f>3 



narrowed in the basal part (not, as in other genera, of evenly 

 curved outline). I had not observed that character myself; 

 though it is not very strongly marked, the note of its pre- 

 sence is certainly a valuable contribution to the diagnosis of 

 the genus. Brenske finds a reason for the inapplicability 

 to Australian genera of the ordinary classification in the 

 theory that some primitive forms which have disappeared else- 

 where have survived in Australia. 



Brenske then proceeds to add three new species to the 

 genus, but does not give a formal description of them, merely 

 placing them in a tabular statement of the distinctive char- 

 acters of the Lepidodermata and stating their size and habitat. 

 The habitat of only one of them fwaterhousei, from Queens- 

 land) is exactly known, lansbergei being attributed to " Aus- 

 tralia" and glaber apparently being of altogether doubtful 

 habitat ('Cornwallis Island?"). Without a formal descrip- 

 tion it is, of course, impossible to identify these species confi- 

 dently except by comparison with the types, but I have in 

 my collection two species of the genus (both from Queens- 

 land) which agree in respect of the characters mentioned in 

 the tabulation with waterhousei and glaber. As Brenske's 

 memoir is not procurable I subjoin an extract from his tabu- 

 lation (which includes species from New Guinea and Arou) 

 showing how he differentiates Australian species : — 



A. Pronotum smooth, with small dispersed 



punctures. Elytra likewise nitid, 



with diffused shallow punctures in 



which are white scales. Long., 28-31 



mm. 

 AA. Pronotum smooth, with dispersed 



punctures larger. Elytra closely 



punctured with numerous raised 



smooth wrinkles interspersed. The 



scales are small, not covering the 



surface. Long., 24 mm. 

 AAA. Pronotum closely punctulate, with 



smooth raised spaces intermingled. 

 B. Elytra very closely punctulate, with- 

 out coarser punctures inter- 

 mingled, but with some smooth 

 spaces behind the middle. Scales 



very close. Long., 27-30 mm. ... albohirtum, Waterh. 

 BB. Elytra very closely and finely 

 punctured with numerous coarser 

 punctures intermingled, with dis- 

 persed feeble wrinkles, and a spot 

 on either side behind the middle. 

 The scales are strong but not 

 covering the surface. The pygi- 

 dium is coarsely wrinkled, sparsely 

 scaled. Long., 32 mm lansbergei, Brenske 



;iaber, Brenske 



waterhousei, Brenske 



