Tenebrionid^ from Australia and Tasmania. 285 



placed it after PterohelcBus peltatusy Er., which it resembles in 

 outHne. 



The three following are closely allied in general appearance, 

 but are distinguished by several small but well-marked points 

 of difference. They seem to lie between P. Walkerii and P. 

 silphoides^ not so broad as the first nor so narrow as the last, 

 and all moderately convex. Two of these species have the 

 sutural margin raised ; one {P. laticolUs) has the expanded 

 margins of the elytra rather broad, the broadest part in the 

 middle ; the other (P. hepaticus) has them much narrower, 

 very slightly contracted behind the shoulders, the rest to be- 

 yond the middle of nearly equal breadth ; the third {P. dispar) 

 affects two forms, apparently depending upon sex, the male 

 being elliptic, the female obovate ; in this the sutural margin 

 is without any elevation. 



Pterohelipus laticolUs. 



P. fuscus, nitidus. marginibus dilutioribus ; ocuhs approximatis ; 

 prothorace elytris latiore, his postice gradatim angustioribus. 



Hab. Melbourne. 



Dark glossy brown, the expanded margins of the elytra and 

 prothorax considerably paler ; head rather narrow behind the 

 antennary ridges, concave between them ; the eyes rather large 

 and approximate ; clypeus very convex, except at its anterior 

 angles, its suture indistinct ; prothorax short, broader than the 

 elytra at its base, minutely punctured, the margins broad and 

 only very slightly reflected, the basal foveas strongly impressed; 

 scutellum curvilinearly triangular ; elytra gradually and rather 

 rapidly naiTowing from the base, seriate-punctate, the alternate 

 intervals of the rows forming slightly elevated lines, the su- 

 ture strongly elevated from below the scutellar striola, the 

 punctures rather small, the expanded margins, owing to a 

 contraction of the sides of the disk, broadest at the middle, 

 behind very distinctly reflected; body beneath and femora 

 very glossy chestnut-brown ; antennae, tibiae, tarsi, and epi- 

 pleurffi of the elytra reddish ferruginous. Length 10 lines. 



Pterohelceus hepaticus. 



P. fuscus (aliquando rufo-brunncus), subnitidus, marginibus dilu- 

 tioribus ; oculis distantibiis ; prothorace elytris haud latiore, bis 

 postice gradatim angustioribus. 



Hab. Melbourne. 



Dark brown (or sometimes light reddish broAvn), paler at 

 the margins, less glossy than the last ; head rather narrow 



