123 



The elongate parallel form of this little species gives it an ap- 

 pearance very different from that of the European D.fagi, Guer., 

 but I cannot find any structural characters to prevent its being- 

 placed in the same genus ; at any rate, the identity of tarsal and 

 antennal characters, the lateral sculpture of the prothorax, and 

 the oblique striie of the basal ventral segment diverging hind- 

 ward from the middle of the front margin are jDoints of resem- 

 blance that indicate at least very close affinity between the two 

 insects. The two previously described Australian Diphcceli 

 (ovatus, MacL, and piliffe7', Reitter), seem to be similar in form 

 to the European species. Herr Reitter says that he has not 

 seen a descrij)tion of Sir W. Macleay's species, but judges it dis- 

 tinct from his because the name ovatus would be unsuitable to 

 the latter. On comparing the descriptions, I should deem it 

 possible that they are identical. In both descriptions the elytra 

 are said to be " strongly punctulate striate," and this character 

 (apart from the shape of the body) will furnish a further distinc- 

 tion from the present insect, in which the elytra are very feebly 

 striate, although the punctures in the striae are fairly large and 

 strong. 



S. Australia ; under bark of Eucalyptus in various localities. 

 D. exiguus, sp. nov. Minus angustus ; minus parallelus ; pubes- 

 cens ; ferrugineus ; prothorace postice vix angustato, sparsim 

 sat fortiter punctulato, utrinque intra marginem sat fortiter 

 bicostato ; elytris vix striatis, striis puncturis sat magnis 

 subquadratis instructis, his apicera versus obsoletescentibus ; 

 abdominis segmento basali in medio oblique bistriato ; anten- 

 narum clavas articulo 1° quam 2^"^ paullo angustiori. Long., 

 11.; lat., f 1. (vix). 

 This species is not at all unlike D. fagi, Guer., in miniature I 

 it differs from the preceding (D. angiistulus) in its wider and less 

 jDarallel form, and especially in the ninth antennal joint being (as 

 in D. fagi) only moderately narrower than the tenth. D. piHger^ 

 Reitt. (? ovatus, Macl.) — the other described Australian species — 

 is said to have the prothorax closely punctured, the elytra differ- 

 ently coloured, itc. 



South Australia ; near Port Lincoln. 



DERMESTID.E. 



TROGODERMA. 



Two Australian species have been described as members of this 

 genus — T. riguum, Er. (from Tasmania), and T. apicipenne, 

 Reitter (from "Australia"). The former I am fairly sure tliat I 

 have not seen, the latter I think I have taken on several occa- 

 sions. As, however, I am a little doubtful about my identification 

 being correct, it will be wiser not to refer further to Herr Reit- 



