210 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, VIII., 



OXYTELUS INCONSTANS, n.sp. 



£. Wide and highly polished. Deep glossy black, the man- 

 dibles red; elytra red, but the outer apical angles and the suture 

 in the vicinity of the scutellum black; legs red, femora darker. 



Head large and wide; punctures very distinct and sharply 

 defined although not very large or dense, larger at sides than in 

 middle; antennary tubercles unusually large. Clypeus strongly 

 but not at all sudden!}' depressed, impunctate, its posterior suture 

 invisible. Prothorax strongly transverse, the exact width of or 

 very slightly narrower than head, sides much narrower at base 

 than at apex, base gently but not continuously rounded; punc- 

 tures deep but rather small and not dense; three median impres- 

 sions shallow and rather vague, continuous to base but not to 

 apex, lateral impressions short and apparently caused by punc- 

 tures being massed closely together. Elytra rather strongly 

 transverse, along middle not much longer than prothorax, but 

 considerably more along sides, sides nowhere inflated, the posterior 

 angles rather strongly rounded; along base and suture with not 

 very dense and comparatively small punctures, the punctures 

 elsewhere rather larger and with a more or less distinct tendency 

 to become confluent. Apical segment of abdomen with a very 

 feeble circular impression. Length 4^, to apex of elytra 2f; 

 variation in length 4^-5 mm. 



Q. Differs in having the head very much smaller, the jugular 

 constriction less apparent, and the punctures somewhat larger 

 and denser; the clypeus wider, less depressed and with distinct 

 punctures; the antennary tubercles are smaller, though still of 

 rather large size; the prothorax is longer, considerably wider than 

 the head and with somewhat larger and denser punctures, 

 especially towards the sides. 



//«&._ Vasse, W.A. 



Of the 0. vulneratus type, but (leaving out considerations of 

 colour) differs on account of punctures, prothoracic impressions 

 and jugular constriction. The latter in the male of 0. inconstans 

 forms a very decided semicircle, so that the basal lobes of the 

 head are much larger than usual. The antennary tubercles are 

 just perceptibly diluted with red in the middle. 



