316 



Smaller than inconspicuus, Icetas, and parvus, and pro- 

 thorax considerably wider in proportion, and with very 

 different punctures. On abrasion the prothorax of each of 

 those species is seen to be densely granulate-punctate; whilst 

 that of the present species is covered with dense punctures, of 

 small but not uniform size, and without a trace of granules. 

 Pusillus and perjrtexus have the prothorax smaller in propor- 

 tion, but with coarser punctures. A still smaller (but un- 

 described) species occurs in Tasmania, The derm is some- 

 times of a dingy-red. The clothing appears to be easily 

 abraded, but even on specimen in perfect condition the mark- 

 ings are seldom sharply denned. The male differs from the 

 female in having the prothorax wider and. with more strongly 

 rounded sides; but a long series of specimens indicates that 

 it is not always easy to identify the sexes with certainty. 



ESSOLITHNA MEDIOFUSCA, 11. Sp. 



Black. Densely clothed with dingy, fawn-coloured 

 scales, in places stained with sooty patches or stripes, and in 

 places with paler spots; muzzle, under-surface, and legs with 

 greyish or whitish scales. In addition with numerous stout, 

 depressed setae. 



Head wide with dense, concealed punctures; with a 

 narrow median line continued to apical triangle on rostrum. 

 Rostrum short, sides above scrobes slightly sinuous. Antennae 

 stout; scape short, thickened at apex, and somewhat curved; 

 first joint of funicle almost as long as the two following com- 

 bined. Prothorax moderately transverse, sides evenly 

 rounded ; densely covered with small, rounded granules, 

 except at apex. Elytra subcordate-ovate, widest about 

 middle ; with regular rows of large, round punctures, appear- 

 ing very small through clothing. Legs short and stout. 

 Length, 5-6 mm. 



Hah. — Northern Territory: Alexandria (W. ^talker). 

 Type in British Museum. 



In general appearance fairly close to echimys, but scape 

 much shorter, and elytral setae but feebly elevated above the 

 scales, instead of appearing as rather long erect hairs. 

 Seriata and rhombus have the scape similar, but clothing very 

 different. On the elytra there are numerous feeble pale spots 

 in the striae, the spaces between the spots being darker than 

 elsewhere; some specimens in consequence appear to have 

 alternating sooty and fawn-coloured stripes. On the pro- 

 thorax there is usually a large subtriangular median sooty 

 b)lotch, but in the middle of the blotch there is a longitudinal 

 pale vitta; the sides are also sometimes feebly infuscated. 



