286 



dense and rather coarse in front of antennae, elsewhere con- 

 cealed. Scape inserted slightly nearer apex than base of ros- 

 trum, and slightly shorter than funicle ; club rather large. 

 Proihorax moderately transverse, sides feebly rounded on basal 

 half and then strongly narrowed to apex ; punctures concealed. 

 Elytra not much wider than prothorax, parallel-sided to beyond 

 the middle ; with rows of large concealed punctures, but 

 striation traceable ; second and third interstices obtusely 

 tuberculate beneath fascicles. TJnder-8urface with concealed 

 punctures. Femora stout ; front pair very feebly, middle 

 moderately, hind pair strongly dentate. Length, 3 mm. 



Hah. — North Queensland (Blackburn's collection). Type, 

 I. 1782. 



The metasternum is just perceptibly shorter than the fol- 

 lowing segment, and this associates the species with nehiilosus 

 and alhifasciatus. The clothing on the type is evidently in 

 perfect condition. On the head there are three white spots, 

 and on the prothorax eight (but of the latter two on each side 

 are not visible from above). On the elytra the white scales 

 form an irregular fascia (wide at the suture) across summit of 

 posterior declivity, and a few spots, mixed with sooty ones, on 

 the middle of each side. The stout scales form very feeble 

 fascicles on the prothorax. On each elytron they form a dis- 

 tinct fascicle, supported by a tubercle, on the second inter- 

 stice about the middle, and two on the third : one near base, 

 the other beyond the middle. The three are almost in a line, 

 and a.pparently on the third, but that interstice is narrowed, 

 and curves around the fascicles on the second. This char- 

 acter alone will readily distinguish the species from all pre- 

 viously described ones. The third interstice is also dilated at- 

 its two fascicles, but the sinuation of the striae adjacent to 

 same is not quite so pronounced. The femoral dentition is also 

 distinctive. 



Metyrculus mediofasciatus, n. sp. 



(S . Black; antennae and tarsi red. Densely clothed with 

 brown and sooty scales. 



Head with dense concealed punctures. Rostrum moder- 

 ately long, distinctly curved, almost parallel-sided : with 

 dense punctures, concealed behind antennae and somewhat 

 obscured in front. Scape inserted one-third from apex of 

 rostrum, almost the length of funicle. Prothorax moderately 

 transverse; with dense, round, concealed punctures. Elytra 

 oblong-cordate, about one-fourth wider than prothorax, base 

 moderately trisinuate ; with rows of large almost-concealed 

 punctures; third and fifth interstices slightly raised. 

 Mesosternal rexeptacle moderately long, with a distinct 

 median keel. Femora distinctly grooved. Length, 5|-7 mm. 



