379 



the geuus, but on abrasion they are seen to be fairly- 

 large. The large elytra! punctures are in rows but not in 

 striae; they are considerably larger on the male than on the 

 female. The interstices on abrasion are seen to be longitudin- 

 ally strigose, and with numerous fairly large punctures, often 

 forming a ring around one of the seriate ones : but their finer 

 sculpture is normally quite concealed. They are usually nar- 

 rower than the punctures in the male, but considerably wider 

 in the female. 



Decilaus variegatus, n. sp. 



cj" . Black ; antennse and tarsi of a rather bright-red. 

 Densely clothed with large soft scales, mostly fawn-coloured, 

 but variegated with irregular patches of white and sooty ones. 



Head with crowded concealed punctures. Rostrum rather 

 stout, sides regularly incurved to middle : punctures concealed 

 except at extreme tip. Scape inserted almost in middle of 

 rostrum, the length of three basal joints of funicle ; of these 

 the first joint is slightly longer than the second. Prothorax 

 moderately transverse, sides strongly rounded : with dense, 

 round, deep punctures, each normally concealed by its con- 

 tained scale. Elyfra briefly cordate, sides rather strongly 

 rounded ; with rows of large, partially-concealed punctures, in 

 moderate striae. Mesosternal receptacle strongly elevated like 

 half of a ring. Abdomen with dense but normally-concealed 

 punctures. Femora stout, lightly grooved and dentate. 

 Length, 4^-5^ mm. 



9 . Differs in having the rostrum longer, thinner, and 

 ^ith punctures clearly defined owing to absence of clothing 

 (except at extreme base) : scape inserted slightly nearer the 

 base of rostrum ; and basal segment of abdomen convex, 

 instead of flat, in middle. 



Hah. — South Australia : Henley Beach and Myponga (H. 

 H. D. Griffith). 



The size and shape are exactly as in mixfus, but that 

 species has unarmed femora and very different prothoracic 

 clothing. Ovafus has the shape very similar, but the clothing 

 is different : on its prothorax few, if any, of the scales being 

 directed forwards, and on the elytra there are stouter seriate 

 scales amongst the ordinary ones. The femoral teeth are very 

 sharp but small, and liable to be overlooked. The clothing 

 gives the species a peculiarly soft appearance, so that it is the 

 prettiest of all the beach-frequenting species. On the pro- 

 thorax (where they are all directed forwards) and two basal 

 segments of abdomen the scales are considerably larger than 

 elsewhere. On the elytra the snowy scales are sometimes scat- 

 tered singly amongst the others, or in small spots about the 

 punctures, but on the basal half they usually form very 



