216 



The proportion of elytra to prothorax is considerably 

 greater in Metistete, the el3rfcra being generally nearly three 

 times the length of prothorax; in Melaps not more than 

 two and a half.] 



Melaps glaber, n. sp. 



Elongate-ovate, brownish-black, nitid and glabrous; 

 oral organs, antennae, and legs testaceous. 



Head large, epistoma bluntly rounded and rather 

 strongly punctate, rest of head (and pronotum) very finely 

 and closely punctate; eyes small, transverse, and widely 

 separated; antennae with joints 1 and 2 swollen (2 much 

 smaller than 1), 4-10 short, sublinear (very narrowly 

 obconic), 11 oblong, as long as but narrower than 10. 

 Prothorax ovate, convex, wider than long; apex subtruncate 

 (with a slightly convex outline), base truncate, sides lightly 

 and evenly rounded, all angles widely rounded off, a very 

 narrow basal margin perceptible, disc without medial line 

 or foveae. Scutellum transverse. Elytra elliptic, of same 

 width as prothorax at base, humeri obsolete; striate- 

 punctate, the striae very fine, but clearly, not deeply, 

 impressed; the seriate punctures very small, round, and 

 close; the short scutellary series containing larger punctures; 

 intervals quite flat and nearly smooth (a few microscopic 

 punctures can be seen under a strong lens). Underside 

 finely striolate. Dim. — 13-15 x 3-3J mm. 



Hah. — South Australia: Leigh Creek. 



Var. — Elytra with deeper, wider striae and larger 

 seriate punctures, the intervals more or less convex. 



Four examples, show an unusually smooth species. The 

 variety may be the other sex. I have not been able to make 

 out any sexual characters. As with other members of this 

 genus, it is apterous, and the mandibles are bifid at apex. 

 Types in South Australian Museum. 



Melaps tibialis, n. sp. 



Ovate, convex, black (or brownish-black), very nitid, 

 glabrous, front edge of clypeus testaceous; underside, tarsi, 

 and tibiae reddish. 



Head densely punctate on forehead, more sparsely so 

 on clypeus, suture shallow and arcuate; eyes small and 

 widely separated; antennal joints linear, 4-10 subequal, 3 

 slightly longer than 4. Prothorax very convex and oval, 

 truncate and finely margined at apex and base, anterior 

 angles obsolete, posterior obtuse, sides evenly rounded; disc 

 with scarcely evident, minute, shallow punctures; without 



