200 



moderately densely clothed, mostly with sooty-brown scales. 

 The very large elytral punctures are often subconical in shape, 

 each narrowed to and open at apex, and cavernous at base, 

 about the base many of them are twice as large as the scutel- 

 lum. The interstices, except on the sides, are not separately 

 convex. On the side-pieces of the mesosternum the punctures 

 are large and distinct, but on the side-pieces of the meta- 

 sternum they are not traceable, being replaced by the narrow 

 and continuous impression. 



MiCROBEROSIRIS. 



This genus was founded upon a single specimen witl 

 remarkable characters, but the type was somewhat damaged, 

 and, owing to its minute size, it was dijSicult to manipulate 

 it to see all parts clearly. Its femora, described as without 

 grooves, are really grooved, although these are indistinct from 

 some directions ; the f unicle is longer than the scape, and its 

 basal joint is as long as the four following ones combined. 

 The rostrum is thin, moderately long in the male, and 

 decidedly long in the female. 



MiCROBEROSIRIS ExiLis, Lea. 



The type of this species was described as having dense 

 and uniform white scales, but it really has vague remnants 

 of darker markings on the suture, and an angular spot on 

 each elytron about the summit of the posterior declivity. 



Recently numerous specimens, evidently belonging to the 

 species, were beaten from foliage at Murray Bridge, and these 

 indicate that the species is a variable one, ranging from a 

 form, whose clothing is as on the type, to others with much 

 darker and more extended markings; on many specimens 

 there are two spots on each elytron, and the sutural marking 

 is angularly dilated near the apex ; on one specimen the outer 

 spots are irregularly joined together, so that the elytra appear 

 to be irregularly trivirgate. Many of the specimens have two 

 irregular prothoracic stripes, usually interrupted so as to 

 appear like four angular spots. On the prothorax also some 

 darker scales are scattered singly, giving the surface a speckled 

 appearance. The size ranges from 1^ to 1| mm. 



MiCROBEROSIRIS ALBUS, n. Sp. 



(S . Black, in places obscurely diluted with red. Densely 

 clothed with white scales, except on greater portion of 

 rostrum. 



Eostrum long, thin, and moderately curved; with minute 

 punctures. Prothorax almost as long as wide, sides lightly 

 rounded, base bisinuate ; with dense, concealed punctures. 



