184 



with dense punctures : larger than elsewhere on nietasternuni 

 and two basal segments of abdomen, but forming a single 

 row on each side piece of metasternum, and on each of the 

 third and fourth abdominal segments. Femora strongly and 

 acutely dentate ; and each with a small supplementary tooth 

 or granule in emargination. Length, 4-4A mm. 



Hah. — Victoria (C. French). 



The small size of this species will readily distinguish it 

 from all others in which the femora are bidentate. 



Melantertus compositus, n. sp. 



Black ; antennae, tarsi, and tibial hooks red, rostrum 

 feebly diluted with red. Under surface and legs with sparse 

 whitish setae; a very feeble seta in each prothoracic puncture. 



Head with dense and rather small but clearly-defined 

 punctures. Separation of eyes about half the width of ros- 

 trum at base. Rostrum (for the genus) rather stout, the 

 length of prothorax, lightly curved ; behind antennae with 

 a feeble median carina, and with dense punctures in feeble 

 rows, in front of antennae with small and rather dense punc- 

 tures. Antennae inserted about two-fifths from apex of ros- 

 trum ; first joint of funicle distinctly longer than second, sec- 

 ond slightly longer than third, the others transverse. Pro- 

 thorax with dense, clearly-defined punctures, becoming 

 smaller towards apex and nowhere confluent ; without a 

 median line. Elytra rather elongate, closely applied to pro- 

 thorax, shoulders oblique; with rows of rather large but not 

 uniformly shaped punctures; interstices not uniform. Under 

 surface with rather large punctures, except on three apical 

 segments of abdomen (the third and fourth of these have each 

 a single row of punctures), and on side pieces of metasternum 

 (each of which also has a single row of punctures). Femora 

 acutely dentate. Length, 4 mm. 



//a6.— South Australia: Adelaide (H. H. D. Griffith). 



The suture, second, and third interstices are carinated 

 ■on the posterior half only, the fourth and fifth are also feebly 

 carinated there ; elsewhere the interstices are either flattened 

 or feebly rounded ; the punctures are not placed at even dis- 

 tances between the interstices, but so that the wall of each 

 interstice almost overhangs a row of punctures, and is dis- 

 tant from another row ; toAvards the base the punctures ap- 

 pear to be larger than elsewhere, owing to rather feeble stri- 

 ation. 



In the table previously given by me the species should 

 be close to jiorosus, from which it differs in being smaller, in 

 its metasternum and second abdominal segment having larger 

 •and sparser punctures, elytra rather more noticeably striate 



