Lea- On Australian Coleoptera 275 



MICROCHAETES TUBERCULATUS sp. nov. 



Black, some ])arts ol)sciii"i.-ly rL-(l(li>li. Densely covered with muddy-brown 

 scales and fascicles. 



Head (when at rest) immersed in jirothorax with eyes, mouth parts and 

 antennae concealed. Frothorax strong-ly sculptured, about four times as wide 

 as long. Length. -I 1- -I? mm. 



Hah South Australia : I'enola, Clawler, Mount Lofty, under stones, logs 

 and dried cowdung (.A. Af. Lea). Type, L 10707. 



.\b()ut the size and at first glance somewhat the appearance of Microchaetcs 

 fascicularis, but the sides of the prothorax turn upwards, the sub-basal fascicles 

 are sup])orted on conspicuotts tubercles, and on abrasion the punctures are seen 

 to be dilferent. The fascicles are larger, more sharply defined and regular than 

 on any other known species of the genus, this being due mostly to the fact that 

 they are supported on larger and more regular tubercles. Many specimens are 

 so encrusted with mud that all or most of the clothing is concealed, and it is 

 difficult to remo\'e the mud without some of the clothing. Even the largest 

 punctures are normally concealed, but scales have been almost completely 

 abraded from se\eral specimens, and these are seen to have the head with 

 crowded and rather coarse punctures ; the prothorax with somewhat coarser 

 punctures, and with a series of four strong equi-distant tubercles, transversely 

 placed near the base; the apex has two more obtuse tubercles (the fascicles 

 crowning these before abrasion are shorter and more loosely compacted than the 

 sub-basal ones), and each side has a slightly upturned ridge, appearing as a long 

 loose fascicle ; the scutellum is small but distinct, sometimes concealed before 

 abrasion : the elytra have series of large dee]) punctures, and the interstices are 

 densely punctate ; the fascicles are supported by distinct tubercles and short 

 ridges, of which those about the summit of the apical slope are larger than the 

 otiiers : the under-surface and legs have crowded punctures, somewhat smaller 

 than on the prothorax. There is a large sub-circular cavity, but with somewhat 

 sinuous outlines, common to each side of the presternum, mesosternum and 

 metasternum, in which the front and middle legs and the antennae are received 

 when at rest ; when the legs have been forced out of the cavity a small portion 

 of the eye becomes visible, and the antennae may be seen almost touching the 

 side. The antennae are thin and reddish, with a small, loose, three-jointed and 

 darker club. The outlines of the elytra are more or less sinuous. 



MICROCHAETES SETOSUS sp. nov. 



FJlack. some parts obscurel}- brownish. Densely clothefl with muddy brown 

 and whitish scales, with numerous thin upright setae, in places comj)acted to 

 form feeble fascicles. 



