255 



Head opaque, and with dense punctures; with a narrow 

 median line from antennae to base, from antennae to lip with 

 a strongly elevated narrow ridge. Antennae rather short, 

 first joint stout, second rather short, its base partly concealed 

 by apex of first, third to seventh submoniliform, eighth and 

 ninth indistinctly separated, at the base slightly wider than 

 seventh, the tip truncated. Prothorax about as long as wide, 

 with a large deep excavation on basal two- thirds, an impression 

 connecting the fovea with each side, a strong acute tooth on 

 each side near apex, with dense (sometimes punctate) striae, 

 mostly converging to the excavation. Elytra subovate, base 

 truncate and very little wider than prothorax; with regular 

 rows of distinct and rather small punctures. Mesostcnu/m 

 with a narrow intercoxal process extending on to metasternum. 

 Legs rather long and thin. Length, 1'5 mm. 



Hob. — Western Australia: Swan River, eight specimens 

 from nests of ants, Gremastogaster conifera (J. S. Clark). 



The strong frontal crest has a rounded outline ; the lower 

 cheeks are each greatly expanded as a thin flange. The 

 antennae at first appear to be composed of but eight joints, 

 as the two apical ones are so close together that it is difficult 

 to see the dividing line ; on examining the under-surf ace of 

 the basal joints under a compound power there appears to be 

 a minute joint at the base of the apparent second, but it 

 may not be a true joint. The lateral tooth on each side of the 

 prothorax is nearer the apex than is usual in the allied genera, 

 and in addition there is a very small process on each side at 

 the exact middle. The abdomen of both specimens is widely 

 depressed (probably a masculine feature), its first segment is 

 very short and indistinctly separated from the metasternum, 

 the second is large, its sutures with the first and third indis- 

 tinct across the middle, but distinct at the sides (as a result, 

 along the middle, the abdomen at first glance appears to be 

 composed of but three segments), the third and fifth are much 

 shorter, and the fourth still shorter. There is some special 

 golden pubescence on the prosternum, but it does not extend 

 to the metasternum or abdomen. 



This species might have been regarded as belonging to a 

 new genus, but if true inquilines were to be treated as 

 ordinary Coleoptera, it would be necessar} 7 to propose almost 

 as many genera as there are species. 



POLYPLOCOTES SCABRICOLLIS, Lea. 



By the favour of Mr. G. F. Hill the type and only known 

 specimen of this species is now in the South Australian 

 Museum. 



