234 



Cryptodus variolosus, White. 

 Mr. Clark and I have taken specimens of this species in 

 abundance from nests of Iridomyrmex conifera , in many parts 

 of Western Australia. 



Cryptodus passaloides, Germ. 



Mr. Clark and I have taken specimens of this species from 

 nests of several species of ants in Western Australia, including 

 Ponera lutea, and a small black Iridomyrmex. 



Cryptodus foveatus, n. sp. 

 PI. xxvii.j fig. 85. 



Dark brown, sometimes almost black, moderately shining. 

 Upper-surface with very short, and rather sparse, golden setae. 



Head with crowded reticulate punctures, a feeble median 

 depression and two feeble tubercles. Clypeus with margins 

 rather strongly upcurved, middle feebly incurved. Mentum 

 with base deeply semicircularly notched, and with two rather 

 acute processes; with dense, reticulate sculpture, becoming 

 sub-obliterated in front. Antennae ten- jointed; basal joint 

 strongly dilated to apex. Prothora r with fairlv large, and 

 rather dense, shallow punctures, each with a central pit, but 

 becoming crowded and irregular on the sides in front, median 

 line rather lightly defined, but with slightly larger punctures 

 than on the adjacent surface. Elytra with rather large elliptic 

 or round punctures, each with an elevated median line, the 

 interstices with numerous sharply-defined punctures; costae 

 distinct. Pygidium with a large median depression, with 

 dense, reticulate sculpture, reduced to simple punctures at 

 apex. Front tibiae quadridentate, the subbasal tooth small, 

 the others large. Length, 20-23 mm. 



Hab. — Northern Territory (Blackburn's collection), Daly 

 River (H. Wesselman), Darwin (N. Davies) ; Queensland, 

 Charters Towers (Blackburn's collection). Type, I. 2259. 



Very distinct from all other known species by the large 

 depression or fovea on the pygidium, which is distinct to the 

 naked eye and gives that organ a bituberculate appearance 

 (thinking this was possibly a masculine character one specimen 

 was dissected, without an aedeagus being found) ; the quadri- 

 dentate front tibiae is also a useful, but not unique, 

 distinguishing feature. The five specimens before me have all 

 simple front tarsi. 



Cryptodus antennalis, n. sp. 

 PL xxv., figs. 34 and 35; pi. xxvii.. fig. 86. 

 Dark brown and moderatelv shining. Upper-surface with 

 sparse and very minute setae. 



