Australian and TasDuinia/ii Goleoptera. 125 



dense, minute punctures. Abdo/ue/i, almost parallel-sided ; punc- 

 tures indistinct. Length Ih, to apex of elytra f mm. 



Hab. — N.S. Wales: Sydney. In nests of Erf atom ma metal- 

 licurn (H. W. Cox). 



The elytra and abdomen are almost of the same shade of 

 colour, but the abdomen is more shining, from some directions, 

 however, its apex appears to be somewhat paler. The palpi are 

 somewhat darker than the legs, and somewhat paler than the 

 base of antennae ; the rest of the antennae, however, is much 

 darker. Tlie sides of the prothorax are very thin and appear to 

 be separated from the disc (which in consequence appears fairly 

 convex) by a shallow longitudinal imjDression, which, however, 

 is nowhere well defined or foveate in character. 



Polylohus tasmaniensis, n.sp. 



Head, elytra and metasternum blackish brown, prothorax and 

 abdomen of a dingy reddish testaceous, the median segments 

 of the latter more or less stained with piceous ; antennae piceous 

 brown, basal joints slightly paler ; legs and palpi somewhat 

 obscurely flavous. 



Head and antennae of much the same shape as in semiopacus ; 

 prothorax, elytra and xibdomen also with simjilar outlijneis. 

 Prothorax very feebly but evenly convex throughout, punctures 

 indistinct. Elytra with dense, minute punctures. Length If, 

 to apex of elytra 1 mm. 



Hah. — Tasmania : Hobart, Launceston, Huon River, in nests 

 of Ectatomma metallicuni' (A. M. Lea). 



The general outlines are almost exactly as in semiopacus, but 

 the prothorax is without fovea, and is shining, as are also the 

 head and elytra. It appears to be the commonest of all in 

 Tasmania. 



Some specimens have the elytra entirely dark, but in others 

 they are slightly diluted with red towards the base. The dark 

 median portion of the abdomen is distinct enough, but not 

 sharply defined, and is usually more noticeable on the upper 

 surface than the lower. 



Five specimens from Hobart appear to Ijelong to the s))eiies, 

 but differ in having the head but little, or not at all, darker 



