded from 

 Australia, as it has been sent to me from Cape York (H. 



