Austrdlian and Tasmanian Coleojjtera. 193 



acute ; with clearly defined but not very dense or coarse \)\\\\c- 

 tures, becoming small on labrum. Antennae just passing middle 

 coxae, second joint slightly shorter than second, and slightly 

 longer than third, third, fourth and fifth subequal, sixth slightly 

 smaller, seventh larger and transverse, eighth smaller, ninth 

 and tenth larger and slightly more transverse, eleventh briefly 

 ovate, slightly shorter than ninth and tenth combined. Pro- 

 thorav moderately convex, not twice as wide as long, apex not 

 much narrower than base, and gently incurved to middle, sides 

 moderately rounded, sublateral striae close to margin on apical 

 three-fifths, and thence deep and oblique to base ; punctures 

 veiy indistinct. Elytra more than twice as long as wide, shoul- 

 ders moderately, sides very feebly rounded ; with strong punc- 

 tures in rather feeble striae ; interstices with feeble punctures, 

 suture scarcely raised posteriorly. Length 2 — 2 l-6th mm. 



Hah. — Victoria: Forrest (H. W. Davey), Somerville (A. M, 

 Lea) ; Tasmania : Burnie, Frankford (Lea). 



The specimens vars- considerably in colour ; those from 

 Forrest are flavous, with the under surface and apical half of 

 antennae somewhat darker, a Burnie specimen has the same 

 shades of colour, whilst another has the general tone castaneous, 

 with the prothorax (except at base) and head darker than else- 

 where ; the Somennlle specimen has these parts almost black. 

 The head appears to be produced into a subtriangular joint. 

 The four front tarsi of the male are somewhat dilated towards 

 the base, but otherwise the sexual differences are not pro- 

 nounced. 



Mr. Davey sent the specimens in spirits together with several 

 larvae, which he believed to belong to the species. Unfor- 

 tunately in the same tube were some other ants' nest insects, 

 and thinking the larvae in question were simply sent as being 

 from a nest they were not kept ; as the tube was received some 

 days before the explanatory letter. The beetles themselves were 

 taken from right in the middle of a nest of small black ants in. 

 a log. 



In the preceding species and in ligulata, the sublateral sitriae 

 of the prothorax almost regularly increase in distance from the 

 margins, although the distance is considerably increased pos- 

 teriorly ; but in the present species they are almost marginal 



