Australian and Tasmanian Malacodermidae. 167 



simple. In the male the dark portion of each elytron 

 covers more than half the surface, but nowhere touches 

 the margins, although it almost does so at the shoulder and 

 again beyond the middle. In the female it occupies much 

 less surface and is shaped much like a nut-wrench. In all 

 the specimens (5) before rae the apex of the elytra is 

 stained with brown. 



Laius cavicornis, n. sp. (Figs. 64, 75, 76, 150.) 



^ . Black ; muzzle, protliorax, a median zig-zig fascia and apex 

 of elytra, middle (longitudinally) of abdomen, and tips of some of 

 its segments, base of front femora and two basal joints of antennae, 

 more or less flavous ; basal two-thirds of head and greater portion 

 of elytra blue or purple. 



Head obliquely flattened, scarcely visibly punctate. Antennae 

 moderately long ; 1st joint stout, 2nd distorted, convex below and 

 concave above, 10th almost twice as long as 9th. Prothorax rather 

 strongly transverse, apex wider than base ; sides with scarcely visible 

 punctures. Elytra densely and moderately coarsely punctate, punc- 

 tures smaller and sparser near base (where also the colour is usually 

 greenish) than elsewhere, on dark subapical markings dense and 

 regular. Front femora feebly compressed but not grooved. 



Length 5 mm. 



P . Differs in being slightly larger with antennae simple, and head 

 and legs entirely dark. 



^(x5. N, S. Wales ; Queensland: Inglewood (Macleay 

 Museum). 



In size, colour, and general appearance strongly resem- 

 bling c7janocephaIus and hcllulus, but the muzzle of the 

 male flavous, the second joint of its antennae of very 

 different shape and the dark subapical markings of elytra 

 regularly punctured throughout; qtci7iquc7iotatus is a. similar 

 size and has somewhat similar elytral punctures, but is 

 otherwise very different. In the table it should be placed 

 next to tarsalis and major, from both of which it is readily 

 distinguished by its much smaller size and different 

 antennae and elytral markings. The second joint of the 

 male antennae is about once and one half as wide as long, 

 and is but little more than a hollow shell; at its inner edge 

 it is rounded and curved upwards, the upper portion being 

 in three lobes, of these the median one is scarcely defined, 

 the hind one is acute and projects slightly backwards, and 

 the front one is subconical but obtuse. 



