134 THE INSECTS OF GAYNDAH, 



STAPHTLINID/E. 

 Sub-family ALEOCHAiUDyE. 

 Myrmecockphalus. n. gen. 



Anfcenntc filiform, the first joint thick and of the same length 

 as the third, the rest nearly equal and enlarging slightly towards 

 the extremity. Maxillary palpi with the third joint much larger 

 than the second, and the fourth very small and awl-shaped. Eyes 

 of medium size, round and not prominent. Head convex, nearly 

 square, subtruncate behind, rounded at the posterior angles, and 

 affixed to the thorax by a short but very narrow neck. Thorax 

 of an elongate oval form, narrower than the head, convex, and 

 deeply impressed along the median line. Elytra broader than 

 the head. Abdomen moderately elongate, widening a little towards 

 the apex. 



I have not been able to give a more complete detail than the 

 above of the characters of this genus, for want of duplicate 

 specimens, but enough I think has been given to enable it to be 

 readily identified. The resemblance to an ant, especially about the 

 head is very remarkable, and it is most probable that like some 

 other genera of the Aleochivtidce its true habitat is in ants nests. 

 The two species descinbed below, were taken by Mr. Masters in a 

 heap of debris left on the banks of the Burnett River after a heavy 

 flood. 



197. — Mtrmecocephalus cingulatds. n. sp. 



Length Ij lines. 

 Black, finely punctured, with the antennte and palpi of a 

 brownish yellow. The abdomen is subnitid with the hinder part 

 of the first segment yellow. 



198. — Myrmecocephalus bicingulatus, n. sp. 



Length 1| lines. 

 This species differs from the last in having the head more 

 rounded behind, in having the thorax more angularly rounded on 

 the sides at its broadest part, in having the elytra of a more 



