390 



abnormality, or due to an accident, but on tlie specimen it 

 has every appearance of being natural. 



ROPTOPERUS FULIGINEUS, n. Sp. 



6 ' Black; antennae and tarsi red. Densely clothed with 

 scales, usually of a muddy-brown colour, but sometimes sooty ; 

 on elytra, and sometimes on prothorax, variegated with, spots 

 of paler scales. Under-surface usually with paler scales than 

 on upper-surface. Femora and tibiae more or less distinctly 

 ringed. Upper-surface with numerous fascicles. 



Head densely clothed in front ; forehead bald and shining. 

 Rostrum feebly curved, rather wide at base, sides lightly in- 

 curved to middle : behind antennae with coarse concealed punc- 

 tures, and a feeble median carina; in front of same shining^ 

 and with minute punctures. Scape short, inserted slightly 

 nearer base than apex of rostrum. Prothorax almost as long 

 as wide, sides moderately rounded ; with rather large and 

 round, but usually concealed, punctures. .Elytra strongly tri- 

 sinuate at base, sides moderately rounded, and widest just 

 before middle ; with large partially-concealed punctures , inter- 

 stices with feeble tubercular swellings, supporting fascicles ; of 

 these there are three on the third interstice, four on the fifth, 

 three on the seventh, and a few feeble ones elsewhere. Under- 

 surface with large partially-concealed punctures ; basal seg- 

 ment of abdom.en widely depressed in middle, the second flat. 

 Length, 3J-4 mm. 



9 . Differs in having less of the rostrum clothed and the 

 two basal segments of abdomen convex. 



Hah. — Tasmania: Epping Forest, Mount Wellington (H. 

 H. D. Griffith) : Ulverstone, Stanley (including summit of 

 "Nut"); Waratah (A. M. Lea). 



Close to tasmaniensis, but with more of the head bald and 

 with a distinct pale spot on the middle of each elytron, and 

 one on each side ; that species also has two fascicles crowning 

 the posterior declivity considerably larger than any others, 

 and usually paler. On the present species the fascicles there 

 are no larger than several of the others. The rostrum and 

 under-surface are sometimes quite as black as the other parts, 

 but are usually obscurely diluted with red. On the prothorax 

 there are ten fascicles ; two very feeble ones at apex and eight 

 loose ones in two transverse series, the four median ones are 

 sometimes paler than the lateral ones. On the elytra the 

 fascicles are more conspicuous and are frequently composed of 

 sooty scales. In addition to the fascicles there are many erect 

 scales scattered about. The under-surface is densely clothed, 

 and in addition each of the large punctures contains a stout 



