Genera and Species of Coleoptera. 321 



not in the least thickened ; elytra with the lines between each double 

 row of punctures more raised, the punctures (more nearly equal in size) 

 and the lines themselves gradually disappearing towards the shoulder ; 

 colour a dull black, without any tinge of brown. 



It is quite possible that this may be only a local variety ; but, with 

 the members of a genus so closely allied as they are in Melambia, 

 this cannot be assumed until we obtain intermediate forms. 



Brontes [Cucujidae]. 

 Fabricius, Syst. Eleuth. ii. p. 97. 



Brontes lucius. 



B. ferrugineus, setulosus ; prothorace lateribus denticulatis, dente antico 

 incrassato ; elytris striato-punctatis, marginibus infuscatis. 



Hah. Sydney. 



Ferruginous brown, covered with short, dark, setulose hairs ; head 

 rather exserted, the vertex somewhat depressed ; eyes dark brown ; 

 antennae longer than the body, with a slight greyish pubescence, the 

 first joint nearly as long as the four next together; prothorax rather 

 broadly elongate, covered with numerous large shallow punctures, the 

 sides denticulate, the anterior angle occupied by a strong triangular 

 tooth ; scutellum transversely pentagonal ; elytra closely punctate- 

 striate, becoming gradually darker towards the sides ; legs pale ferru- 

 ginous ; body beneath dull ferruginous, closely punctured. Length 4 

 lines. 



Brontes nigricans. 



B. fuscus ; prothorace lateribus denticulatis, dente antico incrassato ; 

 elytris striato-punctatis, nigricantibus. 



Sab. Queensland (Moreton Bay). 



Dark ferruginous brown, covered with short, black, setulose hairs ; 

 head slightly exserted ; eyes dark brown ; antennse longer than the 

 body, the first joint shorter than the four next together; prothorax 

 broadly elongate, rugose, slightly punctated, the sides equally denticu- 

 late, the anterior angle occupied by a moderately thickened tooth ; 

 scutellum transversely pentagonal ; elytra pimctate-striate, of a uniform 

 dark brown ; legs ferruginous ; body beneath dull ferruginous, closely 

 punctured. Length 4 lines. 



From Brontes denticidatus, F. Smith (also from Australia), the 

 two species described above differ in the comparatively elongate, not 

 transverse, prothorax and other characters. Brontes militaris, Er., 

 is smaller and less robust, narrower prothorax, differently coloured, 

 differently punctured, &c. 



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