158 



Form 1 gradually changes to Form 3 by the basal and 

 median' spots of the elytra gradually becoming conjoined and 

 dilating till they approach the sides and suture, these also 

 becoming black. On an occasional specimen the prothorax is 

 dull-red mottled with black; one specimen (except for parts 

 of the appendages) is entirely of a lurid red. 



Rhyparida ovata, n. sp. 



Blackish-brown; head, front margin of prothorax,. 

 shoulders and apical fourth of elytra (suture excepted), and 

 appendages castaneous or flavous. 



Tiead with rather small and sparse punctures on clypeus, 

 almost or quite absent elsewhere ; medio-frontal impression 

 rather feeble and disconnected. Eyes moderately large, pro- 

 minent, and widely separated. Prothorax more than thrice 

 as wide as long, apical angles unarmed ; with fairly numerous 

 punctures of rather small size, and becoming smaller on disc. 

 Eli/tra short, not much wider than prothorax, sides feebly 

 dilated to beyond the middle ; with rows of punctures of 

 moderate size, becoming much smaller posteriorly. Flanks of 

 prosternitm. feebly striated about base. Femora edentate; 

 claws bifid. Length, 2\ mm. 



fi^^^.— Northern Queensland (Blackburn's collection). 

 Type, I. 3101. 



In markings almost identical with some specimens of the 

 preceding species, but with very much smaller punctures, pro- 

 thorax more transverse, elytra without the conspicuously 

 thickened post-humeral interstice, striation of elytra very 

 feeble, even towards the base, and absent posteriorly, although 

 the rows of punctures may be traced almost to the apex. At 

 a glance the outlines appear to be perfectly oval. A specimen 

 in the Macleay Museum (from Cairns) differs in being larger 

 (3 mm.), head and apex of prothorax darker, and the dark 

 elytral markings almost disconnected, so that there appears to 

 be a large scutellar blotch (continued some distance along 

 suture), and a large blotch on each side. 



Rhyparida basipennes, n. sp. 



Reddish-castaneous ; elytra (extreme base flavous and apex 

 obscurely diluted with red excepted) and abdomen black; 

 antennae with basal joints pale, the others blackish ; legs more 

 or less flavous, tarsi somewhat darker. 



Head with minute and ill-defined punctures, more sharply 

 defined, but still very small, on clypeus; medio-frontal impres- 

 sion rather feeble, touching the ill-defined clypeal suture, and 

 connected with the base by a very feeble elevation. Eyes com-^ 

 paratively small, prominent, and widely separated. Prothorax 



