436 



PSEPHOLAX. 



In this genus the rostrum is subject to considerable varia- 

 tion. As its headquarters are in New Zealand, comparatively 

 few species occurring in Australia, it appears desirable to refer 

 several aberrant species to it rather than to propose new 

 genera for their reception, as such genera would probably in 

 time be treated as of sectional importance only. The three 

 first species here described all have the rostrum longer than 

 wide, as in humeralis and leoninus; in the others it is 

 transverse. 



In suhconicollis the front tibiae are unusually thin, the 

 median tooth of the middle tibiae is more conspicuous than 

 usual, and the subapical outer tooth very small. 



In iateripennis and basalts the mesosternal receptacle has 

 its sides distinctly produced, so that the apex is semicircu- 

 larly emarginate ; in humei^alis and leoninus the apices are 

 much less produced, and consequently the emargination is 

 much more transverse ; in the other Australian species the 

 emargination is very feeble or altogether absent. In leoninus 

 the walls of the pectoral canal are rather acutely margined at 

 the apical fifth, between that portion and the coxae being 

 strongly rounded ; in Iateripennis and basalis the walls for 

 about one-half of their length are rather acutely margined. 



PSEPHOLAX SUBCONICOLLIS, n. Sp. 



Rather pale-castaneous. Upper-surface rather densely 

 clothed with short stramineous scales, variegated with a sooty 

 spot on each side of base of prothorax, and some irregular spots 

 on elytra. Under-surface and legs with longer and sparser 

 clothing, becoming golden-setae in places. 



Head with dense and rather small punctures; a shallow 

 depression between eyes, but with a small, deep, median fovea. 

 Rostrum somewhat longer than greatest width, which is near 

 apex ; with rather dense partially-concealed punctures, 

 becoming smaller and sparser about apex. Scape stout, not 

 much shorter than funicle ; club rather large and ovate. Pro- 

 thorax rather strongly transverse, base bisinuate, sides dimin- 

 ishing in width from base to apex ; apex scarcely half the 

 width of base ; with dense normally-concealed punctures. 

 Elytra subcordate, base trisinuate, sides rounded and widest 

 near base ; with rows of fairly large punctures, in distinct 

 striae ; the interstices with dense punctures and small granules, 

 all partially concealed. Under-surface with rather sparse 

 punctures, becoming dense on apical segment of abdomen. 

 Femora stout ; hind pair strongly, middle moderately, front 

 lightly dentate ; front tibiae long and thin, hind ones somewhat 



