78 



Perperus vermiculatus, n. sp. 



Black, antennae almost black. Moderately densely 

 clothed with more or less slaty-grey, feebly-variegated scales. 

 With rather numerous setae (varying from white to dark- 

 brown) scattered about. Under-surface with whitish scales, 

 thickly interspersed with fine whitish setae. 



Head with dense partially-concealed punctures. Rostrum 

 comparatively thin; median carina traceable through cloth- 

 ing but not very distinct. Antennae long and thin ; second 

 joint of funicle fully once and one-half the length of first, 

 and slightly longer than third and fourth combined. Pro- 

 thorax feebly (especially in male) transverse, sides strongly 

 and evenly rounded, apex scarcely visibly incurved to middle ; 

 surface vermiculate ; with a moderately distinct median line. 

 Scutellum absent. Elytra subovate ; at base (which is almost 

 truncate) very little wider than base of prothorax ; in male 

 not much wider than prothorax at its widest, in female con- 

 siderably wider ; with series of large punctures in feeble 

 striae; interstices not alternately raised, and not (or scarcely) 

 sinuous about the middle. Second segment of abdomen much 

 shorter than first or fifth, and about once and one- half the 

 length of third or fourth. Front tibioz lightly denticulate 

 below. Length, 7J-9J mm. 



Hab. — New South Wales: National Park (A. M. Lea), 

 Burrawang (T. G. Sloane). 



The female differs from the male in being larger, the 

 prothorax less globular, elytra wider, with smaller punctures, 

 the legs shorter and thinner and the antennae slightly thinner. 



The second joint of the funicle much longer than the 

 first will readily distinguish the species from melancholicus, 

 which in some respects it resembles. Of those having the 

 second joint longest, it agrees in sculpture most with cervinus, 

 but it is considerably larger and the prothorax without the 

 conspicuous latero-basal markings of that species, although 

 there appears to be feeble remnants of such markings. 



The hind femora have each a distinct ring of whitish 

 scales, usually with a golden or golden-green gloss, but on the 

 other legs the rings are feeble or absent. Some of the scales 

 on the under-surface (especially of the head) have also a 

 metallic gloss. The prothorax is closely covered with small 

 flattened interlacing ridges, each of which on abrasion is seen 

 to have a row of small but distinct punctures. 



Var. Two female specimens (also from the National 

 Park) differ in being more densely clothed, with a large 

 proportion of the scales, even on the upper-surface and 

 rostrum, golden or golden with a rosy gloss. Their derm 



