208 



into account the resemblance to an anchor is, of course, less^ 

 noticeable. 



Rather closely resembling the preceding superficially, but dif- 

 ferent in respect of the markings (which do not seem to be- 

 variable) and of the puncturation of the upper surface, which is 

 very much closer and better defined. Compared with R. nitidus 

 the puncturation is much finer, closer, and more even. 



Three specimens occurred to me in the Lake Eyre basin, in- 

 terior of South Australia. 



R. approximatus, sp. nov. Breviter ovalis; sat convexus ; 

 pubescens ; nitidus ; piceus, vix f errugineus ; antennis palpis 

 pedibusque vix dilutioribus ; elytrorum epipleuris pallide 

 l)runneis ; prothorace quam longiori duplo latiori, antice 

 angustato, angulis anticis rotundatis, posticis subrectis ;■ 

 capite subtilius sat sparsim, prothorace vix perspicue, elytris 

 duplo, punctulatis. Long., *1. (vix); lat., ^1. 

 Unsatisfactorily close to R. nitidus, but presenting characters 

 that seem to indicate a distinct species. The slightly shorter, 

 wider, and less convex form is accompanied by a considerable 

 diflerence of colour, the whole insect being pitchy black, with 

 scarcely any ferruginous tendency (except the feebly reddish tarsi 

 and the pale brown epipleurse). The puncturation of the elytra, 

 too, is distinct. In nitidus it is very faint near the scutellum' 

 but grows much stronger laterally and apically (where it is even, 

 rather strong and by no means close), while in the present species 

 the whole surface (even close to the scutellum) is very distinctly 

 and rather closely though finely punctulate, this system of uni- 

 form puncturation becoming mingled towards the side and apex 

 with a much more sparse system of much coarser puncturation. 



Port Lincoln. 



R.umhratus, ^^. \\o\. Breviter ovalis ; sat convexus; pubescens; 



sat nitidus ; subtiliter sat crebre punctulatus ; fuscus, 



antennis palpis pedibusque testaceis ; elytris obscure 



testaceo-notatis ; meso- et meta-sternis plus minus 



picescentibus ; prothorace quam longiori duplo latiori, antice 



leviter angustato, angulis anticis subrotundatis, jposticis 



subrectis. Long., * 1. (vix) ; lat., I 1. 



The upper surface is marbled or clouded with pale brown and 



yellowish testaceous in a vague and somewhat intricate manner 



difficult to describe accurately. In a well-marked specimen the 



prothorax is brownish testaceous, cloudily darker along the front 



and base, while the elytra are of a full fuscous colour, with large 



cloudy testaceous markings consisting of an oblique fascia (much 



abbreviated at both ends and angulated behind) near the front, 



and an obscure spot on either side of the suture behind the 



