Lea — On Australian Coleoptera 409 



eyes more apart, antennae and legs somewhat thinner, elytra less narrowed pos- 

 tericirlv and ahdnmen friveate. 



Hob. Tasmania: Ih-hart ( l!hickl)uni's collection and A. M. Lea). Launces- 

 ton ( Simson's collection, Nos. 2705 and 3500 ) Type. I. 10889. 



.'structurally close to D. suhacncus. hut head more convex, prothoracic punc- 

 tures smaller, and elytra sdmewhat longer and more parallel-sided; the outlines 

 are as in D. nhliUK/ifriniis. hut the legs are entirely dark, and the prothoracic 

 sculpture much finer; the jnmcturcs of the head vary in density, hut (except on 

 the varieties noted helow ) apjiear to l)e always sharply defined, the inter-ocular 

 space is not at all shagreened, a character at once distinguishing it from the 

 species known to me as /'. iiitidiiloidcs and D. ocliropiis. The upper-surface is 

 rarelv en!irely black, as the e]\tra at least ha\e a bluish gloss, frequently the 

 whole ujiper-surface is of a beautiful deep blue or purple, the purple specimens 

 are usually females ; the basal joint of the antennae varies from entirely pale to 

 entirelv dark, but usually only its upper-surface is dark, usually five, but some- 

 times onlv four of the following joints are pale; the hind suture of the clypeus is 

 usuallv l>ut not always conspicuous. 



J'ars. There are no mainland specimens under examination agreeing in all 

 det.-iils with Tasmanian ones, but some from \'ictoria, ]\Iount Buffalo (Black- 

 I)urn's collection), are verv close, dififering only in having stronger punctures 

 between the eves and on the jjronotum. and a slight greenish gloss on the elytra. 

 ()ne female, from \"ictoria. has the head more convex than usual, almost 

 inipnnctate. and the median line \erv feeble, its prothoracic and elytral punc- 

 tures are also smaller than usual. Three specimens from New South Wales. 

 .S\(lne\-. and National Park ( Lea), and P>lue Mountains (G. E. Bryant"), have the 

 U])per-surface shining black, without the least bluish or greenish gloss, the head 

 ini]nnictate. \erv convex, the median line feel)le or aljsent, and the prothoracic 

 ;inil el\tral |iunctures as on the preceding specimen. 



DITROPIDUS GAGATES sp. nov. 



d Black, usually with a faint lironzy gloss; labrum and five or six basal 

 joints of antennae (the fir-^t usually with upper-surface infuscated) reddish. 

 1 lead, under-snrface and legs with sparse pubescence. 



//('(((/ with dense and moderately large punctures ; median line well-defined. 

 F.yes rather close together. Prothora.v not twice as wide as the median length, 

 sides strongly rounded; ])unctures -^mall and not very dense. Elytra briefly sub- 

 oblong, slightly narrowed posteriorly; with rows of not very large punctures, 

 becoming smaller posteriorly, and tm the sides set in deep striae; interstices im- 

 ])unctate or almost so. Front lc(/s scarcely longer than hind ones. Length. 3 -5- 

 4 mm. 



