321 



Head with densely crowded and rather shallow punctures, 

 subgranulate in places. Antennae with first joint slightly- 

 longer than the space between antennary sockets, second very 

 short and strongly transverse, third slightly longer than 

 fourth and the length of fifth, the others to ninth (two apical 

 joints missing) slightly increasing in length; ramus of third 

 to ninth each about thrice the length of its supporting joint. 

 Prothorax with sides rather strongly rounded in front, thence 

 parallel-sided to base, with a feeble foveate impression on 

 each side of middle; very densely punctate, towards the mar- 

 gins granulate-punctate. Elytra almost continuously parallel- 

 sided with prothorax to beyond the middle; very densely 

 granulate about base, granulate-punctate elsewhere; striatum 

 well defined throughout. Four hind tarsi with basal joint as 

 long as the rest combined, basal joint of front tarsi as long as 

 the next three combined. Length, 11 mm. 



Hab. — North-western Australia: Port George IV. (J. R,. 

 B. Love). Type (unique), I. 5748. 



There are very vague remnants of a median line on the 

 jurothorax, the discal foveae are feeble, but quite distinct from 

 certain directions. 



MAL ACODERMID AE . 



Laius purpureipennis, n. sp. 



c? . Purple; two basal joints of antennae navous, rest 

 of antennae, legs, and under-surface black. Densely and 

 finely pubescent. 



Head with dense and very minute punctures. Antennae 

 rather long; first joint long and of irregular shape, second 

 large and distorted, the following joints small. Prothorax 

 distinctly transverse, front truncate, sides strongly rounded; 

 punctures as on head. Elytra with sides feebly dilated to 

 beyond the middle; scarcely visibly punctate. Front femora 

 obliquely excavated in front; front tibiae dilated towards 

 base, and obliquely sulcate on inner side near base. Length, 

 4-4 \ mm. 



9 . Differs in having two basal joints of antennae very 

 different and the front femora and tibiae simple. 



Hab. — Northern Territory: Darwin and Melville Island 

 (G. F. Hill's No. 377). Type, I. 5687. 



A remarkable species, and the only one at all close to 

 alleni, from which it may be at once distinguished by the 

 two basal joints of antennae ; of these the first is dilated 

 towards apex, with the apical portion wide and its summit 

 oblique, from some directions appearing subangular near its 

 outer apex; the second is slightly wider than long, joined to 

 the first on one side, and to the third in the middle, its 



L 



