119 



The head has distinct impressions but it is not largely 

 excavated, so in my table would be associated with II. obli- 

 quioeps and //. gagatinus; from which it is distinguished 

 by the flask-shaped elevation, etc. On H. melas the elevation 

 rises conspicuously above the general level of the head, on the 

 present species it does not do this, being divided off by im- 

 pressed lines, which become deep between the antennae ; seen 

 from in front, or obliquely from behind, there appears to be 

 a deep, angular, interocular fovea, on each side of the apex 

 of the flask ; seen from directly behind there appear to be two 

 minute tubercles near each eye. 



A male from Tumby Bay, South Australia, in size, shape, 

 colour, and sculpture of head so closely resembles the type 

 that I think it must represent a variety of the species ; its 

 antennae are decidedly— about one-fourth — longer, and the 

 head when viewed directly from behind does not appear to 

 have two minute tubercles near each eye ; the flask-shaped 

 elevation, however, is of exactly the same shape. 



Helcogaster excavifrons, n. sp. 



d . Black; two basal joints of antennae bright red. 

 With a few inconspicuous dark hairs. 



Head wide, with a large excavation ; punctures small and 

 crowded. Antennae moderately long. Protkorar slightly 

 transverse, with a rather wide subbasal depression. Elytra 

 rather short and wide; almost impunctate. Basal joint of 

 front tarsi lopsided, and with an inner comb. Length ( S , $ )> 

 2-25-2-5 mm. 



9 . Differs in having the head smaller, without excav- 

 ation, punctures more uniformly distributed, antennae 

 shorter, thinner, with the basal joints less brightly coloured, 

 and front tarsi combless. 



Hab. — South Australia: Port Lincoln, Tumby Bay 

 (Blackburn's collection). Type, I. 11901. 



The cephalic excavation is of irregular depth, its sides 

 touch the front of the eyes, and its hind outline is a gentle 

 curve, but with a slight median impression ; the inter- 

 antennary space is shining ; viewed from behind the head 

 appears to have two very small median elevations in front, 

 but to be without one at the side of each eye. In my table 

 it would be associated with H . niger, from which the excav- 

 ation, single at its posterior end, is distinctive. 



One of the four females, associated with the two males 

 by Mr. Blackburn, has the base of the prothorax obscurely 

 reddish. 



