116 



which has cephalic armature and bicoloured prothorax; the 

 almost simple head of the male, and pale elytra, except for 

 a slight infuscation about scutellum, readily distinguish 

 from II. medio flavu-s; in appearance it is much like the 

 preceding species, but the head of the male is larger, more 

 transverse, somewhat differently sculptured in front, less of 

 muzzle pale, and pronotum entirely dark. The middle legs 

 are sometimes almost entirely dark, sometimes only infus- 

 cated in parts ; the hind ones usually have the base of femora 

 obscurely pale; the antennae of the male are usually entirely 

 pale; on the female the apical half, or more, is usually deeply 

 infuscated; on several females the sides of the elytra are 

 slightly infuscated posteriorly. 



Helcogaster basicollis, n. sp. 

 d . Black; base of prothorax, basal third of antennae 

 and most of legs fiavous ; elytra obscurely piceo-flavous, 

 blackish about base and suture. With sparse, black hairs. 



Head smooth and almost impunctate between eyes, base 

 and sides behind eyes . densely punctate ; two narrow and 

 rather deep impressions in front. Antennae rather short. 

 Prothorax moderately transverse, sides evenly rounded, base 

 and apex subequal, subbasal depression scarcely traceable; a 

 few punctures on sides. Elytra, rather wide and not very 

 lorjg; with sparse, minute, rugulose punctures. Basal joint 

 of front tarsi lopsided, a black comb on the inner edge. 

 Length, 2'75-3 mm. 



Hab. — South Australia: Quorn (A. H. Elston). Type, 

 I. 11902. 



Allied to the preceding species, but head more con- 

 spicuously bifoveate in front, prothorax pale at base, and 

 elytra and legs more obscurely coloured. In my table it 

 would be associated with II. obliquiceps, and II . gagatinus ; 

 the former has head very different and antennae longer; the 

 latter is considerably narrower, with unicolorous prothorax. 

 The head without large excavations and bifoveate in front, 

 is as in many females of the genus, but the front tarsi are 

 essentially masculine. On the two specimens taken by Mr. 

 Elston the elytra from behind are seen to have the sides 

 obscurely fiavous, with the base and a fairly wide sutural 

 space (narrowing posteriorly) blackish, but from above, or 

 the sides, the two colours are not sharply defined. On both 

 specimens parts of the tibiae and the hind femora are 

 infuscated. 



Helcogaster inflatus, n. sp. 

 cS . Black; apical three-fifths of elytra (more on sides), 

 tibiae, and tarsi fiavous. With very sparse, black hairs. 



