67 



The smallest species of the genus known to me. A few- 

 specimens have occurred in flood refuse near the G-range. 



CRTPTOBIUM. 



The recent acquisition of a number of specimens belonging 

 to this genus from various parts of South Australia has enabled 

 me to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion concerning one or two 

 species that I have not hitherto felt justified in dealing with, 

 and has revealed errors into which I had fallen concerning two 

 species. In a paper entitled " Descriptions of Twenty New 

 Species of South Australian Coleoptera," which I read before 

 the Eoyal Society last December, I described a new species of 

 the genus under the name C. delicatulum, and the examination 

 of more specimens has satisfied me that at that time I confused 

 two closely allied species under the name. I was in error also 

 in my supposed identification of C. fractum, Eauv., which I al- 

 luded to in my remarks on C. delicatulum ; the insect I took for 

 that species, of which I had not seen the female, being distinct 

 from it. The last-named error does not materially affect the 

 correctness of what I wrote, but inasmuch as I incorporated 

 into my description of C. delicatulum the mention of a varia- 

 bility in colour and sculpture, which was really founded on 

 unother insect, I think that it will be well in this present paper 

 to re-describe it. 



It is worthy of note that, so far as I have observed, the 

 Australian species attributed to this genus differ structurally 

 from the European G. fracticorne^ Payk., inasmuch as the 

 lateral declivous portion of the elytra is larger, is more turned 

 under the body, and has its margin sinuate, while the metatho- 

 racic episterna are distinctly visible along their whole length. 



Besides C delicatulum there have been described up to the 

 present time four Australian species of Gri/ptohium, two of 

 which are much larger species than any that I have seen from 

 South Australia. Of the remaining two, G. apicale, Macl., is 

 distinguished (from all those I am about to describe) inter alia 

 by its colour, the elytra being red, with the base black, and the 

 sixth segment of the hind body being red. G. fractum, Fauv. 

 (from Melbourne), was unfortunately described from a female 

 only, the antennae of which were broken off, so that it is im- 

 possible to feel very certain regarding it ; but it would seem 

 to resemble in colour my G. varicorne, differing, however, from 

 the female of that insect in several particulars, especially in 

 the sparing puncturation of its head. 



As the following species are all closely allied intcQ' se the fol- 

 lowing table may be useful to assist in their identification : — 

 1. Antennas unicclorous, pallid ... ... ... 3 



Antennae pitchy, with the base and apex testaceous. 



G. varicorne. 



