On the Byrrhides of Australia, by the 

 Rev. R. L. King, B.A. 



[Read 22nd November, 1869.] 



Although the family is not numerously represented in Australia, 

 yet two of the genera, being peculiar to Australasia, are not 

 without interest. The genus Microchcetes was described by Mr. 

 Hope, in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of 

 London, (Vol. I., p. 153) and founded upon a species named by 

 him M. sphcericus. The genus differs from the Syncalypta of 

 Stephens, principally in the antenna3, of which the first joint is 

 rather long, the second to the eighth gradually decreasing in 

 length ; the elytra are covered with tufts of stiff and generally 

 truncate setge analogous to those which exist in Nosodendron. 



It is possible that futui-e Entomologists will prefer reuniting 

 Microchcetes with Syncalypta, the comparati\^e size of the different 

 joints of so variable an organ as the antennae being an unsafe 

 character on which to rest a generic distinction. At any rate 

 the new species which I am about to describe appears to form a 

 passage from the one genus to the other, and at the same time to 

 differ from them both in its tarsal developement. But that I 

 think it probable that the genus Microchcetes may not be retained 

 eventually, I might have formed another genus out of my new 

 species. 



I am however under no doubt about the generic distinctness 

 of my second new species, Byzenia formicicola. Its facial 

 developement, the visibility as well as the proportions of its 

 strange antennae, and its curious elytra, all combine with its habits 

 to point out a wide difference between it and the other members 

 of the family. The remarkable forms of many of the coleoptera, 

 which inhabit the nests of ants, have often attracted the attention 

 of Entomologists ; our present species is no exception. 



I insert, from the original descriptions, the diagnosis of the 

 species of Microchcetes which are ali'eady known. 



Genus I. MiCROCHiETES. Hope. 

 In this genus the eyes, mandibles, and labrum are quite con- 

 cealed when the head is retracted into the thorax. The antennae 



