BY TUE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 98 



with evidently convex interstices. The upper surface is clothed 

 with very short semi-erect pubescence. 



The position of this remarkable genus seems to be very doubt- 

 ful. It has been referred to the Ptinidce, the Dermestidce and 

 tlie Byrrhidce by various authors. To me it seems least out of 

 place in the last-named family. 



Tasmania ; taken by A. Simson, Esq. 



DERMESTID^. 

 Cryptorhopalum quornense, sp.nov. 



Ovale, pilis crebris (his in elytris nonnuUis nigris nonnullis albis 

 fasciatim et plagiatim dispositis) vestitum ; nigrum, antennis 

 flavo-testaceis ; sat crebre asperatim minus subtiliter punctu- 

 latum ; antennarum clava valde compresso-dilatata, articulo 

 apicali quam prsecedentia 2 conjuncta malto majori. 



[Long. 1, lat. f line. 

 Entirely black except the antennae, but much clothed with 

 long adpressed white hairs, with short black hairs so intermingled 

 as to present the appearance of a whitish surface bearing a pattern 

 of black markings. The head and prothorax are entirely but not 

 very closely clothed with white hairs, while on the elytra the 

 black hairs form the following markings : — A round spot on each 

 elytron behind the base, another just before the apex, and a 

 common moderately wide zig-zagged fascia just behind the 

 middle. The black pubescence is short and not very noticeable, 

 so that the portions of the elytra beaiing it appear to a casual 

 glance to be denuded spaces. The entirely black derm distin- 

 guishes this species from all its described Australian congeners 

 except confertiim, Reitt. I am not sure that I know that insect, 

 and therefore will distinguish it from the present one only by 

 characters mentioned in Reitter's description ; in confertum the 

 antennae and legs are said to be " obscurely ferruginous," and the 

 elvtra to be " confertissime punctata," while in the present 

 species the legs are black and the antennee bright yellowish, and the 

 elytra (compared with those of others of the genus) not particularly 



