310 



Melanterius leucoph^us, n. sp. 



Colour and clothing much as in the preceding species, 

 TDut scales of under-surface and legs almost uniformly whitish. 



Eyes, rostrum, and antennae much as in that species. 

 Prothorax without trace of a median carina. Elytra much 

 iihe same, but alternate interstices less conspicuously elevated 

 and seriate punctures somewhat larger. Length. 5 mm. 



Hah. — New South Wales: Blue Mountains (E. W. 

 Ferguson). 



There is an allied species from Rockhampton in the Ham- 

 burg Museum, but its alternate interstices are more strongly 

 •elevated, abdominal clothing much denser, and hind femora 

 edentate, instead of with a very strong tooth as in the present 

 species. 



Melanterius laticoenis, n. sp. 



Black; rostrum, antennae, and legs of a dingy -red. 

 Upper-surface almost glabrous ; under-surface and legs rather 

 sparsely setose, the setae stouter on metasternum and denser on 

 legs than elsewhere. 



Eyes widely separated on upper-surface, almost touching 

 on under. Rostrum moderately long and not very thin, sub- 

 gibbous at base ; punctures crowded in front of antennae, but' 

 in linear arrangement behind same. Antennas rather stout; 

 scape inserted one-third from apex of rostrum and the length 

 of funicle ; first joint of funicle longer than second, the others 

 regularly increasing in width, club subcontinuous with funicle. 

 ProtTiorax almost as long as wide : with dense and rather 

 large and deep, clearly-defined punctures. Elytra rather 

 long, sides very feebly rounded, base rather lightly trisinuate; 

 with rows of large suboblong punctures, becoming small pos- 

 teriorly ; interstices rather acutely ridged posteriorly, the 

 lateral ones towards the base as well, but the sutural one 

 nowhere ridged, each with a feeble row of rather small punc- 

 tures. Mefastermnn with dense and rather coarse punctures; 

 episterna unusu.ally narrow. Basal segment of ahdomen gently 

 •concave in middle ; punctures sparser than on metasternum, 

 but quite as large. Femora moderately stout, rather lightly 

 dentate. Length, 3.|-3|^ mm. 



Hah. — Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea): New South 

 Wales (Macleay Museum) : Blue Mountains (E. W. Fer- 

 guson) . 



The funicle is really seven- jointed, but the joints so 

 increase in width, and are so close together that a compound 

 power is necessary to enable their number to be counted. The 

 rostrum is fairly long, but stouter and more rounded than 

 usual ; from the side its base appears to be separated from the 

 Tiead by a feeble notch. Seen from below the scrobes appear 



