279 



as wide as tlie intermediate space. Explanate inargius of 

 elytra very narrow (less tlian half the width of those of the 

 thorax) and of even width throughout. Thorax very evidently 

 narrower than the elytra. Curve of the prosternum not uni- 

 form, the hinder part of the prosternal process being less 

 declivous than it should be to continue the curve. If I am 

 right in my identification of this insect the transverse stri- 

 gosity of the explanate margin of the thorax is hardly notice- 

 able in ordinary specimens. 



P. ater, sp. nov. Ovalis ; sat nitidus ; ater, tarsis piceis ; 

 capite fortius rugose, prothorace minus subtiliter crebrius, 

 punctulatis ; hujus marginibus explanatits recurvis ; elytris 

 suturam et latera versus confuse, disco seriatim, fortius 

 punctulatis. Long. 61., lat. 3f 1. 

 The puncturation of the head is exceptionally strong and 

 rugose. On the thorax there is a system of very fine close 

 puncturation (hardly distinct under a Coddington lens), and 

 also a system of much more sparing and much larger but very 

 lightly-impressed punctures, not unlike those on the thorax of 

 P. nitidissimus, Pasc. The width of the thorax at the base is 

 three times its length down the middle, and nearly three times 

 the distance between the apices of the anterior angles, which, 

 reach quite fully half way to the front of the head ; the ex- 

 planate lateral margins are very even in width, together are 

 about equal to a third of the intervening space, and are rather 

 strongly turned up at the side (especially in their anterior 

 part); the base is rather strongly bisinuate. There is scarcely 

 any trace of a central longitudinal impression, but the base has 

 a well-marked shallow fovea on either side. The elytra are 

 quite strongly punctured, the punctures forming about nin^e 

 well-defined longitudinal rows on the disc, outside w^hich, on 

 either side, there is no serial arrangement ; the whole punctura- 

 tion becomes gradually finer from the base to the apex, where 

 it is almost obsolete and quite confused. The explanate lateral 

 margins of the elytra are nearly as wide at the extreme front 

 as those of the thorax, but are gradually narrowed to the apex. 

 The humeral angles are quite obtuse, the humeral callus dis- 

 tinct but not very strong. On the underside the arch of the 

 prosternum is continuous. 



This species must be near P. vicarius, Pasc, which, however, 

 is said to have the explanate margins of the thorax not recurved 

 and the antennae " short," with the seriate puncturation of the 

 elytra interrupted only about the base and near the suture, in 

 all which respects it differs from the subject of the above des- 

 cription. 



Two specimens of this insect occurred to me in "Western 

 Yictoria. 



