204 
bases impresso; prothorace modice transverso, antice sat 
angustato, in disco puncturis 2 interse transversim approxi- 
matis ante medium (2que inter se late distantibus in margine 
antico) positis et utrinque marginem medium versus punc- 
turis 2 transversim positis impresso; scutello  elytris 
abdomineque minus tortiter minus crebre punctulatis ; 
elytris prothoraci longitudine zqualibus. Long., 2 1 (vix); 
lat., $ 1. 
This small species seems to be quite distinct from all the Aus- 
tralian Quedii hitherto described. In M. Fauvel’s tabulation of 
Quedii (Ann. Genov. 1878, pp. 551-2) it would be placed I think 
beside metallicus, Fauv., from which inter alia its diminutive 
size readily distinguishes it. I must say, however, that M. 
Fauvel’s tabulation is so complicated (being designed for interpola- 
tion with another tabulation) that I do not feel sure I understand 
it accurately. However, all previously described species except 
piceolus, Fauv., are markedly larger than the present insect, and 
piceolus differs from it inter alia by the apical portion of its 
abdomen being red. 
N. Queensland ; presented to me by Mr. Koebele. 
METOPONCUS. 
M. cairnsensis, sp. nov. Sat elongatus; nitidus ; niger, antennis 
piceo-ferrugineis, elytris lete violaceis, pedibus et abdominis 
segmentis 1° 4° que lete rufis; capite elongato parallelo, 
quam prothorax sublatiori; hoc elongato, disco utrinque 4- 
punctulato; elytris biseriatim obsolete spunctulatis, pro- 
thoraci longitudine sat equalibus. Long., 231. 
Readily distinguishable by its coloring from all the previously 
described species. 
N. Queensland ; taken by Mr. Koebele near Cairns. 
PALAMINUS. 
P. Nove-Guinee, Fauv. Mr. Koebele has sent to me from the 
Barron River district of Queensland some examples of a 
Palaminus which agrees very well with the description of this 
species. It is quite possible that a comparison with the type 
might reveal distinctions, but at any rate the two must be 
extremely close. The present insect does not appear to be the 
allied P. Australie, Fauv., of which I believe I have an example 
(taken in Victoria) differing from the Queensland specimens by 
the characters that M. Fauvel specifies as distinguishing 
P. Australie from P. Nove-Guinee. 
P. vitiensis, Fauv. Among the Staphylinide taken in N. 
Queensland by Mr. Koebele I find an example of a Palaminus 
agreeing well with the description of this well-marked Polynesian 
insect. The only discrepancy is a slight one in respect of color ; 
