212 



ridged along middle. The type of the present species is 

 probably a male, as the basal segment of its abdomen is dis- 

 tinctly depressed in the middle; in the type of the preceding 

 species it is gently convex. 



Tyrt^osus squamiceps, n. sp. 



Of a dingy reddish-brown, antennae and tarsi paler, elytra 

 in parts stained with black. Moderately clothed with fawn- 

 coloured or pale-ochreous scales, on the prothorax forming 

 three feeble longitudinal stripes (the interspaces mostly with 

 sooty scales) and on the elytra usually compacted into many 

 feeble spots, on the head (except between eyes) denser than 

 •elsewhere. 



Head with dense punctures, normally concealed by 

 ■clothing. Eyes separated the width of rostrum at extreme 

 base. Rostrum not very long and rather wide, sides lightly 

 incurved to middle, with rather coarse and dense punctures 

 about base, but small elsewhere. Prothorax almost twice as 

 wide as long, sides strongly rounded, apex about half the 

 width of base ; punctures not very large, shallow, and more 

 or less concealed; without median carina. Elytra very little 

 wider than prothorax, subhumeral notches distinct, sides 

 lightly rounded; striation deep and narrow, with more or 

 less concealed punctures; interstices flattened, about twice 

 the width of striae, and with more or less concealed punctures 

 and granules. Mesosternal receptacle shorter and less elevated 

 than usual. Metasternum scarcely ridged on each side be- 

 tween coxae; episterna each with a somewhat irregular row 

 of punctures, Ahdomen with first segment slightly flattened 

 in middle, apex lightly incurved to middle ; third and fourth 

 each with a row of strong punctures across middle. Legs 

 moderately stout; femora feebly grooved and feebly dentate; 

 tibiae rather thin, all slightly narrowed to apex. Length, 

 3^-4 mm. 



9 . Differs in having the rostrum somewhat thinner, 

 sides less noticeably incurved to middle and with sparser 

 punctures, and abdomen with basal segment moderately 

 convex. 



Hah. — North Queensland (Blackburn's collection); 

 Cairns district (A. M. Lea). Type, I. 1310. 



In general appearance close to castor, but with femoral 

 teeth much smaller and elytra without two distinct white 

 spots. Each elytron appears to have a large dark medio-lateral 

 space, due partly to being there stained with black, and partly 

 to its clothing being sparse and mostly sooty. The depression 

 behind each eye is extremely feeble, and might fairly be 

 regarded as absent. 



