110 



Lofty, Lucindale, and Mount Gambler). The head of the 

 male, viewed from behind, appears to have three small median 

 tubercles and a slightly larger one near each eye.( 19) The 

 typical, but not the commonest, form of the male is black, 

 except that some of the basal joints of antennae and the 

 knees are obscurely reddish or testaceous. 



Var. 1, S • Prothorax with extreme base, and sometimes 

 the sides near base, more or less reddish. 



Var. 2, $ . Prothorax with sides (or a vitta near each 

 side) of prothorax pale, but not to apex, the pale portion 

 usually not continued across middle of base. On some speci- 

 mens of this form there is also a short, obscure, medio-apical 

 vitta. 



Var. 3, $ . Prothorax with dark markings reduced to 

 a median infuscated spot (usually rather large), and generally 

 with infuscated stains about apex, or sides. On many speci- 

 mens of this variety the large spot is obscurely connected with 

 two small apical spots, so as to resemble an irregular Y, or 

 the Y may be sharply denned. 



The varieties run into each other, but I have seen only 

 one in which the prothorax is entirely pale. In the com- 

 monest form of the female the base and sides near base of the 

 prothorax are pale, but the various forms have not been 

 described, as many of them are scarcely distinguishable from 

 females of other species, although the males, by the sculpture 

 of the head, are abundantly distinct. 



Helcogaster T-tuberculatus, Lea. 



In the table ( 20) this was in error referred to as tuber- 

 cidatus. 



Helcogaster imperator, n. sp. 



<$ . Black; front half of head, prothorax, a large sub- 

 triangular portion at base of elytra (an infuscate blotch 

 about scutellum excepted), and parts of legs and of antennae 

 flavous, or reddish-flavous. With a few scattered dark hairs. 



Head wide, with a rather shallow longitudinal impression 

 each side in front. Antennae rather stout, second to tenth 

 joints more or less transverse, eleventh slightly longef than 

 wide. Prothorax considerably wider than long, widest close 

 to apex, a deep transverse excavation near apex, and a shallow 

 one near base. Elytra not much longer than wide, each 

 separately rounded at apex; with sparse and inconspicuous, 

 rugulose punctures. Basal joint of front tarsi with a distinct 

 black comb. Length ( 3 , 9)> 2*5-4 mm. 



(19) Lea, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.. 1909, pi. ii., fig. 9. 



(20) L.c, p. 216. 



