and Gyrinidse of Australasia. 415 



evenly arranged markings of fuscous : these markings vary in different 

 examples, in number for the most part three or four (in some instances 

 they are separated by narrow well-defined pale strise-like lines, while 

 in other instances these striae are wanting) ; they extend from a short 

 distance from the shoulders to the apex; sometimes these fuscous 

 markings are obliquely interrupted, sometimes the whole surface of 

 the elytra is overspread with fuscous : abdomen rufo-fuscous : legs and 

 antenna rufo-ferruginous. 



I confess that it is not without much hesitation and doubt that I 

 have thus characterized the species : the examples before me seem to 

 vary not only in size and in coloration, and in character of markings, 

 but slightly even in form : undoubtedly from the series individuals 

 might be selected which would appear to represent two abundantly 

 separate species; but inasmuch as no distinguishing characters 

 seem to be constant, and intermediate forms are found, I have at 

 last determined on characterizing the whole, pro tempore at least, as 

 one species. 



A common species near Melbourne. In the cabinets of the British 

 Museum, Mr. Bakewell, Mr. Waterhouse, and the Eev. Hamlet Clark. 



16. H. penicillatus, n. sp. 



H. oblongus, ovatus, sat latus, punctatus, flavo-fuscus vel flavo-ferru- 

 gineus; elytris subcarinatis, thorace anteriore, posteriore maculis duabus, 

 elytrisque fusco maculatis ; pedibus antennisque rufo-flavis. 



Long. corp. lf-2 lin., lat. 1 lin. 



Ovate, broad, subdepressed, finely punctate, flavo-rufous : head with 

 a distinct depression on either side near the inner margin of the eyes, 

 the surface is obsoletely punctate, in colour flavo-rufous : thorax suffi- 

 ciently broad, the sides rounded in front and distinctly marginate ; at 

 the base are two short fovea? (sometimes almost imperceptible, except 

 under a high power) situated at equal distance between the middle of 

 the line of the base and the margins ; the surface is finely punctate, 

 flavo-rufous, the anterior and posterior margins, and also two subcir- 

 cular markings, one on the inner side of each basal fovea, being fuscous ; 

 these subcircular markings are in many examples almost continuous : 

 elytra broad, subdepressed ; on either side of the suture is an obsolete 

 carination (plainly perceptible when the insect is viewed from the 

 front) extending frorn the base to the apex ; the surface is finely punc- 

 tate and fuscous, with longitudinal linear markings of tlavous ; in some 

 examples these markings are continuous and evenly defined, in others 

 they are nearly obsolete, in others, again, they are interrupted, especially 

 near the suture and margination : abdomen and underside dark fuscous : 

 legs and antennce rufous. 



This species is very variable in the markings of the elytra ; but the 



