BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 157 



tion; it does not belong to the genus Drimostoma. Drimostoma helmsi SI., also 

 represents a section of the genus Phersita; but if we examine many other genera 

 we will find variations among- the species as great as those between Teraphis mel- 

 boiinieiiais Cast., Drimostoma montanum Cast., and Z>. helmsi SI. 



Table of Australian and Tasmanian species. 



1 (6) Antennae increasing in thickness to apex, joints 5 — 11 moniliform, 



compressed; elytra with humeral angles dentate; met-episterna 

 (with epimera) longer than broad (epimera long). 



2 (5) Prothorax with outer basal impression strongly impressed, third inter- 



stice of elytra bipunctate beside third stria. 



3 (4) Prothorax with sides obhquely subsinuate to base, basal angles rect- 



angular, not denticulate inelbourrtensis Cast, 



4 (3) Prothorax with sides arcuate posteriorly, very shortly sinuate just 



before base, basal angles denticulate tasinanica SI. 



5 (2) Prothorax with outer basal impressions obsolescent; elytra with third 



interstice impunctate helmsi SI. 



6 (1) Antennae setaceous, slender, joints 5 — 11 oblong; elytra with humeral 



angles marked but not dentate; met-episterna (with epimera) 

 quadrate (epimera very short). (Forni very convex, elytra with 

 third interstice impunctate.) 



7 (10) Prothorax with outer basal impression shallow and separated from 



inner impression. 

 S (9) Form larger, less convex; elytra less ampliate on sides. . .Length, 7.5 — 



8.5 mm montana Cast. 



9 (S) Form smaller, more convex; elytra more ampliate on sides. Length, 



5.6 — 6.3 mm aus/nilis Cast. 



10 (7) Prothorax with outer basal impression deep, not separated from inner 



impression. Length, 6.7 mm coiivexa SI. 



Note. — Teraphis melbournensis Cast. {= T. argutoroides Cast., from speci- 

 mens in Howitt Coll.). Drimostoma montanum Cast. (^= D. alpestris Cast.) 1 

 feel sure the synonymy given here is correct. 



Phersita ta.smanica, sp. uov. 



Oblong-oval; prothorax wide, wider at base (1.7 mm.) than apex (1.5 mm.) ; 

 elytra ovate, strongly crenulate-striate, eighth interstice carinate towards apex, 

 first interstice with a well marked short striole at base, third interstice bipunctate 

 beside third stria, basal border acutely denticulate at shoulders. Ferruginous- 

 brown. 



Front stmngly bi-impressed, impressions divergent backwards; eyes (with 

 orbits) reniform; postocular part of orbits rather more than half the length of 

 eyes, slojaing obliquely to neck. Prothorax large (l.G ^ 2.2 mm.), rather de- 

 pressed; sides rounded, very shortly sinuate beside basal angles; anterior angles 

 obtuse, bordered; base truncate, angles acute, subdentate; lateral margin rather 

 wide, especially posteriorly; lateral basal impressions wide, sparsely punctidate. 

 Elytra truncate-oval (4 X 2.6 mm.), lightly convex; interstices a little convex, 

 seventh stria present a.s a row of closely placed punctures. Length, 7, breadth, 

 ■2.6 mm. 



Hah. — Tasmania (Simson No. 3119). Several specimens. 



Allied to Ph. melbournensis Cast., but eyes less globose and prominent, post 

 ocular part of orbits longer, less abruptly raised from head; protliorax more 



