On Aquatic Carnivorous Cokoptcra or Dijdscidce. 567 



817. Copelatus melanarius, n. sp. — Oblongo-ovalis, baud parallelus, niger, capite 

 anterius prothoraceque ad latera rufesceutibus, antennis pedibusque rufis ; thorace 

 adlatera latius subtilissime striguloso-punctato; elytris scriebus punctorum distinetis, 

 in mare fere sine strigulis, in femina ad latera strigulis subtilissimis densis plus 

 minusve extensis ; coxis posterioribus crebre subtiliter strigulosis. Long. 9, lat. 

 4i m.m. 



The male has the front and middle tarsi dilated ; and the anterior claw of the 

 front foot is slightly thickened and bisinuate beneath, the apical portion being more 

 slender than the rest : in the female there are on the sides of the elytra near the 

 middle some very dense and fine scratches which are variable in their extent. 

 The species varies somewhat in size and sculpture; there are sometimes a few 

 scratches in the male on the basal jiortion of the elytra between the first, second, 

 and third series of punctures. In a small narrow vaiiety from Clarence River, the 

 elytra of the female are covered with the dense fine scratches over a great extent, 

 only the ajiex and a narrow space along the suture being free from them. 



Austi-alia, (Clarence River). G70. 



818. Copelatus nigritulus, n, sp. — Oblongo-ovalis, minus depressus, niger, nitidus, 

 capite anterius prothoraceque ad latera rufesceutibus, antennis pedibusque rufis ; 

 prothorace singulis brevibus sparsis conspicuis ; elytris seriebus punctorum minus 

 distinetis, strigulis brevibus, minus subtilibus, sat numerosis, ad apicem omnino 

 desinentibus ; coxis posterioribus strigulis crebribus profundis. Long. 8 J, lat. 

 4 m.m. 



The male has the frout and mi'ldle tarsi dilated, and the anterior claw of the front 

 feet stouter but with a slender terminal portion. In the female the scratches on 

 the elytra are slightly finer than in the male, and in some specimens their number 

 is increased. 



The specimens before me show a great deal of variation especially as to the de- 

 velopment and extent of the sculpture of the upper surface. The above diagnosis 

 represents the majoi-ity of individuals, but certain forms have quite as extensive a 

 development of the sculpture, as is found in C. acuductus. It is very probable 

 that it may ultimately prove there is a series of closely allied species of this 

 group. 



Australia, Tasmania. G71. 



819. Copelatus acuductus, Clk., M.C. — Oblongo-ovalis, minus depressus, elon- 

 gatus, capite prothoraceque anterius versus latera picescentibus, antennis pedibusque 

 rufis ; prothorace strigulis brevibus conspicuis ; elytris fere sine seriebus punctorum, 

 strigulis brevibus rudis numerosis, posterius subtiliorilms, ct longius versus apicem 

 extensis. Long. 10, lat. 4-2 m.m. 



