144 Mr. Arthur M. Lea's Revision of the 



appearance is deceptive. In appearance it is much like 

 large specimens of 2'>usillus, or small ones of paiixillus, the 

 size being almost constantly intermediate between the two. 

 From pauxilhis it differs in the prothoracic margins being 

 considerably thicker and rather suddenly inflated in the 

 middle, much as in pusilhcs; from the latter species it 

 differs in the antennae being longer and entirely black 

 and its elytral punctures coarser. I have seen numerous 

 specimens of both this species and pusillus from Western 

 Australia and the differences mentioned seem to be quite 

 constant ; the two species, in fact, seem (in W. Australia) 

 to be related to each other much as perahundans and 

 paiixillus are in Tasmania. 



Heteromastix perabundans, n. sp. 



(J . Black, prothorax flavous ; base of tibiae and lower surface of 

 three basal joints of antennae obscure testaceous. 



Head scarcely visibly punctate and less transverse than usual. 

 Antennae moderately long and stout ; 2nd joint more than half the 

 length of 3rd, llth sto\iter and longer than 10th. Prothorax and 

 elytra sculptured as in niger, except that the punctures are some- 

 what coarser. Penultimate segment of abdomen semi-circularly 

 excised. 



Length 3h nim. 



$ . Differs in being slightly larger than the male, with just per- 

 ceptibly shorter antennae, prothorax slightly more transverse and 

 the penultimate segment of abdomen gently curved throughout. 



Hab. Tasmania : Hobart, Mount Wellington, Huon 

 River {R. H. D. Griffith, Aug. Simson and A. M. Lea). 



The sculpture and pubescence are almost exactly the 

 same as in niger ; in fact, but for the colour of the pro- 

 thorax the two species would be scarcely distinguishable. 

 From pusilhis it differs in having the elytra much more 

 coarsely punctate and the prothorax less angularly dilated, 

 the dilated portion also being basal and median instead 

 of subapical. The base of the prothorax is usually stained 

 with black. 



Probably, during several months of the year this is the 

 commonest of all insects on flowers about Hobart and 

 Mount Wellington ; I have seen tens of thousands of 

 specimens in my beating umbrella at the same time. 



