357 



This genus is evidently near Sitodrepa, but differs in the sides of the pro- 

 sternum, these being so shaped that the head when at rest has the mandibles 

 resting on the front and middle coxae, the front ones being flattened backwards 

 to allow of this ; the front and middle legs on each side are received into a space 

 between the sides of prosternum, mesosternum, and an elytron, but there are 

 no special grooves for their reception. From above the general appearance is as 

 in the Hawaiian genus Holcobius, but the three apical joints of the antennae are 

 large, and form a loosely compacted club. In addition to the typical species two 

 others of the genus are before me ; one of these is here described, but the other, 

 from Queensland, is represented by two badly damaged specimens that it is 

 undesirable to name. Type of genus, P. mcdianus. 



Pronus medianus, n. sp. 

 PI. xxxi., fig. 3. 



Dull castaneous-brown, -under-surf ace of head and antennae paler. Densely 

 clothed with short, depressed, pale pubescence, on the prothorax somewhat waved 

 and conspicuously parted in the middle. 



Head with dense and small, partially concealed punctures, a narrow oblique 

 ridge from each eye to clypeal suture. Antennae with basal joint and three joints 

 of club large, some of the small ones serrated. Prothorax with punctures as on 

 head, median line narrow but distinct. Elytra parallel-sided to near apex, evejily 

 striated throughout, some of the striae joined posteriorly but not decreasing in 

 depth, with rather narrow punctures ; interstices densely and minutely punctate 

 or shagreened. Metasternum with crowded shallow punctures, distinctly larger 

 than those on abdomen; median line narrow. Basal segment of abdomen in 

 middle slightly longer than second, and shorter than fifth, the three median ones 

 with straight sutures. Length, 4-55 mm. 



A dingy species, somewhat resembling Sitodrepa panicea on an enlarged 

 scale. Three specimens were obtained on the island, and they all have the pro- 

 thoracic pubescence somewhat waved and conspicuously parted in the middle. 

 Type, I. 15685. 



Pronus magniventris, n. sp. 



Dull castaneous-brown, under-surface of head and antennae paler. Densely 

 clothed with depressed, very short, pale pubescence. 



Head with crowded and small punctures ; a narrow oblique carina from each 

 eye to clypeal suture. Antennae with first joint large, fourth to eighth inwardly 

 triangular, ninth (first of club) largest of all, the tenth and eleventh large. 

 Prothorax with crowded and small punctures,, median line scarcely traceable. 

 Elytra rather long, parallel-sided to near apex, strongly and evenly striated, the 

 striae with rather small punctures ; interstices separately convex, with minute 

 punctures or shagreened. Metasternum with crowded and shallow but fairly 

 large punctures, conspicuously larger than on abdomen ; median line narrow. 

 Basal segment of abdomen in middle somewhat longer than second or fifth, the 

 three median ones with straight sutures. Length, 6-6'5 mm. 



Hab. — Western Australia: Swan River (A. M. Lea). ^ 



In general appearance fairly close to P. medianus, and the prothoracic 

 pubescence is slightly waved, but it is not conspicuously parted in the middle. 



A specimen from New South Wales (Galston) is certainly close to this 

 species, but it is darker, has smaller eyes (this, however, may be sexual), and 

 there is a more distinct, although feeble, gutter on each side of the pronotum ; 



but as in other respects it agrees closely with the types, it was not regarded as 



distinct. 



