352 



NlOTEiS OiX THE GEINUS MSSOTEiS. 



One of the specimens before me bears a label of Mr. 

 Blackburn's, " Seems identical with a Lissotus I am de- 

 scribing as new (i), mandibs a little different, but that is 

 a very frequent occurrence in Lissotus." Another bears 

 his label ' forcipula.' These two specimens differ con- 

 siderably in size, in shape of the mandibles, and punctures 

 of the prothorax, but I am convinced that they are simply 

 formis of Launcestoni." 



The female, unknown to Westwood, differs in being 

 smaller and rather more depressed, prothorax more 

 rounded in front, with median line more conspicuous, 

 punctures coarse, denser, and more uniform, head much 

 smaller, with coarser and denser punctures and the man- 

 dibles of the usual female form. 



Hab. — Wynyard, St. Patrick's River, East and West 

 Tamar, Strahan, Launceston, Beaconsheld, Mole Creek, 

 Zeehan, Frankford, Ulverstone, Burnie. 



LISSOTES MEXALCAS. Westw. (Figs. 23, 24, 25, 26.) 



Readily distinguished from all other species by its high 

 polish, peculiarly shaped prothorax, and largely excavated 

 head. Each mandible has two apical cusps, and a strong 

 sub-conical tubercle on the upper surface rather close to 

 the apex. When clenched the enclosed space is large and 

 single. The labrum is sometimes feebly notched at its 

 apex, but is generally obtusely triangular, and is some- 

 times slightly upcurved at its tip. The distinct teeth on 

 the front tibiae vary in number from six to nine, but are 

 usually seven. The length varies from 16 to 24 mm. 



It is perhaps the most distinct species of the genus, 

 but is rare in collections. I have seen several other species 

 labelled menalcas, but although in some respects they 

 agreed with the original figure, they were all without the 

 high polish characteristic of this species, and which at first 

 sight causes the males to appear as if coated with black 

 ■enamel. 



The female, unknown to Westwood, is also highly 

 polished, but the polish is less conspicuous owing to the 

 punctures being much denser and larger, especially on the 

 head and prothorax. The prothorax is smaller and less 

 convex, with the median line wider and deeper, and the 



(i) Mr. Blackburn evidently abandoned his intention of de- 

 scribing species of Lissotes. 



