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



HeLCOGASTER OBLIQUICEPS, n. sp. 



^ . Black ; head (except at base), basal half of antennae and parts 

 of tibiae and tarsi testaceous ; base of prothorax not f[uite as dark as 

 the rest of its surface. 



Head comparatively large, with small punctures at base, obliquely 

 flattened and with coarse punctures between eyes. Antennae 

 stout, rather short, the joints feebly serrate, Prothorax elongate, 

 strongly transversely impressed at base. Elytra impunctate. Basal 

 joint of front tarsi rounded and with a black inner margin. 



Length to apex of elytra 1|, of abdomen 2|- mm. 



Hob. N. S. Wales : Jenolan {J. C. Wihurd). 



Differs from the males of the other species having the 

 protiiorax black by its flattened non-excavated head and 

 by the colours and punctures of same. 



Helcog ASTER NIGER, n. sp. {Fig. 9.) 



(J. Black ; knees and parts of five basal joints of antennae obscure 

 testaceous. 



Head large, deeply and largely excavated between eyes, the 

 excavation trisinuate posteriorly, front with a large concave tubercle ; 

 base and sides transversely strigose and with a few scattered punctures. 

 Antennae long, passing apex of elytra, none of the joints transverse. 

 Prothorax feebly transverse, base strongly transversely impressed. 

 Elytra almost impunctate. Basal joint of front tarsi about half 

 their total length, rounded and with a black inner rim. 



Length to apex of elytra 2, of abdomen 3 mm. 



Hob. S. Australia (type in Macleay Museum). 



From the above the cephalic excavations are not unlike 

 those of the males of varius, but seen from behind the 

 head appears very different; and its sculpture is very 

 different to all the others having the prothorax black. 

 The large frontal tubercle from some directions appears to 

 have its concavity opening behind into the deep median 

 excavation, so that this then appears to be formed of four 

 divisions of which the two lateral are larger than the two 

 median. The lateral ones from some directions appear to 

 be trilobed, so that the head then appears to have six instead 

 of four irregular foveae. The elytra from some directions 

 appear to be supplied with small wrinkled punctures, but 

 these are never distinctly visible, and perhaps are really 

 due to irregular contraction. 



