BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 201 



Labial palpi minute. Maxillary palpi small, apparently four- 

 jointed, the third joint large and swollen, the fourth minute.** 

 Prothorax transverse, cylindrical; prosternutn produced in middle 

 of apex, ridged along middle, stigmata concealed. Scutellum 

 small, widely triangular.! Elytra very short. Metasternum 

 very short Abdomen large, cylindrical, the joints briefly elliptic 

 in outline and without visible sutures between dorsal and ventral 

 surfaces, segments increasing in width to fifth, which is almost 

 as large as the two preceding combined, sixth triangular. Hind 

 coxse contiguous, front slightly separated, middle more noticeably 

 but still very slightly separated; femora stout; tibiee spinose; 

 tarsi apparently four-jointed, i terminal joint stout and as long as 

 the rest combined. Body cylindrical and apterous. 



The position of this genus is very doubtful, but I refer it to 

 the neighbourhood of Hledius, on account of its presternum, 

 coxsa, palpi and mandibles. The almost entirely uniform colour 

 of the body and appendages, with the joints closely connected 

 and the sutures frequently indistinct, render it impossible to give 

 as satisfactory a generic diagnosis as is desirable. No confusion, 

 however, is likely to arise through this, as it is the only blind 

 genus of its family recorded from Australia. On a casual glance 

 there appear to be eyes, immediately behind the antennae, on top 

 of the head, but these on examination under the microscope are 

 seen to be but slight infuscations and are double, marking the 

 sides of a slight antennary ridge. Under a high power the 

 surface of these infuscated spots is seen to be covered with 

 exactly the same scale-like reticulations as the rest of the head, 

 these spaces bearing a deceptive resemblance to facets. The 



* I cannot see this joint at all clearly, even under a high power, and what 

 appears to be a fourth joint may really be a fascicle of hairs. 



t Although fairly large in comparison with the elytra, the scutellum is 

 very indistinct on account of the fine nature of its sutures. 



X I cannot make out the joints of the tarsi at all clearly; in most lights 

 they appear to be four-jointed, but they may really be composed of .five. 



