85 



sternum considerably shorter than the following segment ; 

 episterna narrow but distinct and almost parallel-sided 

 throughout, the anterior inner projection absent. Abdomen 

 moderately large, sutures distinct, that between first and 

 second curved ; first as long as the two following combined, 

 intercoxal process wide; third and fourth combined about 

 equal in length to second or fifth. Legs rather short; pos- 

 terior coxae touching elytra ; femora distinctly grooved, 

 dentate, posterior terminated before apex of abdomen ; tibiae 

 compressed, straight or feebly bisinuate beneath ; tarsi rather 

 short, third joint wide and deeply bilobed, fourth elongate. 

 Ovate, convex, nontuberculate, apterous. 



In this genus, which is undoubtedly very close to Deci- 

 laus, the shape of the metasternal episterna is very remark- 

 able, each being almost parallel-sided throughout and with 

 the anterior inner projection entirely absent. From Decl- 

 laus it is distinguished by the shape of the metasternal epis- 

 terna and by the dentate femora ; from the preceding genus, 

 to which it also appears to be close, it is distinguished by the 

 mesosternal receptacle, metasternal episterna, and femora. 



IiOPLODECILAUS MARMOItATUS, n. Sp. 



Black, shining, more or less mottled with red or testa- 

 ceous; antennae pale-red. Sparsely clothed with whitish 

 scales, longer and denser on under-surface and legs than 

 elsewhere. 



Head convex ; densely and coarsely but equally punc- 

 tate ; ocular fovea not traceable. Rostrum shorter than pro- 

 thorax, increasing in width from base to apex : rather 

 coarsely punctate, but along middle with an interrupted 

 shining impunctate space. Basal joint of funicle as long as 

 second and third combined, third to seventh transverse and 

 closely united. Prothorax moderately transverse, with 

 dense, moderately large, round punctures; with a feebly- 

 impressed median line. Elytra not twice the length of pro- 

 thorax, widest at about middle, the outline subcontinuous 

 with that of prothorax ; with series of large, suboblong, deep, 

 subapproximate punctures, of almost equal size throughout ; 

 interstices the width of or slightly wider than punctures, 

 themselves finely punctate. Under-surface moderately densely 

 punctate. Femora stout, densely punctate, feebly but rather 

 acutely dentate. Length, 3 mm. (vix.) ; rostrum, § mm. ; 

 width, \\ mm. 



7/ab. — Western Australia: Albany (R. Helms). 



The head is dark-brown and darker than the rostrum; 

 the prothorax is black, except at apex and along middle : the 

 base, sides, and beyond middle of the elytra are more or 



