245 



POROPTERUS RUBETER, Er. 



Var. A. Two specimens from Victoria (Victorian Alps, 

 Elackburn's collection ; and Bright, H. W. Davey) differ from 

 'Tasmanian specimens of this species in being smaller (5J-6J 

 mm.), and with a large and conspicuous pale triangle on each 

 elytron ; the triangle commences on each shoulder, extends to 

 the second interstice near the middle, and then has a rounded 

 outline to the side. On the rest of the upper-surface, however, 

 the clothing is less variegated and more uniformly distributed 

 than on Tasmanian specimens, and the fasciculate tubercles on 

 the elytra are less conspicuous. 



Ophrythyreocis, n. g. 



Head small, forehead somewhat sinuous. Eyes small, pro- 

 minent, distant, coarsely faceted. Rostrum moderately 

 long and not very thin, lightly curved. Antennae moderately 

 long, scape inserted about one-third from apex of rostrum; 

 two basal joints of funicle elongate ; club ovate. Prothorax 

 transverse, sides rounded, apex produced. Scutellum round 

 and conspicuously elevated. Elytra at base not much wider 

 than prothorax, and about twice as long. Pectoral canal deep 

 and wide, terminated between or near middle coxae. Meso- 

 sternal receptacle of variable shape, cavernous. Metasternum 

 short ; episterna indistinct. Abdomen with two basal segments 

 large, third and fourth usually depressed below level of second 

 and fifth. Legs short; femora indistinctly grooved and very 

 feebly dentate ; tarsi with third joint rather wide and deeply 

 bilobed. 



This genus is proposed for three weevils having the general 

 appearance as of minute members of the litliodermus group of 

 Poropferus, but distinguished from Poropterus by the femora. 

 But the genus is distinct on account of the conspicuously ele- 

 vated scutellum, a character almost unique in the Australian 

 Cryptorhynchides. The scutellum also is not clothed with 

 scales, but has a greyish, waxy-looking coating. With them, 

 but as somewhat aberrant on account of its longer legs, has been 

 associated Poropterus valgus, which has a similar scutellum. 

 Its front femora are certainly neither grooved nor dentate, nor 

 are the four hind ones distinctly grooved, but as on a close 

 examination very feeble grooves are traceable, and extremely 

 small teeth (i^) may be seen amongst the scales, it appears desir- 

 able to transfer it from Poropterus, in which it would certainly 

 not have been placed had I previously observed the femoral 

 teeth. 



(11) The teeth £ re visible with difficulty and from one direc- 

 tion only. 



