736 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, 



described species by its prothorax not narrowed anteriorly. The 

 description of *S'. hrunneus is quite useless, giving no information 

 whether the protborax is narrowed anteriorly and dismissing all 

 the sculpture of the prothorax with the brief expression "impres- 

 sions moderately strong," — but as it fits S. FortiiuTni^evj well as 

 far as it goes and is founded on specimens from Adelaide I feel no 

 doubt of its identity. 



SiMODONTUS AUSTRALIS, Dej. 



My collection contains a single example taken at Port Lincoln 

 which agrees very well with Dejean's description of this species. 

 Unfortunately the description is so short that it is easy to suppose 

 there may be other species that will fit it equally well, and as no 

 more precise indication is given of the locality of the type than 

 " Xew Holland " there is nothing but the description to guide one 

 in selecting an insect to bear the name. However, I claim the 

 name for this S. Australian species by adding to Dejean's diagnosis 

 such particulars as will unmistakably associate the species in 

 question with the name, feeling sure that nothing could cZissociate 

 the two unless it might be a reference to the original type. If 

 that can be made and my present memoir should provoke someone 

 to make it and set me right, I shall be very glad. 



Minus latus ; minus brevis ; supra piceo-niger ; subtus cum 

 palpis antennis tibiis tarsisque rufescens, femoribus picescentibus ; 

 prothorace quam longiori tertia parte latiori, postice quam antice 

 tertia parte latiori, margine antico sat concavo, lateribus leviter 

 sat sequaliter rotundatis, angulis anticis prominulis, posticis rotun- 

 dato-obtusis, basi rotundatim emarginata, striola basali externa 

 obliterata ; elytris basi externa nullo modo deutatis, sat fortiter 

 striatis, interstitiis externis postice angustis convexis, interstitio 

 '^ tripunctulato. [Long. 3?, lat. Ig lines (vix). 



Compared with S. Fortnumi this insect is very evidently longer, 

 narrower, and more parallel ; the head is smaller in proportion to 

 the other parts ; the prothorax is longer and flatter, more concave 

 in front, with the front angles more prominent and less obtuse, 



