152 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, 



piceus Kirby, one of the commonest of Australian insects; but I 

 have undoubtedly two species, clearly separated by the size of 

 seriate punctures of elytra, otherwise very similar. A cotype of 

 P. pascoei from Gayndah was given me by the late Mr. Masters. 

 After a close re examination of the Macleay Museum specimens, 

 I find my cotype to be nearer the species labelled P. piceus, while 

 the differences between those labelled P. piceus and those labelled 

 P. pascoei are slight. The species in my collection, showing much 

 filter seriate punctures than either of these, from regions as 

 widely separated as Wodonga (Vic), and Endeavour River 

 (N.Q.), is thus either a new species or the true P. piceus Kirby. 

 Only an examination of the type of P. piceus will settle this 

 question. J consider the specimens labelled P. piceus and P. 

 pascoei in the Macleay Museum to be conspecific. 



P. abdominal is Lea, (1 pruinosus Pasc.j is easily distinguished 

 from the above by (1) the more parallel form, (2) much smaller 

 seriate punctures, with irregular punctures of the same size on 

 the intervals of the basal half, and (3) quite obsolete costse. 



Sympetes browni, n.sp. 



Widely obovate, moderately convex, dull black, antenme and 

 tarsi castaneous. 



Head finely rugose, epistoma truncate in front, sides raised 

 and rounded, forehead with prominent ridges in front of eyes, 

 antennae short, joints 8-11 enlarged, round and of nearly equal 

 size. Prothorax 3 x 10 mm., length measured in the middle, 

 width at base, apex arcuate-emarginate, base bisinuate, anterior 

 angles widely obtuse, posterior acute and falcate-wise, overlapping 

 elytra; explanate margins wide, at base together nearly half 

 total width, extreme border reflected at sides, narrowed on apex; 

 disc with a few small punctures showing through the fine silky 

 derm, central carina lightly raised. Scutellum very transversely 

 triangular. Elytra of same width as prothorax at base, widest 

 behind middle, margins wide and separated from disc by a row 

 of large punctures, disc strongly carinate at suture throughout 

 full length, surface punctures half concealed by derm; underside 

 opaque, metasternum punctate, abdomen with lines of red, recum- 



