[Pkoc. Koy. Soc. Victoria, 34 (N.S.), Pt. I., 1921]. 



Art. V. — New Australian Coleoptera witk Notes on some 

 jjrevio'itsly described Species, Part I. 



By F. ERASMUS WILSON. 



(Commuuicfited by J. A. Kershaw.) 



(With Text Figure.) 



[Kead 9th June, 1921J. 



BYRRHIDAE. 



Pedilophorus venustus, n.sp. 



Head and prothorax brassy, with a purplish tinge ; elytra bright 

 metallic green, under surface reddish-fuscous ; appendages paler. 

 Portions of upper surface glabrous, but in parts clothed with a 

 dense semi-decumbent golden pubescence, forming definite pat- 

 terns, this interspersed with much longer and more erect dusky 

 hairs; under surface and all appendages with paler pubescence. 



Head widely rounded in front, with dense and sharply defined 

 punctures. Antennae with joint 1 very sto^t, and darker than 

 the following ones ; 3 thin, and a little longer than 2 ; 4, 5, 6 sub- 

 equal; 7 somewhat transverse; 8, 9, 10 strongly transverse, and 

 with 11 forming a stout club; 11 viewed from above pointed, and 

 about twice the length of 10 ; viewed from the side, however, it is 

 seen to be bluntly rounded. Prothorax strongly convex, sides 

 near base quite vertical ; punctures as on head. Scutellum small,, 

 punctured. Elytra strongly convex, sub cordate, punctures very 

 much fewer and sparser than on prothorax. Epipleurae narrow, 

 terminating at hind coxae, with a few ill-defined punctures. 

 Under surface heavily punctured, except on disc of meta- 

 sternum, where they are much finer and sparser. 



Length. — 3, breadth 2, mm. 



Habitat. — Victoria: Fern Tree Gully, Warburton (F. E. 

 Wilson). 



Compared with a co-type of P. raucns, Blackb., the present 

 species differs in being much smaller, colouration different, elytra, 

 disc of metasternum and legs, with very much finer and sparser 



