BY ARITHUR M. LEA, F.E.S. 



351 



Howitt collection, and bearing a green number label 

 " 1358," and a blue label " Dorcus near cancroides," but 

 Avithout a locality label. Westwood, however, received 

 the type from the late Dr. Howitt, and gave the localitv as 

 JNIaria Island, and the east coast of Tasmania. 



LISSOTES OBTUSATUS, Westw. (Figs. 13, 14, 

 15' 57.) 



A rather solidly-built species, more widely distributed 

 in Tasmania than any other. There are specimens before 

 me from Hobart, Mount WelHngton, Ben Lomond 

 (4,000 feet). Mole Creek, Great Lake, Huon River,. 

 Parattah, etc. One (Fig. 13) bears the Rev. T. Black- 

 burn's label obtusatus, and two others from the Howitt 

 collection are so named (one of them, however, probably 

 in error, is labelled as from Xew South Wales.) 



The males vary in length from 13 to 19 mm. When 

 clenched their mandibles usually leave two openings — a 

 small one at the apex, and a somewhat larger one at the 

 base; but the apical one appears to be frequently absent. 



LISSOTES LAUXCESTOXI, Westw. (Figs. 16, 17, 

 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.) 



Commented on by both W^estwood and Parry as close 

 to obtusatus. Parry remarks (i) : — " It is the opinion of 

 certain entomologists that this may ultimately prove to 

 be a mere local form of L. obtusatus." The differences 

 pointed out by Westwood, however, appear to be con- 

 stant, but the two species, or races, may usually be readily 

 distinguished by the mandibles: when agape in Laun- 

 cestoni, each is seen to have a strong conical projection 

 near the base, and even when clenched the projections are 

 visible. In obtusatus each mandible is there usually more 

 or less evenly rounded off (2), but there are several inter- 

 mediate forms before me. But even if Launcestoni is to 

 be regarded as a variety, it is one well deserving of a. 

 name. 



(i) Trans. Ent. Soc, 1870, p. 97. 



(2) Compare figures 16 (Launcestoni) and 15 (Obtusatus); 



