133 



its entire base appears to be triangularly elevated; it is 

 transversely impressed at the extreme base, with the triangle 

 overhanging it ; even on the female there are traces of these. 

 Twelve specimens were obtained on the island by the use of 

 a sweep-net on grasses, etc., close to a beach; of these four 

 are males, and the dark parts of the prothorax on each appear 

 to be more of the nature of stains than regular markings, 

 on three of them there is an irregular postmedian fascia, on 

 the fourth there is only a small spot on each side ; but the 

 prothorax of the female is deep black, with the base usually, 

 but not always, more or less reddish. On several specimens 

 of each sex the knees are obscurely reddish. 



Helcogaster medioflavus, n. sp. 



cS . Black; middle portion of elytra obscurely pale 

 flavous, three or four basal joints of antennae more or less 

 flavous. A few blackish hairs scattered about. 



Head with a rather shallow, inter-ocular impression ; 

 with three distinct costae in front, the median one shorter 

 than the others. Antennae longer (passing elytra) and more 

 distinctly serrated than usual in genus. Prothorax slightly 

 transverse, sides evenly rounded, a wide transverse depression 

 near base. Elytra moderately long, inconspicuously rugulose. 

 Abdomen with a small medio-apical process. Basal joint of 

 front tarsi lopsided, with an inner comb. Length, 2-2*5 mm. 



Hah. — South Australia: Quorn (A. H. Elston), Murray 

 Bridge (A. M. Lea). Type, I. 11899. 



The bicoloured elytra and tricostate head render this 

 species a very distinct one, and at once distinguish it from 

 H. obliquiceps and H. gagatinus , with which it would be 

 associated in my table. The dark parts of the elytra are a 

 wide basal triangle, and the apical two-fifths, the pale inter- 

 vening portion is distinct, but its outlines are not sharply 

 defined. A specimen from the old collection, without exact 

 locality, has the dark parts more brown than black, with the 

 pale portion of the elytra more extended. There are five 

 males before me, but I have been unable to associate any 

 females with them. 



Helcogaster opaciceps, n. sp. 



<S . Black; elytra with median portion pale flavous, 

 three basal joints of antennae, knees, front tibiae, and tarsi, 

 more or less reddish-flavous. A few blackish hairs scattered 

 about. 



Head wide, opaque and densely punctate, a fairly large* 

 depression close to each eye, the two separated by an obtuse, 



