AuHtralio a and Tasiiianian Coleoptera. 121 



it was extremely active, and I had to strike it ([uickly (and in 

 so doing broke one of the elytra) to capture it.l Of the other 

 specimen I have no record as to how it was taken. 



Adelotopus variolas us. n.sp. 



Black, highly polished ; pygidium, uietasternum. al)domen and 

 appendages reddish ; glabrous. 



Head regularly convex, more than twice as wide as long ; 

 without punctures or median line. Prothoi^ax about twice as 

 wide as long, apex emarginate to receive head up to about one- 

 third the leno'th of eyes ; margins moderately wide ; punctures 

 very indistinct. Elytra with very minute punctures, and with 

 rows of very minute but slightly larger ones ; margins narrow 

 and not at all serrated. Abdomen with rather small and fairly 

 numerous punctures. Length 7^, width 3^ mm. 



Hah. — X.S. Wales: Sydney (A. M. Lea). 



The proportions are almost as in the common dytiscoides, but it 

 differs from that species in being smaller, more polished, and 

 with the fine sculpture very different. Scattered over the upper 

 surface are numerous small, small-pox-like impressions, or the 

 marks made in drying mud by rain, and they are shallower and 

 larger on the prothorax than on the elytra, l)ut although distinct 

 enough on close scrutiny, they are not very conspicuous. I 

 have not seen similar impressions on any other species. The 

 polish is almost as high as in politus, but that species is smaller 

 and narrower, with the fine sculpture different. Brevlpennis 

 has the proportions much the same, but is smaller, and with 

 the fine sculpture different. From .certain directions the ex- 

 treme tip of the elytra appears to be diluted with red, but from 

 others the elytra appear entirely black. 



The ty))e was obtained under a stone from a nest of ants ; 

 several other speciiuens probabh* belonging to the species were 

 seen associated Avith ants near Sydney, under stones, but they 

 managed to escape captui'e by their extreme agility. The type 

 was sent shortly after its capture to Mr. Sloane, and returned 



1 .Judaeti by their outlines and short legs one would think that the species of Silpho- 

 morpha and Adelotnpits would he aniorif;st the slowest of all the CarahUiae, but as a matter 

 of fact some of tliem are anionyst the quickest moving beetles known. 



