THE TASMANIAN NATURALIST. 
from one nest). The outline, is almost 
perfectly oval. In this ami all the other 
species the derm is shining. but some¬ 
what obscured by tin' pubescence, and 
•this being partially absent from the in* 
itereoxal process of the prosternum that 
portion appears to be highly polished. 
All the species are remarkably similar in 
general appearance, differing, except as 
to the apices of the prosterna I process, 
in little more than size, slightly in 
colottr, and in one species in colour of 
pubescence. The sculpture of the pro¬ 
thorax and elytra is so obscured by the 
clothing that it cannot he satisfactorily 
seen, but it appears in ail the species to. 
consist of dense punctures arranged 
transversely or at right angles to the 
disposition of the clothing. In fact, front 
some directions there appear to be 
numerous flue ridges, behind which are 
placed the punctures, the ridges being 
more or less parallel with each other, or 
slightly undulating. The back of the 
head also, when removed from the pro- 
thorax. appears to he similarly sculp¬ 
tured. The under surface in all the 
species appears to have tine, but more 
or less concealed, punctures. 
dlodwayia Oeeidentalis, n. sp. 
.Reddish eastaneous; prothorax (espe¬ 
cially at base) somewhat dancer than 
elytra; abdomen and appendages paler 
titan elytra. Closely covered with short 
sericeous pubescenee. 
Head scarcely twice ns wide as long. 
I’rothorax (in proportion) slightly larger, 
and with more strongly rounded sides 
than in ovata; the elytra with sides 
rather more rapidly diminishing in width 
to apex, and hind apex of intereoxal pro¬ 
cess of prosternum move deeply incised. 
Abdomen apparently composed of six 
segments, its apex widely and obtusely 
notched. [Femora wide and compressed, 
dieted in the middle posteriorly; tibiae 
rather thin, apparently parallel-sided. 
Length, § nun. 
Hub.- — '\Y. Australia: Swan River; in 
nests of a fairly large stingless “sugar” 
ant under stones. 
Although the colour is not very dark, 
it is darker than that of any other 
species here described, and the prothorax 
often appears.to be faintly infuscated in 
the middle. 
0R.odwai/ia Grientalis, n. sp. 
Bale reddish eastaneous, appendages 
still paler. Closely covered with short 
sericeous pubescence. 
Outlines much as in oeeidentalis. 
Xoteli at bind apex of prosternal process 
deeper than in oeeidentalis, and much 
deeper than in ovata. Abdomen obtusely 
notched at apex. Femora wide and com¬ 
pressed. Length, | mini. 
Hab.—X.S. Wales: Sydney; Tasmania: 
Launceston. In nests of the same small 
ant that harbours the following species; 
in tlie nests of a very minute red ant, 
anu in those of a rfttuer small “green- 
head” stinging ant; all under stones. 
In one specimen the maxillary palpi 
are not concealed, and in shape appear 
like tlie figure K. given of Liniulodes. 
But this specimen is broken, and in 
others the palpi are apparently invisible. 
On the elytra, especially towards the 
base, there usually appears, in some 
lights, a bluish or greenish opalescence; 
hut this may be due to the clothing. 
diodwayia .“Minuta, n. sp. 
Very pale reddish eastaneous; appen¬ 
dages paler. Closeiy covered with short 
w.iitish pubescence; paler than in all the 
preceding species. 
Outlines almost exactly as in ovata. 
Hind apices of procs'ternal process more 
acutely producev than in all the preced¬ 
ing species, and its sides rather less in¬ 
flated. Abdomen apparently not notched 
-at apex, and rather more densely pubes¬ 
cent than in the other species. Femora 
wider than in the other species. Length, 
« min. 
llab. — Tasmania: Hobart, Launceston,. 
Sheffield. Common in nests of a small 
black ant (Colobopsis Gasser! Fab), un¬ 
der stones. 
This is the shortest beetle yet described 
from Australia and Tasmania, but its 
total bulk is slightly greater than that 
of Ptilium Simsoni; lutnerto tho short¬ 
est described species. There are, how¬ 
ever, several considerably smaller species, 
of the family in my collection. 
( 10 ) 
V “S£ J V. MtUiC'uftltg 
