lOG 



almost entirely covering the pygidium, labruni well developed^ 

 emarginate, prothorax not overlapping the base of the elytra, 

 prosterniim not prolonged in a free process behind the anterior 

 coxie, tarsi simple, apex of mandibles bidentate. 



Of the previously described Australian Soronice, I have not 

 seen S. siiperba, Reitt., but from the description it is obvious^ 

 that it is very different from this species — witli conspicuous^ 

 markings on the upper surface ; >S', variegata, MacL, is stated by 

 Mr. Olliffe (from examination of the type) to be a Xeaspis ; 

 S. amjihotiformi><, Reitt., is a very different insect, with very 

 much wider lateral margins, markings on the elytra, etc., etc. 



Compared with the European >S'. punctatissima, 111., the present 

 species (apart from colour and markings) is less elongate, with 

 lateral margins much narrower, anterior angles of prothorax 

 much less produced, surface of prothorax without inequalities, 

 puncturation of upper surface much more distinct and subrugu- 

 lose, seriate pubescence of elytra very conspicuous, puncturation 

 of under surface much coarser, ttc, itc. 



The colour and markings are much like those of several Aus- 

 tralian ]VificluIid(f' of other genera, e.g., Lasiodactylus hiarginatuSj 

 Reitt. 



Victoria : Alpine district. 



LASIODACTYLUS. 



L. inarginatus, Reitt. (var. ? ohscurus). Nigro-piceus vel piceo- 

 rufescens ; antennis (nonnullis exemplis clava picea) pedibus 

 et corj)ore subtus rufis, nonnullis exemplis prothoracis lateri- 

 bus dilutioribus ; supra fortiter sat crebre punctulatus : pro- 

 thorace quam longiori \ix duplo latiori, antrorsum sat angus- 

 tato, antice leviter emarginato, angulis posticis rotundato- 

 obtusis ; elytris subseriatim punctulatis, interstitiis alternis 

 seriatim setulosis ; tibiis anticis apice extus dente curvato 

 productis. Long., 1^ 1.— 2i 1. ; lat., -t 1.— If 1. 



I have not seen a typical example of L. marginatus, Reitt., but 

 the specimens before me agree fairly well with the description, 

 except in respect of colour. As I have seen a good many speci- 

 mens, the variety seems to be deserving of a name, eveji if it be 

 only a var. 



I have described it sufficiently fully to characterise it as a 

 species if it prove to be distinct from L. marginatus, as the des- 

 cription of the latter is wanting in detail — the puncturation, for 

 instance, merely being called " close, and on the elytra irregularly 

 seriate," without any indication whether it is line or coarse. I 

 do not know any familiar Australian Nitidulid with which the 

 puncturation of the present form can l3e profitably compared. It 

 is not unlike the prothoracic puncturation of Macroitra deceptoVy 



