242 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, 



I have but a single specimen which, though a female, I have 

 described, as its large size — in comparison with those species 

 possessing a black prothorax — should render it distinct. 



Helcogaster concaviceps, n.sp. 



^. Depressed, shining. Black; head (except at base), pro- 

 thorax, femora (except apex of posterior), and two basal joints of 

 antennae, red; elytra dark steel-blue (almost black); nine apical 

 joints of antennae, four posterior tibiae, all the tarsi, and the palpi, 

 piceous-black; trochantins rejidish-brown, their bases lighter, 

 posterior femora tipped with piceous, anterior tibiae reddish, their 

 bases darker; eyes dark brown. Head, prothorax, and elytra 

 with long blackish hairs at the sides, the latter with a few on the 

 disk, the last two with a few small hairs; abdomen with a few 

 longish hairs at the apex; above with sparse minute pubescence, 

 undersurface more sparsely still; meso- and metasternum with a 

 few short hairs, tibiae with minute whitish pubescence, and a few 

 straggling hairs. Head rather densely and minutely punctate; 

 prothorax minutely punctate, most noticeable at apex; elytra 

 irregularly, abdomen above minutely, undersurface more sparingly 

 punctate; meso-, metasternum and legs minutely but distinctly 

 punctate. 



Head transverse; two wide and deep excavations between the 

 eyes, an indistinct carina separating them; eyes small, moderately 

 prominent; antennae slender, not reaching base of elytra, equi- 

 distant at their bases with the front of the eyes, 1st joint almost 

 as long as 2nd-4th combined, 11th one and a half times as long 

 as 10th. Prothorax longer than wide, apex slightly rounded, 

 base truncate, angles equally rounded, sides and base "^'ery 

 narrowly margined, sides subparallel; an indistinct longitudinal 

 impression on each side in front, and a broad transverse one at 

 the base. Scutellum almost concealed by the prothorax, the part 

 which is visible widely transverse. Elytra about as long as 

 head and prothorax combined, much wider than prothorax, and 

 wider than head across eyes, base truncate, shoulders square, the 

 sides dilating to about the basal fifth, each separately rounded. 



