252 



SCLEROCYPHON BASICOLLIS, Lea. 



Two specimens from North Queensland (Blackburn 

 collection), and Toowoomba (Queensland Museum), differ 

 from the type in having the pale pubescence on the pronotum 

 extended so as to cover the base with the exception of three 

 spots, which by contrast with the rest of the surface appear 

 black. The Toowoomba specimen has the elytra of a dingy 

 red, irregularly mottled with brown. 



SCLEROCYPHON AQUATICUS, n. sp. 



Black; extreme margins of prothorax and of elytra, and 

 parts of legs obscurely reddish. Upper-surface irregularly 

 clothed with ashen pubescence, under-surface densely and 

 uniformly clothed. 



Head gently convex in middle; with small, dense, almost 

 concealed punctures. Antennae not extending to middle 

 coxae, third joint scarcely longer than fourth, but conspicu- 

 ously longer than second. Prothorax about thrice as wide as 

 the median length, sides curved, thin, and much wider at 

 base than at apex, front rather deeply emarginate for 

 reception of head, median line feebly defined in front, distinct 

 on basal half, with a small, shallow, transverse impression on 

 each side of middle, and several elsewhere ; punctures dense 

 and minute. Elytra at base the width of prothorax, sides 

 gently dilated to beyond the middle, and narrowly margined, 

 at about the basal third with a fairly large but very shallow 

 marginal depression; punctures as on prothorax. Length, 

 6-7 mm. 



Hab. — Tasmania: Waratah (H. J. Carter and A. M. 

 Lea). Type, I. 10687. 



In searching for Parnidae at Waratah Mr. Carter pulled 

 out a log from the water and obtained a specimen of this 

 species from an immersed part of it ; a few minutes after- 

 wards I obtained two more in the same way. The clothing of 

 their upper-surface has a somewhat spotted appearance, as 

 if the derm had been irregularly abraded, although I am 

 satisfied they are in perfect condition ; the type has an appear- 

 ance as of having a feeble median fascia, on a second specimen 

 (returned to Mr. Carter) this appearance is less defined; on 

 the third most of the clothing is blackish, but there are several 

 distinct pale spots, and beneath these the derm itself is 

 reddish, there being quite a conspicuous angular spot about 

 the middle of each elytron. The general outlines are briefly 

 elliptic ; the junction of the prothorax with the scutellum and 

 elytra is very finely serrated ; the elytra in parts about the 

 suture are very finelv transversely wrinkled. 



