Australian and Tasmanian Malacodermidae. 213 



In the type specimen the apex of the abdomen appears 

 to be terminated by three fascicles of hairs, much as it 

 is in many of the Staiohylinidae, a character apparently 

 unique in the genus. Seen from the side the head bears 

 a ridiculous resemblance to the head of a hen, the median 

 tubercle standing for the comb. The basal joint of the 

 front tarsi is rather smaller than is usual in the males of 

 the allied genera, and owing to being much the same 

 colour as the other joints is rather less distinctive. 



Neocarphurus sobrinus, n. sp. {Fig. 6.) 



$. Blackish -brown, abdomen black; legs piceous, in places 

 diluted witli testaceous ; head and antennae (the terminal joints 

 more or less infuscate) testaceous, extreme base of prothorax dull 

 flrtvous, with pale, moderately long, scattered haii's. 



Head wide largely and irregularly excavated ; between antennae 

 with a three-ridged elevated space (the spaces between the ridgea 

 concave), the median ridge longer than the others. Prothorax con- 

 siderably longer than wide, sides diminishing in width from apex to 

 near base, and then slightly dilated, near base less than half the 

 width of apex and strongly transversely impressed, base itself feebly 

 bilobed. Elytra much as in the preceding species. Legs long and 

 thin ; femora curved, basal joint of front tarsi large, with a black 

 comb on its inner apex. 



Length to apex of elytra If, of abdomen 3 (circ.) mm. 



Hob. N. S. Wales : National Park {A. M. Lea). 



Seen from behind the head appears to be supplied with 

 two small acute tubercles between the eyes, this appear- 

 ance being due to the lateral ridges, the median one 

 though longer than the others being on a lower level, so 

 as to be invisible from behind. 



Genus Helcogaster, Boh., Res. Eugen., p. 81. 



I believe Fairmaire * placed Helcogaster as a synonym 

 of CarpJinrus and it probably is such f ; but the majority 

 of the species form a very natural group, the members of 

 which are readily recognised by the naked eye alone, so 

 that even if the genus is to be sunk in Car'pliurus, there 



* In a note I did not make a record of and cannot now find. 

 t The first species (cijanopterus) referred to it by Bohemann is 

 quite an ordinary Carpliurus. 



