55 



them and I am obliged to pass them by. Thus I regard the 

 genus as at present consisting of 27 valid species to which I shall 

 presently add eight additional ones. Of the 27, there are six 

 that I have been unable to identify, on which I offer the follow- 

 ing notes. 



M. spurius, Kirby is from N.S. Wales. It is a large species 

 (long., 5 1.) with simple claws, the clypeus very feebly emarginate, 

 the basal angle of the prothorax obtuse, the elytra with rows of 

 minute tubercles, and the hind tibiae with their external apical 

 process extremely elongate. This latter character enables me to 

 place it confidently in tabulating the genus. I have no doubt 

 the Mcechidms from W.A. which Mr. Waterhouse (Tr. E. S. 

 Lond. 1875 p. 193) thinks a possible var. of spurius is mellyanus, 

 Westw., which at p. 201 of the same paper the author mentions 

 as unknown to him. 



M. brevis, Waterh., from North Queensland, is scarcely 

 described, the remarks on it consisting of little more than the 

 mention of certain differences from M. ater, Waterh., without 

 any definite statement whether in all respects not specified the 

 description of M. ater stands good for M. brevis. Thus there is 

 a considerable element of doubt about some of the characters, — 

 e.g. J the color (which is unusual and probably constant in Jj£. 

 ater). If 31. brevis is of the same deep black color as AI. ater, I 

 have not seen it. If it is of a different color the description is 

 valueless. 



M. corrosus, Waterh., is a large species (long., 5J 1.) from Tas- 

 mania with appendages to the claws, and the hind angles of the 

 prothorax " not at all acute." I have seen nothing like it. 



M. sexdentatus, Waterh., is a rather small species (long. 3 J 1.) 

 from Adelaide with the head " tridentate on either side." Among 

 the numerous South Australian examples of Mcechidius that I 

 have seen there is not one with the head sculptured as that of 

 sexdentatus is said to be. The only species I have seen from any 

 locality with sculpture at all approaching it has the sides of the 

 prothorax excised (which they do not appear to be in sexdentatus) 

 and is from Sydney and agrees very well with the description of 

 M. etnarginatus, Waterh. 



M. Froggatti, Macl., is a species of moderate size (long., 4 1.) 

 from N.W. Australia. The only very notable character in the 

 description is a costa running hindward from the humeral angle 

 (?ithe humeral " callus "). I do not think I have seen the insect. 

 M. antennalis (described below) has such a costa, but is quite 

 different in other respects from the description. 



M. bidentuhis, Fairm., is a small species (long., 3 1.) from 

 Queensland. It has simple claws and is said to be notable by 

 the presence of two blunt teeth on the head. I am satisfied that 

 I have not seen it. 



