52 



longer. Prothorax distinctly longer than wide, subcylindrical, angles slightly 

 rounded off; with an iregular (semidouble) row of fairly large punctures on 

 each side of middle, the sides with more numerous ones. Elytra distinctly wider 

 than prothorax and slightly longer ; with fairly regular rows of rather large 

 punctures, but becoming confused posteriorly. Abdomen with fairly numerous 

 small punctures, sixth segment largest of all, its under-surface depressed in 

 middle of apex, with a slight tubercle behind the depression, the following seg- 

 ment deeply notched. Length, 6-6.5 mm. 



9 . Differs in having the head slightly smaller, antennae and legs somewhat 

 shorter, and under-surface of abdomen simple. 



Hab. — New South Wales: Sydney (H. J. Carter). Type, I. 12646. 



In general appearance like Lafhrobium elongatulum, but basal joint of 

 antennae longer and less cylindrical ; in appearance also close to L. basipenne 

 and Scimbalhim simplariiim, but punctures and antennae different ; at first glance 

 it looks like small Dicax dcserti, with pale legs, but with the antennae of 

 Cryptobium; structurally it is close to C. varicorne and C. cribripenne, but the 

 elytra are differently coloured and with different punctures. The tips of the 

 abdominal segments are obscurely reddish ; the male has a slight tubercular 

 swelling on the under-surface of the sixth segment, but it does not extend to 

 the tip of its own segment, instead of passing beyond the following one, as on 

 the male of C. hoplogastrum. 



Cryptobium spissipenne, n. sp. 



d ■ Black; mouth parts, antennae (some of the median joints infuscated), 

 palpi and legs more or less flavous. Head, sides of prothorax and of elytra, 

 and sides and tip of abdomen with straggling dark hairs ; elytra and abdomen 

 with short and not very dense pubescence. 



Head rather large, hind angles strongly rounded off ; very finely shagreened, 

 with numerous fairly large punctures, becoming crowded about base and sparser 

 in front. Mandibles long and acute, near middle with a strong and acutely 

 bicuspidate tooth. Antennae with basal joint slightly longer than four following 

 ones combined. Prothorax slightly longer than wide, subcylindrical, angles 

 slightly rounded off; with dense and sharply-defined punctures of medium size, 

 but absent from a polished median line. Elytra distinctly wider and slightly 

 longer than prothorax ; with sharply-defined punctures about as large as those 

 on prothorax, but much more crowded. Abdomen with dense and rather small 

 asperate punctures, becoming sparser posteriorly ; under-surface of subapical 

 segment deeply notched. Length, 6-8 mm. 



9 . Differs in having the head smaller, antennae and legs slightly shorter, 

 and abdomen not notched. 



Hab. — Queensland: Stewart River (W. D. Dodd), Mackay (National 

 Museum from R. E. Turner). Type, L 12619. 



In size and appearance like C. varicorne and C. fractum, but elytral punc- 

 tures denser, without the least trace of seriate arrangement, head larger and 

 less polished, and its punctures denser ; in appearance it is also close to C. 

 hoplogastrum, but the head is shagreened, legs paler, and abdomen of male 

 very different. Parts of the under-surface are usually obscurely reddish, the 

 knees are sometimes slightly darker than the adjacent parts, but no parts of the 

 legs are conspicuously infuscated. On three (of the nine) specimens before 

 me the prothorax is obscurely paler than the adjacent parts, but it is not dis- 

 tinctly reddish, the infuscation of the antennae varies in extent and intensity. 



