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AOVAL SOCIETY of SOUTH AUSTRALIA

ne | (INCORPORATED).

Vou. «xx VI.

[Wrrn Nine Prates anp Onz FicurE IN THE Text. |

a

EDITED BY WALTER HOWCHIN, F.G8.

ve 229986 E. pete By SEVEN SHILLINGS.

3 o . “Anelaide + Bee

aa "RIGBY, LIMITED, 74, KING WILLIAM STREET.

Be -_. \DECEMBER, 1913. #3 = S : : 2 ee es =

" areels for transmission to the Royal Society of South Aus- tralia from Europe and America should be addressed “per 4 pe be care Messrs. Thos. Meadows & CGo., 34, Milk. Bf Street, Cheapside, . aga see

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TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

ROVAL SOCIETY of SOUTH AUSTRALIA

(INCORPORATED).

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yy Come. | Ee ET

[Wire Nine Piares anp One Figure In tHE TExt.]

EDITED BY WALTER HOWCHIN, F.G.S.

PRick “toa Nii LINGS:

Adelaide : RIGBY, LIMITED, 74, KING WILLIAM STREET. DECEMBER, 1913.

Parcels for transmission to the Roya! Society of South Aus-

tralia from Europe and America should be addressed “per

Rigby, Ltd., care Messrs. Thos. Meadows & Co. 34, Milk Street, Cheapside, London,”

Moval Society ot South Australia

(INCORPORATED).

Patron: HIS EXCELLENCY SIR DAY HORT BOSANQUET, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.

— a fp— ES

OFFICERS FOR 1913-14.

President : | JOSEPH C. VERCO, M.D., F.R.C.S.

Vice=Presidents : PROF. E. H. RENNIE, M.A., D.Sc., F.C.S. R. H. PULLEINE, M.B.

thon. Treasurer: W. B. POOLE.

Thon. Secretary : WALTER RUTT, C.E.

Members ot Council: E. ASHBY. G. G. MAYO, C.E. SAMUEL DIXON. KERR GRANT, M.Sc. R. S. ROGERS, M.A., M.D. W. HOWCHIN, F.G.S. (Editor and Representative Governor)

Auditors ; W. L. WARE,. J.P. H. WHITBREAD.

Cath Nelem NDS.

=@-- . «Page. Brack. J. M.: The Flowering and Fruiting of Pectinella

antarctica. Plate i. ae bat iw si 1 Carter, H. J.: Notes and Tabulation of the Australian

Amarygminee (Family Tenebrionide), with Descriptions

of New Species ae Ae oe Ae As 6 Rogers, Dr. R. S.: Mechanism of Pollination in certain Aus-

eahan Orchids. Plates vi. to ix. 48 Grrautt, A. A.: A New Genus of Chalcidoid oe es ra of

the Family Mymaride from Tasmania 65

New Genera and Species of Chalcidoid Hymenoptera in the South Australian Museum ... ; e 67 Baker, W. H.: On Three Species of Isopod Geen fond

in the Nests of Ants in South Australia. Plates ii.

and ili. a af nee a: ee oe ne LG Brack, J. M.: Additions to the Flora of South Australia.

Wo. 7. Plates iv. and v. ey a sa le Rogers, Dr. R. S.: Additions to South Australian Orchidezse 125 Dopp, A. P.: Australian Hymenoptera: Proctotrypoidea.

No.) 1 oe as bc Siar ee oe eo Veo Lea, A. M.: Notes on Cryptorhynchides (Coleoptera Curcu-

honidze) in the South Australian Museum, with Descrip-

tions of New Species = ae es ae 182

Descriptions of Australian Gare ationites, with Notes

on Previously Described Species, Part xi. a) PaO

Verco, Dr. J. C.: Note on Harpa (Focithara ) Suneiee iain

Note on Lasea sealaris, Phillipi .. 448 ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS 450 AnnuAL Report Le 460 GRANTS IN AID OF ScIENTIFIC RESEARCH 461 BALANCE-SHEETS one ee Soe ss ae oe 464, 465 Dowartons to Liprary 466 List oF FELLOWS. ETC. 478 - APPENDICES—

Field Naturalists’ Section: Annual Report, ete. Lr od

Twenty-fifth Annual Report of the Native Fauna and

’ Flora Protection Committee of the Field Naturalists’ Section of the Royal Society bs 488

Malacological Section: Annual Report, ete. 489

Microscopical Section: Annual Report, etc. 49() GENERAL INDEX 492

THE FLOWERING AND FRUITING OF PECTINELLA ANTARCTICA (CYMODOCEA ANTARCTICA).

By J. M. Brack.

[Read April 10, 1913.] PLATE: I.

Pectinella, gen. novum. Flores unisexuales, solitarii, basi vaginante foliorum inclusi; flos masculus nudus; anthere 2, quadriloculares, leviter cohzrentes, ped- unculo communi inserte, polline filamentoso; flos femineus sxpius bracteolis membranaceis plus minus connatis absconditus; carpella gemina, non _pedi- cellata sed pedunculo communi inserta, in stylum attenuata, stigmatibus 3 capillaribus; carpellum fructi- ferum subdrupaceum, mesocarpio carnoso, endocarpio corneo, in lobos 4 truncatos rigidos productum, itaque perianthium quadrilobatum simulans; embryo mox intra fructum apice ramuli persistentem germinans et per basin fissam styli procedens, demumque pericarpio emacerato quadripartito et pectiniformi cinctus ad fundum maris descendens et ibi radicans. Folia alterno-disticha, caules nonnulli repentes, ad nodos radicantes. Herbze sub- marine.

This genus differs from any other in Potamogetonacee in the structure of the anthers, the hard 4-lobed framework of the fruiting carpel, and the peculiar mode of reproduction.

Pectinella antarctica. Herba submersa, floribus dloicis, foliis apice lunatis, anthera a basi valvis 3 dehiscente, connectivo in acumina gemina producto, uno carpello sepe abortivo.

This plant has already received nine different names : — Amphibolis zosterifolia, Agardh; Caulinia antarctica, R. Br. ; Cymodocea antarctica, Endl.; Cymodocea zosterifolia, F. v. M.; Graumuellera antarctica, Reichb.; Kernera antarctica, Schult.; Posidoma antarctica, Spreng.; Ruppia antarctica, Labill.; Thalassia antarctica, F. v. M. This multiplicity of names is chiefly due to the flowers remaining unknown for so long.

It grows in salt water along the coasts of Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, and was first recorded by Labillardiére, the botanist of the expedition sent by Louis

B

2

XVI. in 1791 to search for La Pérouse. His specimens, obtained near Cape Leeuwin, W.A., were in leaf only, and judging by analogy, he named and figured them as /uppia antarctica in his Nove Hollandie Plantarum Specimen, ii., p. 116, tab. 264, published in 1806. Charles Gaudichaud, botanist to Freycinet’s voyage of discovery, 1817-1820, collected the same plant at Shark Bay, W.A., and this time male flowers were found and described (Voyage autour du Monde: Botanique, p. 430, tab. 40, fig. 2).

No further investigations seem to have been made with regard to this plant for many years, until Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, a Fellow of this Society, acting on the suggestion of Baron von Mueller, collected specimens at Ardrossan, and gave the result of his researches in two papers read before the Royal Society in 1880, the first being entitled “Some Observations on the Propagation of Cymodocea antarctica, Endl.” (Trans. Roy. Soc., S.A., iv., 1-4 and 47-49, plates 1 and 5). Mr. Tepper does not appear to have found the male or young female flowers, but the conclusion at which he arrived is, I think, justified by the facts. It was “that the plant does not at all develop a fruit proper, nor does the seed ever become dissociated from _ its plant, but that the fertilized ovum at once germinates and develops into a new plant, which at maturity is detached, and begins an independent cycle of existence.” The object of the present paper is to supplement the observations made by Mr. Tepper over thirty years ago.

Mr. Tepper forwarded his paper and specimens to Pro- fessor P. Ascherson, of Berlin, who replied that in the “fruits” he could find “nothing of the organs of a pistillate blossom, seeds,” etc., and he considered the process to be purely one of vegetative reproduction (Trans. Roy. Soc., 8.A., v., 37). In the same letter Ascherson states that he had seen one specimen of the female flower submitted by Baron von Mueller. This must have been a very young flower, and the fact that the 4-lobed comb is the final stage of the female flower was over- looked.

The theory of vegetative reproduction seems to have been accepted by botanists ever since 1880. P. Ascherson, speaking of Cymodocea antarctica in Engler and Prantl’s Natirliche Pflanzenfamilien, 11., 1, 195-6 (1889), summarizes the supposed process as follows:—‘‘An ordinary foliage leaf {at the summit of a leafy shoot] is succeeded by a scale-leaf or ‘comb-leaf,’ whose median plane is transverse to that of the foliage-leaf. To this scale-leaf are added other leaves in nor- mal distichous succession. By destruction of its softer parts the strongly developed mechanical tissue of the new comblike, incised scale-leaf is set free; beneath its insertion the end

3

of the shoot divides, anchors itself firmly by means of the comb- leaf, takes root and grows into a new plant.”’

A. Kerner, in his Natural History of Plants, 11., 807 (English ed. 1895) says: -—‘“Towards the close of the winter the end of the stem above the leaves is seen to become peculiarly modified. Its internodes become much contracted, and at the lowest node is developed a scale-leaf with 4 lobes, which sur- rounds the leaves developed from the upper nodes, like a cup. Buds arise in the axils of one or two of these leaves, while the leaves themselves die and decay. The parenchyma of the 4-lobed, cup-shaped scale-leaf also decays, and only its stiff veins remain, so that instead of the cup there are now only comb-like scales. After this alteration has taken place, the tissue of the stem below the pectinate scales breaks across, and the whole shoot-apex, separated from the lower part of the stem, which has long been in a leafless condition, is carried away by the currents of the water.”

The views expressed by these eminent authorities will require considerable modification when it is realized that the new plant springs, not from any reduced leaf or scale-leaf, but from the female flower itself.

At the beginning of this year Mr. H. H. D. Griffith called my attention to this plant, which grows beyond low-water mark at Henley Beach, and is often cast up on the shore. He suc- ceeded in finding several male flowers and also the female flower in such various stages of growth as enabled us to trace its gradual development up to the “comb.” The flowers are dicecious, and both male and female grow at the end of rather short branches, sheltered by the broad sheaths of the two upper- most leaves. The males have no other protection, and consist of two 4-celled anthers on a common peduncle. Each anther opens from below in 3 valves and emits the threadlike pollen- cells, which float about in the water until they find the slender stigmas of the female flower. This consists of twin carpels on a common peduncle, one carpel often abortive. Like the males, they are at first sheltered in the leaf-sheath, but they have also in most cases a row of membranous bracteoles, often united in the shape of a cup which completely encloses the flower. As soon as fertilization has taken place the long stigmas break off, and without any period of rest the embryo begins to grow and the fruit to form. Four small truncate lobes, which have appeared about the middle of the carpel, increase rapidly in size and spread outwards, assuming the appearance of a perianth. Fleshy on the outside, they soon develop a horny inner framework, whose short, tubular part forms the inner- most layer of the pericarp and protects the growing embryo. Nourished by the albumen stored about its base, the embryo

B2

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soon reaches the summit of the fruit. In the meantime the base of the style has split into two parts, and through the aperture the plumule emerges into the water. The soft tissue of the pericarp decays, probably by a sort of maceration in the sea water, and there remains only a 4-lobed comb, each lobe cut into 10-20 subulate teeth, and the hardened tube gripping the base of the embryonic plant. The comb breaks away from the end of the branch and sinks to the bottom, where the teeth of the lobes catch in the fibres of Posidonia australis, or in other material lying on the sea-floor, and so anchor the new plant while it roots and grows.

There are still several points which require clearing up, such as the history of the ovule in the very young carpel, which has not yet been seen. At the fall of the stigmas, the embryo already occupies nearly the whole of the ovary, and the integuments of the ovule seem to have been absorbed, per- haps in the store of albumen. Or it may be that the pollen finds great difficulty in reaching the stigmas, and that in order to ensure reproduction of the species, the ovary develops a bud in place of an ovule, as is said to occur sometimes in Crinwm and Amaryllis. Against this hypothesis are the facts that the growth in the ovary resembles an embryo, that the anthers are fertile, and that no fruits of a different and more normal character have been found. Nor do we yet know what period elapses between the emergence of the embryo from the fruit and the fall of the comb, but probably flowering takes place from September to January, and the young plants are firmly rooted before the beginning of winter.

It is also probable that there are two forms of P. antarctica. One, very numerous at Henley Beach, and which may be considered the type, has shorter leaves (sheath, 8-10 mm. long; blade, 12-35 mm. long), and a much rarer variety, found at the same place, has longer leaves (sheath, 15-20 mm. ; blade, 40-70 mm.). No male flowers or young females of the type were found, January being apparently too late for them, but both were gathered on the long-leaved variety, which flowers later, and the development of the carpel, apart from the fact that the membranous bracts are fewer, although rarely quite obsolete, is exactly the same as in the short-leaved form.

There are certain analogies between the fruiting of Pectinella and that of two genera of a distant family, the Rhizophoracee. In Rhizophora (the tropical mangrove) there is likewise no seed in the ordinary sense of the term, as the embryo germinates in the fruit while the latter is still growing on the tree, and without a period of rest; in Brugwiera the similarity is increased by the fruit itself falling to the ground along with the growing embryo.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.

Pectinella antarctica.

. 1.—Vertical section of female flower at about the same stage

as fig. 2 2.—Young female flower (from long-leaved variety).

3.—Female flower after fertilization (from _ short-leaved form).

4.—Female flower further advanced, with ‘one abortive carpel.

5.—Vertical section of same.

6.—The same, still further advanced: a,a, anterior and smaller lobes; 6, b, posterior lobes; c, membranous bracts, few and scattered in fig. 1, obsolete in fig. 2, united in a cup in figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, but cut back in 4 and 5; d,d, hornlike processes growing on the upper part of the carpel and perhaps helping to shelter the emerging embryo; e, style of abortive carpel; f, style of fertile carpel; g, embryo with plumule emerging from fruit; 7, horny tissue of carpel, which becomes the comb; k, embryo in earlier stage; /, albumen surrounding lower part of embryo.

7.—The quadripartite comb. 8.—Embryo.

9.—Embryo further developed: h, cotyledon; i, plumule; m, hypocotyl.

10.—Male flower enclosed in leaf-sheath (long-leaved variety). 11.—Transverse section of anthers.

12.—Anthers opening.

13.—A pollen-cell.

14.—Young plant rising from the comb and rooting itself. 15.—Branch with female flower at summit.

16.—Transverse section, showing anthers dehiscing in 8

valves and practically 1-celled through absorption of the partitions.

6

NOTES AND TABULATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN AMARYG— MIN (FAMILY TENEBRIONID&), WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.

By H. J. Carter, B.A., F.E.S., Corresponding Member.

[Read April 10, 1913.]

In 1892-3 Mr. Blackburn published his revision of this group, and rendered a notable service to our knowledge of this numerous and little-known sub-family, by giving an elaborate tabulation thereof. Since that date Mr. Blackburn has himself described several species, Herr Gebien has described seven, and the author now proposes to add twenty- two more. Further, a good deal of information has been available to the author, especially in access to the Macleay types and a visit to the Hope Museum at Oxford in 1907, so that it is now possible to correct’ some of the unavoidable inaccuracies made in the revision referred to above, while it is hoped that future workers will find some assistance in the present notes and tables towards a more complete accuracy. Mr. Blackburn’s table is sometimes obscured by the use of characters inconsistent with his descriptions, ¢.g., C. acon- spicuus is placed amongst species “with ocular sulcus,” whereas in the description he says “sulcis ocularibus nullis.”” Again with C. longiusculus his table says “interstices convex and impunctulate,” whereas in the description he says “‘inter- stitiis rotundo-elevatis sparsim subtilissime elevatis” (sic); the last word being presumably a misprint for “punctatis.”’

In the tabulation given below, the author has differed materially from Mr. Blackburn’s system—(1) In attempting what is hoped will prove a simpler scheme for identification of species: (2) in paying less regard to the “ocular sulcus” as a character that is clearly defined in but few species: (3) in paying more consideration to colour—especially of the pro- notum; with one or two specified exceptions in the species having a black pronotum that character is constant, and therefore forms a convenient character for division in a large genus; where, however, the “ocular sulcus” is well defined it has been also utilized: (4) the ratio of length to breadth is a generally constant character, and serves admirably for tabulation ; some hundreds of measurements have been made to prove this, and the author would suggest the term “rational index” to denote this ratio.

Mr. Blackburn’s corroboration of Blessig’s separation of Amarygmus from Chalcopterus is amply confirmed by the

7

author’s dissection of a large number of specimens, which show that in all cases examined the species recognized by Blackburn as Amarygmus have bifid mandibles, while in Chalcopterus the apex of the mandibles is evenly truncate. The statement that ‘‘there are few specimens in which the mandibles are so hidden that there is the least difficulty in discerning their form” is only true in the larger species, or in the smaller ones if the mandibles happen to be widely extended. Otherwise it is generally necessary to dissect the head, or at least to extend the mandibles, after relaxing the specimen. The author’s determination of species has been greatly facilitated by the valuable help given by the late Rev. Canon Blackburn in the loan and gift of co-types, the determination of others, as also by that learned entomologist’s valuable memoirs on the subject. An immense number of specimens have been examined, including the valuable col- lections in the following museums :—Macleay and Australian Museums, Sydney; National Museum, Melbourne; the South Australian Museum, Adelaide; Queensland Museum, Bris- bane; the Musée d’ Histoire Naturelle, Brussels; the four first of which contain many types or co-types named by Blackburn himself. The author would take this opportunity to thank for the courtesy the late Mr. G. Masters, Mr. Rain- Dewees, Mr: J. A: Kershaw, Mr. A. M. Lea, F.E.S., Dr. Hamlyn-Harris, D.Sc., for their help, and especially Mr. Lea and Mr. C. French, the former for the loan of his fine collection and the gift of many duplicates and the latter for the gift of many new and rare species, as also Mr. H. Griffith, of Adelaide, Mr. A. Giles, F.E.S., of Perth, and Dr. E. W. Ferguson, of Sydney, for much assistance. Lastly, I am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. C. O. Waterhouse for com- paring specimens sent to the British Museum with types and for his valuable notes thereon.

Since writing the above, I have had the very valuable co-operation of Mr. K. G. Blair, of the British Museum, who has been able to examine and compare the respective types of Fabricius, Hope, Pascoe, and Blackburn, and who has been good enough to send me copious notes on the species examined. Further, and more valuable still, the authorities of the British Museum have permitted Mr. Blair to send me a large number of specimens, including many that have been compared with these types, so that it is now possible to clear almost the whole group from the clouds of uncertainty. My very cordial thanks are due for the courtesy of the British Museum authorities, and especially to Mr. Blair for this timely assistance and for his permission to use his notes.

8

CHALCOPTERUS, NoTES ON DESCRIBED SPECIES OF.

C. puncticollis, Hope... Specimens from South Perth were compared with type by Commander J. J. Walker, R.N., M.A., who writes that they are identical. Below is given a description taken from a specimen compared with the type.

C. opacicollis, Macl. In the Australian Museum are the Gayndah types, though, as was the unfortunate custom with Sir W. Macleay, they are not specially marked as types. Under the label C’. opacicollis, Macl., are two specimens which are two different species. Denoting these by A and B respec- tively, A has the prothorax purple and blue (the former pre- dominant), the elytra variegated, suture golden, then purple, green, and again golden-metallic at the sides, the seriate punctures are larger than in B, with the intervals distinctly punctate, and tarsal vestiture black. In B the prothorax is metallic-black, the elytra blue, with purple at the suture and golden-green at the sides, the seriate punctures smaller than in A and subelongate, the intervals scarcely perceptibly punctate, while the tarsal vestiture is red. A is the species considered by Blackburn as ('. opacicollis. It is one of the commonest species in South Queensland and Northern New South Wales, and is probably C. vinosus, Pasc., and C. resplendens, Boisd. B is the species described by Blackburn as C. hunterensis. From Macleay’s description the words “Thorax brassy-black, opaque, and minutely punctate,” “Hytra . . . of a purplish colour, becoming green to- wards the sides . . . . . eight rows of small, closely- placed, subelongate punctures” clearly point to B as the type described, since the seriate punctures in A are not at all elongate, and the thorax is not at all black.

C’. grandis, Macl. In Blackburn’s table, this is placed under the group with “tarsal vestiture black.’ The type specimen has the tarsal vestiture yellow.

C'. obsoletus, Macl.=C. fastuosus, Germ. There are some slight colour distinctions, and the Queensland specimen is rather larger than specimens (identified as C. fastwosus by Blackburn) from South Australia. Confluens, Blkb., is the same species, the distinction drawn by its author is, I think, only individual variety.

C’. rufipes, Macl. The type specimen has the pronotum distinctly dark-blue (described as having “thorax black’). It is of a much darker shade than that of the elytra. The tarsi are black above, clothed with reddish hair. Specimens from Cunnamulla, given me by Mr. Lea, are identical. A specimen compared with type of nigritarsis, Pasc., proves its synonymy with that species.

9g

C. picipes, Macl. There are two specimens under the label, but evidently the same species. The elytra are green, with larger seriate punctures than in (’. rufipes, the tarsi are piceous above, clothed below with pale-red or yellow hair. I have specimens taken near Brisbane by myself, others from Narromine (N.S.W.) taken by Mr. Sloane, that correspond exactly with Macleay’s type, and also with the description of C. jucundus, Blkb. I cannot agree with Mr. Skuse’s opinion given in the note by Blackburn (Proc. Linn. Soc., New South Wales, 1893, p. 87) as to the identity of C. picipes, Macl., and C. rufipes, Macl. The prothorax varies ain colour from blue-black to green. Of a specimen of picipes, Macl., sent to Mr. Blair he writes: “Type (of jucundus, Blkb.) is larger and stouter, but agrees with this specimen in puncturation and in more nitid surface than in ‘nigritarsis.’ ”

C. imperialis, Blkb. The tarsi are nigro-setose, with a few reddish hairs interspersed. Mr. Blackburn placed it amongst those with flavo-setose tarsi in his tabulation. My specimens are from Marmor, Queensland, given me by Mr. H. Brown.

C. variabilis, Bless., and C. sulcipennis, Hope, were omitted by Gebien in the new catalogue of Junk (Berlin). The former is a very common species in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. The latter is identical with C. suturalis, Pasc. (vide infra).

C. setosus, Blkb., is not very appropriately named, since the setz are extremely fine, especially on the upper-surface. In the co-type lent me by Mr. Blackburn, the setz could be ‘seen only on the epipleure, in other specimens they are visible (with a lens) on the elytra. It is a large, very robust ‘species, brightly metallic-green, with large punctures of a much darker colour—generally blue—but I have one speci- ‘men in which these punctures are purple. C. nobilis, Blkb., of which I have seen a co-type in the Melbourne Museum, is much more evidently setose, though the fact is not mentioned in the description. There is also a mistake as to locality in the case of setosus. This is given as Victoria in the descrip- tion. All the specimens I have seen (and they are many) have come from Cairns or other parts of North Queensland ; Mr. Blackburn’s co-type was labelled Thursday Island. (C. nobilis, Blkb., has much larger punctures in the elytral series, and much finer (scarcely evident) punctures on the pronotum ; otherwise the two species are very similar.

C. perlongus, Blkb. In description the elytra are said to be “sat seriatim punctulatis, interstitiis planis.” <A

10

co-type given me by Mr. Blackburn has the elytra substriate, with distinctly convex intervals.

C. amethystinus, Fab. Mr. Blair says that the type in the Banks collection has black femora, but other specimens labelled by Hope have red legs; but this may be the effect of age. Certainly a specimen sent with a label “Pasc. coll.” is ticketed ‘‘amethystinus, Fab.,” while another very ancient specimen bears an old label ‘“‘Hrotylus amethystinus, Fab.,” and both of these agree with specimens identified by myself from North Queensland as amethystinus, Fab., and is the same species Blackburn considered as Fabricius’ species. It has red femora, but darker tibiz, and a blue pronotum. On the other hand, the specimen sent by Mr. Blair as agree- ing “very nearly with the type” has a black pronotum, and is evidently C. levicollis, Bless. =celestis, Pasc. =cyanipenms, Hope, which is quite inconsistent with Fabricius’ scanty description. There is also a difficulty as to the tarsal clothing. Blackburn places it amongst those with black tarsal vestiture. I find, in examining many specimens, that, like C. wmperialis, Blkb., it has both red and black sete on its tarsi, the front and intermediate being generally rufo-setose, while the pos- terior tarsi are nigro-setose. I find I have placed it amongst the ‘‘flavo-setose” group in my tabulation. If placed under the “nigro-setose’’ it would stand next to michaelsem, Geb., from which it is easily separated by its almost impunctate elytral intervals.

SYNONYMY.

1. C. vigilans, Blkb.=C. semiticus, Pasc.=C. triangu- laris, Haag.=C. cupricollis, Hope=C. smaragdulus, Fab.

2. C. cupripennis, Germ. (nec Hope)=C. semius, Blkb. (var.)=C. howittt, Pasc.=C. affinis, Bless.=C. columbinus, Boisd. ( ?)

. C. laticollis, Blkb.=C. colossus, Blkb. (var.).

. C. confluens, Blkb.=C. obsoletus, Macl.=C. fastu- osus, Germ.

. C. venereus, Gmel.=C. cupreus, Fab.

. C. froggatti, Blkb.=(%)C. semiseriatus, Blkb. (var.) =C. cupripenms, Hope.

H= OO

S> Ol

7. C. hunterensis, Blkb.=C. opacicollis, Macl.

8. C. blackburn, Geb. =C. interioris, Blkb.

9. C. bicolor, Geb.=C. viridicollis, W. S. Macl. 10. C. arthuri, Blkb.=C. intermedius, Blkb.

11. C. meyricki, Blkb.=C. iridiventris, Blkb. (var.). 12. C. jucundus, Blkb.=C. micipes, Macl.

13. C. rufipes, Macl.=C. nigritarsis, Pasc.

11

14. Cx celestis, Pasc.=C. levicollis, Bless.=C. cyani-

pennis, Hope. 15. C. semilis, Blkb. =C. longipennis, Hope. 16. C. opacicoliis, Bikb. (nec Macl.)=C. vinosus, Pasc. = C. resplendens, Boisd. (?).

17. C. suturalis, Pasc.=C. sulerpennis, Hope.

18. C. longrpennis, Blkb. (nec Hope)=C. cyaniventris, Cart. (nov sp.).

19. C. rugosus, Germ.=C’. puncticollis, Hope.

20. (2) C. cresus, Blkb.=C. mercurius, Blkb.

The last named in each case has the priority, though in the case of Boisduval’s species, columbinus and resplendens, their determination is too doubtful to allow their names to ‘stand.

C. cupreus, Fab., was wrongly determined by Blackburn. . The species determined by Blackburn as ecupreus I have described as CV. maximus.

C. cupricollis, Hope. Mr. Blair has examined the type from Melville Island, and writes: “Cupricollis, Hope=semi- ticus, Pasc=smaragdulus, Fab. Cwpricolle type is unique in the peculiar purplish-bloom almost concealing the green on the elytra and still more marked on the thorax.” (It is a common species in Northern Australia, of which I have seen a large number, which are either green or coppery, as in Pascoe’s description of semiticus. A specimen labelled vigilans by Blackburn in the South Australian Museum is of the latter colour, and cannot be distinguished from semiztzcus, iPasce.—H. J.-C.)

C. cupripenmis, Hope. It is satisfactory to set at rest ‘this much-disputed name. Mr. Blair writes: “Cupripennis, Hope=froggatti, Blkb. The two types agree much more nearly with each other than they do with specimens sent.” “This determination also agrees with (1) my own notes taken at the Hope Museum, (2) note by Champion quoted by Black- ‘burn (Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1893, p. 70), (3) notes sent ‘me by Commander J. J. Walker. Germar was evidently mis- ‘taken in his determination, and Blackburn was misled by ‘this. I believe C. semiseriatus, Blkb., to be doubtfully dis- tinct from this, though distinguished in Blackburn’s table by ‘the “ocular sulcus.” I have a specimen determined by Black- ‘burn which has a small “sulcus,” but the specimen sent by ‘Mr. Blair compared with type is identical with the C. cupri- -pennis, Hope, sent.

C’. laticollis, Blkb. I cannot consider this more than a ‘geographical variety of C. colossus, Blkb. I have specimens ‘from Queensland which differ exactly as the author states; the prothorax in colossus is often very transverse.

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With regard to the species described by Gebien, there is nothing in his description to distinguish (. blackburm, Geb., from C. interioris, Blkb.; nor is there any doubt in my mind as to the identity of C. bicolor, Geb., with C. viridicollis, W. 8S. Macl., an unusually vividly-coloured and distinct insect. Gebien describes the thorax as “steel-blue,’ while Macleay’s type, which I have examined, has the thorax a dark rich-green, of a kind that is to be little distinguished from some shades of blue.

C’. tenuicorms, Geb., must be very near C. longulus, Blkb., and obscurus, Blkb. (which may be only a variety of longulus), but its apparently impunctate elytral interstices and some differences in the antennz would appear to dis- tinguish these; while Jongulus can only be distinguished from longipennis, Hope (see below), by its slightly differently shaped prothorax and the stronger interstitial punctures of elytra.

C. rugosus, Germ.=C. puncticollis, Hope. Germar seems to have considered rugosus as synonymous with sulci pennis, Hope, but Mr. Blair tells me that the last is identical with sutwralis, Pasc., a species whose interstices of elytra are almost impunctate. The size of rwgosus, “magnitudine precedentis” (the disputed cupripennis, Germ.), and the words “‘crebre transversim rugulosa’”’ as applied to the elytra point to puncticollis, Hope, rather than to sulevpennis.

C’. longipennis, Hope, was wrongly identified by Black- burn. Mr. Blair writes: ‘“Longipennis agrees with symilis in all the differences mentioned [by Blackburn in his descrip- tion of the latter.—n.J3.c.]. He was no doubt led astray by Hope’s leaving ‘Adelaide’ as the suggested locality for long- penne in spite of ‘S.R.’ on his own label.” I therefore pro- pose the name cyaniventris for the Adelaide species described by Blackburn as longipennis (Proc. Linn. Soc., 1892, p. 456). The specimen sent me, as compared with type of symilis, Blkb., and longipennis, Hope, has a black pronotum, as stated by Hope, the same being vari-coloured metallic in cyaniventris, a fact not noted by Blackburn in his description of semalis when giving its distinctions from the Adelaide species.

C. meyricki, Blkb., is apparently only distinguished from C’. iridiventris, Blkb., by the presence of a “sat augusto”’ ocular sulcus in the description, the same said to be “‘fovei- form” in the table. My specimen of C. meyricki was com- pared with a specimen from the Elder Expedition in the South Australian Museum labelled by Blackburn. The ocular sulcus is scarcely defined, and is unsatisfactory as a dis- tinguishing character in this case.

°

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C. arthuri, Blkb., seems to me only a variety of C. intermedius, Blkb., if my specimens are correctly identified. I have ©. arthuri taken in Brisbane and compared with co- types in Mr. Lea’s collection. These exactly correspond with specimens of C’. intermedius, Blkb., sent by Mr. Blair, com- pared with type.

C. vinosus, Pasc., is the species identified for me by Blackburn as probably C. resplendens, Bois., but on what evidence I do not know.

C. suturalis, Pasc.=C. sulcipennis, Hope, fide Blair, who has compared the types.

C. cresus, Blkb. Mr. Blair notes the slight difference in the width between the eyes of cresus and mercurius, to- gether with some colour difference, but he concludes: “Should be inclined to doubt specific distinction of crwsus and mer- curius, but have only unique type of each.”

C. sumius, Blkb. I cannot consider this otherwise than a variety of the widely-distributed C. affinis, Bless. Like all common species the varieties are very puzzling, and I have often seen specimens of affinis that correspond to the descrip- tion of sumius. This is confirmed by the specimen which Mr. Blair sends as compared with type of simius, which I have no hesitation in calling (’. affinis, Bless.

The following are the descriptions of the new species : —

CHALCOPTERUS CUPRIVENTRIS, Nn. Sp.

Elongate ovate, head and pronotum bronze-green (the former sometimes more obscure), elytra purple (sometimes with coppery reflections), with the suture and punctures green, prosternum black, rest of the under-side metallic-green or copper, coxz and base of femora reddish, legs black, tarsal vestiture yellow.

Head closely punctate, eyes distant the length of basal joint of antennz and bordered by a fine sulcus, antennze with joint three equal to fourth and fifth combined, seventh to tenth successively longer and thicker than the pre- ceding, -eleventh more elongate but narrower than tenth. Prothorax truncate at apex, slightly sinuate at base, twice as wide at base as at apex, sides arcuately converging to apex, anterior angles widely obtuse, posterior (seen from above) acute, irregularly but distantly punctate with indications of a smooth medial line. Scutellum triangular, greenish, smooth. EHlytra convex, subparallel, wider than prothorax, striate punctate, punctures on middle series small, larger on lateral series, rather closely set (about four punctures to the width of an interval), intervals flat on disc, very slightly convex towards sides, minutely but evidently

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punctate; metasternwm channelled and punctate, depressed near base; abdomen rugosely punctate. Dimensions— 15-18 x 75-9 mm.

Hab.—Queensland: Townsville (F. Dodd).

Seven specimens examined, sent by Mr. H. Griffith, of Adelaide ; alsoin Brussels Museum. The combination of large size, uniform coloration of elytra, flavo-setose tarsi and metallic pronotum and underside makes this species easy to determine. Itis, perhaps, nearest C. leai, Blkb., and C. velu- tinus, W. S. Macl.; but C. leai (of which I have seen co- types) is differently coloured with much coarser sculpture of elytra, while velutinus (of which I know the type) has the under-side black eyes more approximate inter alia. In general form it is near C. longulus, Blkb., C. leat, Blkb., and C. brevipes, Blkb. The striz are not deep, but evident when viewed sideways, and give an elongate appearance to the punctures, which are placed and are of the same average size as in C. widicolor, Bless., though finer in the middle series. The metallic colour of the punctures is not constant, though strongly marked in four of the specimens.

Norte.

C. cupreus, Fab. The above species is very near cuprews, Fab., and is the insect sent by Mr. Blair as the nearest he could find to the Fabrician type. Mr. Blair writes on the sub- ject of cupreus:—‘‘Type remains unique. Compared with enclosed it is somewhat smaller (15 x 74 mm.), and I should say a little less elongate, though as the elytra are rather widely open it is difficult to judge. The pronotum is less convex, punctured about as strongly, though more sparingly, the punctures becoming smaller and sparser anteriorly; in colour it has a tarnished appearance, broadly blue round the margins shading into purple, and greenish on the disc, this is probably largely due to age, it is semi-opaque as in specimen ; the elytra are a little more nitid, shining coppery and brassy, and blackish towards the apex; they are seriately punctate, with inter- stices quite flat with fewer and finer sharper punctures, the punctures of the series are about as large, rather sharper and a little wider apart, with the series not at all impressed, the two outer series disappear a little below the level of the pin. The under-side is black, about as nitid, but with no metallic colour; tarsal vestiture fulvous, the distance between the eyes a little greater; ocular sulci are present below the eyes, but not well developed, and they do not extend between the eyes.” While some specimens of the species I took for cupreus, Fab., have the under-side obscure, or black, there is still a strong presumption that either C. cupreus is a rare

15

and unique specimen, or that it is one of the later described species. It is possible that the author has misled some col- lectors in the confusion of cwpriventris with cupreus.

CHALCOPTERUS PUNCTICOLLIS, Hope.

Slightly obovate, head, underside, legs, and tarsal cloth- ing black, pronotum dark metallic-green (in old specimens black), sometimes with slight purple reflections, elytra vari- coloured, chiefly cyaneous, the sutural region more or less golden or purple, sides and epipleure purple.

Head closely and strongly punctate, eyes scarcely sul- cate, separated by a space equal to the length of the basal joint of antenna, antenne with joint three nearly as long as fourth and fifth combined, sixth to tenth subequal in length but successively wider, eleventh acuminate. Pronotwm much wider at base than at apex, sides arcuate, the lateral carina seen from above throughout, anterior angles produced, posterior obtuse, disc rather strongly, not closely punctate, with a fine levigate central line. Hlytra wider than prothorax at base, very little convex, widest behind middle, striate punctate, each elytron with eight striz continuous from base to apex (besides a short scutellary stria), more deeply impressed at sides and apex, the punctures therein large, round, and close (larger and much closer than in C. iridicolor, Bless.), intervals convex, closely and strongly punctate. Abdomen and sides of metasternum strongly punctate, the prosternum coarsely, their episterna more finely punctate; hind tarsi with basal joint nearly as long as the rest combined, claws red. Dimensions—11-16 x 6-82 mm.

Hab.—Western Australia: Perth.

A common species, found in most collections, differing from CU. purpureus, Germ., by its greater size, arcuate thorax, darker colour, and stronger punctuation of its upper-surface, while swtwralis, Pasc., has a shining-black prothorax, and the intervals of elytra almost impunctate.

CHALCOPTERUS MAXIMUS, 0. Sp.

Widely ovate, head and pronotum metallic—sometimes coppery—elytra purple and green intermixed, the suture, lines of punctures, and epipleure greenish, sides golden-green, under-side, legs, antenne, and tarsal clothing black.

Head closely, rather finely punctate, eyes without definite sulcus, space between them as wide as the basal antennal joint; antenne very stout, rather short, scarcely enlarged apically, joint three shorter than fourth and _ fifth combined, sixth widest of all, shorter then the succeeding, seventh to tenth subequal, eleventh nearly as long as

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and narrower than tenth. Prothorax 44 x 9 mm., twice as wide at base as at apex, nearly straight in front, bisinuate at base, sides little narrowed on basal half, abruptly and sub- sinuately narrowed to the widely obtuse anterior angles, pos- terior angles (seen from above) subrectangular, lateral mar- gins evident throughout from above, disc closely, not strongly, punctate, the median line more or less visible. Scuwtellum transverse triangular, metallic. Hlytra 19 x 114 mm., of same width as prothorax at base, very convex; the highest point of curve (seen from the side) in front of middle, widest behind middle; seriate-punctate, the punctures in series close and small near suture (of the same size as in C’. iridicolor, Bless.), larger towards the sides and clearly defined to the apex; intervals quite flat everywhere, closely and rather strongly punctate (stronger than in C. iridicolor, Bless.). Abdomen finely striolate, flanks of sternum with some larger punctures, prosternum carinate; posterior tarsi with joints one and four of equal length. Dimensions—19-23 x 10-134 mm.

Hab.—North Queensland: Endeavour River.

This is the species considered erroneously as C’. cupreus, Fab., by Blackburn, and is the largest Chalcopterus known to me. The general colour and form of C’. maximus is nearest C. cupripenms, Hope (=froggatti, Blkb.), especially in its wide, somewhat explanate prothorax, and its mingled colours, with greenish suture. The coppery pronotum is sometimes obscured by age or alcohol, and appears black. In my two fresher specimens the greenish line of punctures is in marked con- trast with the more coppery intervals. Types in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS CSAR, 0. sp.

Convex, elongate-ovate, head and prothorax metallic- green and purple, elytra with brilliantly variegated colours arranged in vittz in the following order: the suture golden, then stripes of purple, blue, golden-green, purple, green, lastly the extreme border narrowly golden; the prosternum also slightly metallic (in one specimen brightly so). Abdomen, legs, antennz. nitid black, tarsal vestiture black, with some fine reddish hairs on apical-joint.

Head. deeply, closely punctate, distance between eyes greater than the basal joint of the antenne, without clearly- defined ocular sulcus, antennz much longer and less enlarged at apex in male than in female, third joint longer than first and second combined, and fully as long as the fourth and fifth combined, fourth shorter than fifth, eighth to tenth evidently shorter than the preceding, joint eleven longer and more acuminate. in male, shorter and more obtuse in female.

1G

Prothorax widest at base, base twice the width of apex (7 and 3°55 mm. respectively), apex truncate, base sublobate, sides arcutely converging from base to apex, anterior angles obtuse, posterior (seen from above) acute, (from the sides) obtuse, lateral carina not, or very little, evident from above; dise distinctly but not coarsely punctate (as in CU. superbus, Blkb.), punctures deep and fairly close. Scutellum triangular, metallic and nitid, impunctate. LHlytra seriate- punctate, each with eight rows, besides the scutellary and lateral rows, of small, deep, evenly-placed punctures, at inter- vals of the diameter of one of them; the intervals quite flat, closely punctate with punctures not much smaller than those in the series, both seriate and interstitical punctures larger and more clearly differentiated than those in (. affinis, Bless. Abdomen closely punctate, finely strigose on basal segments, metasternum suleate behind, carinate in front, prosternum coarsely punctate, posterior tarsi with basal joint as long as the rest combined. JDimensions—Male, 20 x 10°5 mm.; female, 21 x 11°5 mm.

Hab.—Western Australia: Sandstone (C. J. Clayton) ; North-Western Australia (C. French).

Four specimens are under examination. This is perhaps the most beautiful of all the species of this genus, as well as one of the largest. It is readily separated from its allies by the combination of large size, coloured thorax, head, and prosternum, elytra splendidly variegated in vittz, intervals flat and strongly punctate, the elytral punctures small in pro- portion to the dimensions. It is perhaps nearest to C. rugosi- pennms, Macl., in general appearance, but differs widely in the size of the punctures. The outline of the elytra, seen from the side, is an even, gentle curve, with the highest point near the middle. The male is more convex, with the sides more parallel, the female being slightly widened behind the middle. Types in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS GILESI, n. sp.

EKlongate-ovate, elytra subcylindric and parallel, head and prothorax dull- black, under-side and legs nitid-black, apical- joints of antenne pitchy- -brown, tarsal vestiture red; elytra splendidly variegated in longitudinal vittz in the following order: suture narrowly purple, intervals one and two blue, third and fourth green or golden, shading off to purple, then green, purple, with extreme sides and epipleure golden or green.

Head distinctly, closely punctate, less closely on forehead than on episterna, eyes separated by a space greater than the length of the antennal basal joint, without definite ocular

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sulcus: antenne slightly enlarged towards apex, joint three about equal to first and second combined and less than fourth and fifth combined, fourth to seventh equal, eighth to eleventh very little shorter than preceding, eleventh ovate- acuminate. Prothorax 3°55 x 55 mm., moderately convex, and little narrowed anteriorly, truncate at apex, sublobate at base, sides (seen from above) with posterior two-thirds nearly straight, with the lateral carina evident, seen from the sides. evenly, but not widely, rounded, all angles widely obtuse, under a lens seen to be finely, not closely nor deeply, punctate. Elytra nearly twice as long as wide, subparallel and convex, deeply striate-punctate, the intervals strongly convex, seriate punctures large, round, deeply impressed, separated evenly by a distance of the diameter of one, becoming larger and less hidden in the striz towards the sides, and smaller to- wards the base, both striz and punctures deeply impressed to the apex. (The seriate punctures very much as in C. plutus, Blkb.)—intervals almost levigate and nitid. Abdo- men strongly strigose, femora and metasternum strongly punctate, prosternum very tumid and carinate in the middle, posterior tarsi with basal joint not as long as the rest combined. Dimensions—15-17 x 6°5-7°5 mm.

Hab.—North-Western Australia: Condon (H.. Giles).

A very handsome species, of which several specimens, three of which are now before me, were sent by that very capable naturalist, Mr. Henry Giles, of the Zoological Gar- dens, Perth, and taken by him at Condon. A specimen sent to the Rev. T. Blackburn was returned with the label “unknown to me.” It is very near (. costatus, Blkb., in shape and general appearance (of which I have seen a co- type), but differs in its more variegated and vittate arrange- ment of colours, and in the considerably smaller punctures. of the elytral series. Also near (. puncticollis, Hope, so far as the convexity of intervals and the depth of striz are con- cerned; but Hope’s species is much less brilliantly coloured, with the interstitial punctures very strong. C. giles: is not very near C. zonatus, Blkb., though standing next to it in my tabulation.

CHALCOPTERUS DODDI, 0. sp.

Ovate, convex; head, prothorax, under-side, legs, and basal joints of antennz nitid-black, apical-joints of antennz: piceous; elytra green at the suture and base of punctures, otherwise nitid-coppery (with a tinge of green), epipleure green and purple, tarsal clothing red.

Head closely punctate, eyes separated by a space scarcely equal to the basal joint of antennz, without ocular sulcus, an-- tenne manifestly enlarged towards apex, joint three about.

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equal to first and second combined, less than fourth and fifth combined, fourth to eleventh subequal in length, seventh to tenth increasingly wider. Prothorax 35 x 6 mm., truncate at apex, sublobate at base, sides (seen from above) evenly, arcuately converging from base to apex, (seen from the side) more strongly transverse and rounded behind the middle, apical part of lateral carina only evident from above; disc distinctly irregularly punctate (less closely than in C. catenulatus, Blkb.), a levigate central line near base only, all angles widely obtuse (seen from above the posterior angles subrectangular). Scutellum triangular, metallic, and nitid. Elytra regularly ovate, longitudinally more convex than C. catenulatus, Blkb., sides not at all parallel, seriate-punctate, series with large subfoveate punctures, irregular in size, ‘shape, and spacing, becoming smaller at base and near suture, larger at apex and sides (extreme lateral row very small), the intervals flat on centre, irregularly subconvex at sides and apex, finely but distinctly punctate. Abdomen with apical segment punctate, other segments closely strigose, metasternum depressed and widely sulcate behind, finely rugose in front, prosternum carinate, posterior tarsi with basal joint less than the rest combined. Dimensions—17 x 85 mm.

Hab.—North Queensland: Kuranda (F. P. Dodd).

A single specimen received some years ago from Mr. Dodd is superficially most like C. catenulatus, Blkb. It differs in having its prothorax quite black (in C. catenulatus it is coppery), in having no ocular sulcus, in its elytra differently coloured with all the punctures smaller and more irregular (especially towards the sides and apex, where many elongate punctures prevail). The intervals near apex are transversely ridged, and the interstitial punctures are very fine. This ‘species is more coarsely punctured in the series than any other known to me except CU. catenulatus, Blkb. Type in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS ANGUSTICOLLIS, n. sp.

Very elongate and narrow, widened rather strongly be- hind the middle, head, prothorax, under-side, legs, and basa] half of antenne nitid-black, apical-half of antenne opaque and setose, elytra with alternate, irregular stripes of coppery- purple, blue or green, extreme sides (in one example the suture also) slightly golden, colours not definitely in vitte, tarsi nigro-setose.

Head finely and closely punctate, eyes unusually widely separated, by space greater than the length of basal joint of antenne, ocular sulcus not clearly defined. Antenne thick,

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slightly enlarged at apex, joint three as long as first and second combined, shorter than fourth and fifth combined, fourth and sixth equal, seventh to eleventh setose and shorter than preceding. Prothorax 3 x 4:5 mm., width at apex equal to length, truncate at apex slightly sinuate at base, sides (from above) almost straightly converging from base to apex, (seen sideways) lightly arcuate, all angles obtuse, clearly, regularly punctate without any indication of central line, a very light foveate impression at apex in the middle. Scutellum black, triangular, and impunctate. JHlytra elongate-obovate, moderately convex, sides widening behind the middle, seriate-punctate, with lines of different-sized punctures rather widely separated, and less strongly impressed and smaller at base and apex, larger and deeper on sides; intervals flat on centre, subconvex at sides, closely and evi- dently punctate. Abdomen closely, finely punctate, scarcely at all strigose, metasternum with larger punctures, close at the flanks, sparse at the centre; prosternum carinate, basal joint of hind tarsi as long as the rest combined. Dimen- sions—15 x 7 mm.

Hab.—North Queensland. -

Two specimens sent by Mr. C. French, labelled North Queensland, are peculiar in the narrow, elongate form of the prothorax, the base of which is one and a half times the width of the apex, and the elongate-obovate elytra. The seriate punctures are very irregular in size and distance apart, but in general are larger and more distant than those in C. variabilis, Bless.; the interstitial are slightly finer and less close than the corresponding punctures in varzabilis. Both sexes are present. The eyes are at least as widely, or more widely, separated than in (. howitti, Pasc. It is near C. per- longus, Blkb., in dimensions and colour (of which I have a co-type, kindly given me by Mr. Blackburn), but it is easily distinguished from Blackburn’s species by its coarser seriate and interstitial punctures, and the wider space between the eyes. Types in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS ELONGATUS, n. Sp.

Elongate-ovate, cylindric; head and prothorax opaque- black, antenne, abdomen, and legs nitid-black, sternum slightly metallic, elytra varicoloured, the suture purple, disc blue and green, then widely purple, with extreme sides and epipleure green or golden, the colours more or less merged, not in distinct vitte; tarsal vestiture black.

Head, eyes separated by a distance equal to the length of basal joint of antennz, ocular sulcus not defined, antennz having joint three greater than first and second combined,

21

less than fourth and fifth combined, fourth to eighth sub- equal, remaining joints wanting. Prothorar 4 x 2°5 mm. narrow and truncate at apex, slightly sinuous at base, sides (seen from above) almost straightly converging from base to apex, (from side-view) moderately and evenly arcuate, all angles obtuse (seen from above, posterior angles appear rectangular); distinctly, evenly, punctate, with evident levigate central line. Scutellum black, triangular, im- punctate. Hlytra elongate and cylindric, slightly enlarged behind the middle; seriate-punctate, with punctures of even size and distance apart; intervals quite flat and strongly punctate (both seriate and interstitial punctures very much as in C. variabilis, Bless., but the former more even in size and more close, the latter a little finer). Abdomen finely and regularly punctate, the flanks more strongly so, meta- sternum sparsely punctate at the sides only, prosternum with a small carina, posterior tarsi with basal joint shorter than the rest combined. Dimenstons—13-14 x 6°5 mm.

Hab.—Queensland.

Three specimens (with mutilated antennz) were given me by Mr. A. M. Lea. The species evidently differs from C. cylindricus, Blkb., by its black tarsal clothing and the - finer seriate punctures of the elytra (which in cylindricus re- semble the intermediate rows of C. punctipennis, Macl.). The colours are not exceptionally brilliant, as is the case in C. cylindricus, which, moreover, is slightly narrower than the above, with the prothorax a different shape. It differs from C. perlongus, Blkb., in its duller black, shorter, and more rounded prothorax, shorter and more convex (longitudinally) elytra, with the interstitial punctures stronger. Types in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS PRISMATICUS, Nn. sp.

EHlongate-ovate, parallel, head, pronotum, and under- side very nitid-black, elytra splendidly versicolorous in vitte, 1.e., suture purple, then one interstice blue, next two inter- stices gold or greenish, then purple, gold, or green, with shoulders, sides, and epipleure blue.

Head densely punctate, without levigate intervals, the punctures round, deep, and neither rugose nor confluent ; eyes widely separated (more widely than in C. affinis, Bless.), with- out ocular sulcus; antenne long, joint three longer than first and second combined, and nearly, or quite, as long as fourth and fifth combined, fourth to eleventh of nearly equal length, evidently widened towards apex. Prothorax3 x 5 mm., very convex, apex truncate, base slightly lobate in the middle, sides rather widely and evenly rounded and arcuately converging

29

‘to apex, all angles really obtuse, though seen from above the posterior angles apparently rectangular; distinctly punctate, the punctures smaller and less dense than on head, without defined levigate portion or any vestige of middle line. Elytra moderately convex (less so than in C’. cylindricus, Blkb.), its outline (seen from the side) rather straight, slightly wider than and four times as long as the prothorax ; strongly striate- punctate, the intervals costiform, punctures in striz large, - close, and regular, slightly increasing in size from the suture ‘outwards, the intervals between the punctures less than the ‘diameter of one, their size larger than in C. punctipennis, -Macl., intervals minutely but distinctly punctate. Abdomen finely rugose and punctate, sternum punctate only, prosternum -carinate, legs very nitid and finely punctate, tarsi thickly rufo-setose, hind tarsi with basal joint nearly as long as the rest combined. Dimensions—14 x 7 mm.

Hab.—North-West Queensland: Camooweal.

Two specimens, both apparently female, sent to Dr. E. W. Ferguson, and generously presented to the author, add an exceptionally beautiful species to the genus. It is easily ‘distinguished by its combination of deeply-striated elytra, brilliant colours, nitid surface, wide eye interval, and rufo- ‘setose tarsi. Wider and less convex than C’. cylindricus, its -colour separates it at once from (’. costatus, Blkb., near which it stands in my table. Type in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS IRIDESCENS, Nn. sp.

Elongate, subparallel, convex; mouth purple and blue, ‘front and vertex coppery-purple, pronotum bright burnished- copper, elytra variegated, the suture bright-gold, then a nar- row strip of bright-purple (these colours forming an elongate patch, not in vittz nor continuous to apex), shoulders bronze, the rest of elytra a brilliant iridescent-blue, changing to green or gold, according to the light reflected ; under-side brilliantly nitid and variegated, the central portions blue or green with ‘purple reflections, epimera and prosternum purple. Legs deep purple-blue. Tarsi with yellow clothing.

Head closely and evidently punctate, eyes distant, ‘slightly less than the length of the basal joint of antenna, antenne widening to apex, joint three shorter than fourth and fifth combined, sixth to tenth gradually longer and wider, eleventh longest cylindrical. Pronotum truncate in front, sinuate behind, base less than twice as wide as apex, ‘sides arcuately converging to apex, all angles obtuse and rounded, disc impunctate and mirror-like. Scutellum ‘triangular and depressed. JHlytra wider than prothorax, «convex transversely and more than usually so longitudinally,

23

with apex somewhat acuminate; seriate-punctate (punctures sometimes connected by very fine striz), the punctures in strie small, evenly and distantly placed (smaller than in C. tridicolor, Bless., or C. variabilis, Bless.), the series evanescent towards apex, intervals flat and sparsely dotted with very minute punctures (only visible under a lens). Abdomen minutely punctate, metasternum obliquely striolate. Dimen- sions—14 x 7 mm.

Hab.—South Australia: Nullarbor Plains (Eucla district).

A single specimen, kindly given me by Mr. C. French, is the most brilliantly-coloured Chalcopterus known to me. The colours are so elusive that it is difficult to describe them accurately. The under-side is as brilliant as the upper- surface. In size, form, and colour it is nearest C. meyrickz, Blkb. (of which I have seen a co-type in the South Australian Museum), but it differs in the following particulars from C. meyricki: (1) Colours more brilliant and varied; (2) eyes less widely separated; (3) seriate-punctures much smaller, more distant, intervals distinctly though minutely punctate ; (4) tarsi with yellow clothing. Type in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS LATIFRONS, 0. Sp.

Hlongate-ovate, subparallel, depressed; head, pronotum, under-side, and legs black, moderately nitid, elytra variegated, suture and sides green, the greater part of disc purple, or green suffused with purple. Tarsal clothing black.

Head densely punctate, space between eyes wider than the length of the basal joint of antenna (wider than in C. howittu, Pasc.), antenne stout and gradually thickened out- wards, third about as long as fourth and fifth combined, four apical-joints subequal and shorter than the preceding joints. Prothoraz twice as wide as long, slightly sinuate at apex and base, sides evenly but arcuately converging to apex, disc closely punctate and very finely rugose, smooth medial line evident for the greater part, anterior angles a little produced, widely obtuse, posterior angles (seen from above) acute. Elytra of the same width as prothorax at base, sides parallel for the greater part, depressed ; seriate-punctate; the punc- tures in series moderately large and closely set (as large as in C. variabilis, Bless., but much closer), intervals very coarsely and densely punctate, and slightly rugose. Abdomen nitid, closely striolate and punctate, metasternum coarsely punctate and obliquely-strigose. Damensions—16 x 8 mm.

Hab.—Western Australia: Shark Bay and Murchison River. |

Four specimens, from Mr. C. French, are not very near any of those described that combine black pronotum, obscure

24

elytral colours with black tarsal clothing. In form near C. lea, Blkb., and C. obscurus, Blkb. The punctures of the intervals are coarser and deeper than those in C. variabilis, Bless., and are unusually strong. The eyes are exceptionally widely separated, while the outline, seen sideways, shows less convexity than in any other species known to me. Type in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS CYANEUS, ND. sp.

Shortly oval, moderately convex, head, legs, and under- side black, pronotum dark-blue, very nitid, elytra nitid-blue, shoulders and sides with metallic reflections, antennz piceous, tarsal clothing yellow.

Head finely punctate, eyes widely separated (as in C. howittu, Pasc.), antennz with basal joints slender, apical- joints much thickened, third as long as fourth and fifth com- bined, sixth to eleventh successively longer, eighth to eleventh much thicker than preceding. /Prothorax apex truncate, base slightly sinuate, sides well rounded and converging to apex, all angles obtuse and rounded, twice as wide at base as at apex, closely and finely punctate, with faint indication of a smooth medial line in front. Hlytra wider than prothorax at base, oval, convex, humeri rather prominent; seriate- punctate, intervals quite flat; the seriate punctures deep, round, and rather close (four to the space of an interval), intervals finely but distinctly punctate; under-side very finely striolate. Dimensions—11 x 54 mm.

Hab.—North-Western Australia.

A single specimen in my collection from a forgotten source. Amongst the species which combine blue pronotum and elytra, with yellow clothing to the tarsi, it is nearest to C. pulcher, Blkb., and C. hartmeyert, Geb. From both it differs in its much more nitid colour and stronger punctuation of pronotum and elytra, besides being smaller. The form is like C. palmerstoni, Blkb., or C. amethystinus, Fab.; the punctures of elytra are arranged somewhat as in CU’. purpureus, Germ. Type in the author’s collection.

CHALCOPTERUS SERICATUS, N. sp.

Ovate convex, head, pronotum, under-side, and legs black, elytra rose-purple, with sides and epipleure green or blue, tarsal clothing red.

Head scarcely, or very finely, punctate, eyes with small sulcus on inner margin, and separated by a distance equal to the length of first joint of antennz, antenne with joint three nearly as long as fourth and fifth combined, sixth to eleventh subequal in length, but successively slightly widen- ing. Prothorax considerably (not twice) wider at base than

25

apex, the former bisinuate, the latter arcuate, sides widely rounded (seen from the sides), all angles obtuse, disc finely punctate, with a smooth medial line and a fovea on each side near the middle of disc. Scwtellum black, minutely punctate. Elytra very convex (as in C. affinis, Bless.), finely striate- punctate, the seriate punctures close together, distinctly larger than in (. affinis, and lying in shallow striz, clearly defined throughout except near base, intervals everywhere quite flat and impunctate, and very finely transversely rugose, giving a silky opaque appearance. Abdomen finely striolate. Dimensions—12-13 x 6-6} mm.

Hab.—North Queensland: Coen district (H. Hacker) ; Endeavour River (G. Masters).

Two specimens examined—one given me by Mr. Hacker some years ago, the other was amongst some duplicates of the late Mr. Masters—are evidently undescribed. Amongst the species which combine black pronotum, with red- or yellow-clad tarsi only mundus, Blkb., acutangulus, Blkb., and minor, Blkb., could possibly be confused with it; but the first two of these have their elytral intervals more or less punctate, while in minor they are almost smooth, while none of them are striate. I know of no other Chalcopterus having this finely rugose but impunctate surface (easily seen under a lens). The colour is an almost uniform purple, except at. the sides. Type in the author’s collection.

Table of CHALCOPTERUS.

Species marked thus * are unknown to the author, or determined only by description.

The number in the second column indicates how far the specified character is inclusive in the first column; thus 3/9|‘‘Elytra striate’” applies to all species from 3-9, inclusive, in the first column.

1} 91|/Pronotum black.

2| 44/Tarsi nigro-setose.

3| 9)Elytra striate.

Size large, 19-21 mm. lon : Size smaller, 10-153 mm. lone Elytral colours in distinct longi- Pe atudinal, yitte: :... ").. ... :.. anterioris, Blkb. *blackburni, Geb.

superbus, Blkb.

Ne)

7| 9|Elytral colours not in distinct | longitudinal vitte. 8 Size small, 10-11 mm. long; form depressed « ... 1;-.\y-7(ose4 pees sulerpenmas ELope | suturalis, Pasc. 9 Size larger, 15 mm. long; form

| very convex b Ser

10| 44\Elytra seriate-punctate.

11! 13|/Size large, 19-20 mm. long.

12) Colours in distinct longitudinal Walbhee) yaad Wise) Le). es, om pemals: BIkh:

13 Wolomes not i.2.4002. a... sce sae Koen, Bikb:

mastersi, Blkb.

4] 2

co

| 23

23 | [Sternum metallic .

2

(Jt)

2

<e)

29

44

wll 58 ol

iGolons green ...

26

Size smaller, not more than 16 mm. long.

Length more than twice breadth.

Ocular sulcus distinct and foveate

Without distinct ocular sulcus.

Eyes very approximate

Eyes not very approximate.

Sternum black.

Form cylindric, seriate punctures as in C. affinis, Bless. : Form obovate, seriate punctur es much larger Length almost

breadth. Size large, 16 mm. widely separated 32 Size smaller, not more ‘than 12 mm. long.

exactly twice

longs ; eyes

‘Elytral intervals distinctly punc-

tate, seriate punctures con- INA WOUS. TON apexes rarer Elytral intervals more finely punctate, seriate punctures ob- solete at apex

|Elytral intervals almost levigate,

prothorax almost straight .. ‘Length less than twice breadth. Ocular sulcus distinct.. Ocular sulcus wanting. Size medium, 10-14 mm. long. 0|Elytra more or less concolorous. 7|Colour violet-bronze. Interstitial punctures Sea as large as seriate .

| var.

i\Interstitial punctures very fine

Colour deep silky-purple, ‘shoul- ders and sides green Hite Colour uniform olive’ bronze-

black

Colour variegated (sides of pro- thorax straight) Bete) Le

Size small, 7 mm. long.

Eves close, seriate punctures of even size and close... ... ..

Eyes normally widely placed, seriate punctures vary in size and distant See

Tarsi flavo- or rufo-setose.

|Elytra striate.

Striee deep, intervals costiform.

Colours in distinct eg

vitte 5 PER PRUE Te

AQ9| 51 aisae: not.

interrogationis, Geb. prospiciens, Blkb.

elongatus, n. sp. perlongus, Blkb. angusticollis, n. sp.

latifrons, n. sp.

dificilis, Blkb.

*ouer, Blkb. Blkb.

*palmerstont,

segnis, Blkb.

affinis, Bless. howitti, Pase. simius, Blikb.

*sparsus, Blkh.

clypealis, Blkb. Blkb. cribratus, Blkb.

intermedius, Blkb. arthuri, Blkb.

exoletus,

proximus, Blkb.

modestus, Blkb.

prismaticus, n. sp.

oO”

LY, he parallel, seriate punctures

rge Elytra obovate, ‘seriate punctures smaller 58/Striz less deep, intervals more or less convex.

57\Colours in distinct longitudinal | vitte. ‘Eyes bordered by a carina and | sulcus Jee ad tae

57|Eyes not so bordered ... 1... ... Length greater than twice breadth, interstices sublevi- (Een Wh) SRNL ai ln ee |Length less than twice breadth, | interstices strongly punctate .. Colours not in distinct longi- tudinal vittee Shae

91|Elytra seriate-punctate.

60) 66/Ocular suleus distinct.

|Pronotum levigate

66|Pronotum punctate. 65|Interstices of elytra more or less punctate.

Length 12-14 mm., seriate punc- tures finer than in C. affinis. Bless. 3

Length 10 mm. , seriate punctures larger than in C. affinis, Bless.

Interstices of elytra impunctate and minutely rugose ;

91\Ocular sulcus wanting.

72\Length greater than twice breadth. 71|Size medium, 14 mm. long; in- tervals flat. Eyes normally distant, colours in: vittee nee ISD hee Ree almost contiguous, colours obscure Size small, 11 mm. ‘long; colour black ... 84|Length almost ‘exactly — ‘twice breadth. 78/Prothorax with basal half sub- parallel. 77|Elytral intervals distinctly punc- tate. Size large, 19-21 mm. long; | seriate punctures large ... |Size smaller, 16 mm. long; seriate punctures as in C. variabilis, Bless. .. |Elytral intervals apparently im-

| punctate

Var.

costatus, Blkb.

longvusculus,

carinaticeps,

gilesi, n. sp.

Blkb..

zonatus, Blkb.

mercurius, Blkb.

cresus, Blkb.

levicollis, Bless.

cyanipennis,

Hope:

celestis, Pasc.

acutangulus,

Blkb..

mundus, Blkb.

sericatus, Nn.

sp.

cylindricus, Blkb.

boops, Blkb.

*bovilli, Blkb.

| colossus, Blkb. laticollis, Blkb.

longulus, Blkb.

. *tenuicornis,

Geb.

84 83

105]

170 113

112

(1) Veglectus, Blkb.,

28

Prothorax with sides arcuate from base to apex.

Seriate punctures distinct from interstitial.

16 mm. long, interstitial punc- tures finer and more distant than in longulus, Blkb.

17 mm. long, seriate punctures

| very large “we

18-21 mm. long, seriate punctur es very small

Seriate punctures ‘scarcely dis- tinct from interstitial ...

Length less than twice breadth.

Size large, 20 mm. long ...

Size medium, 14-16 mm. long.

Elytral inter vals punctate.

[Distance between eyes equal to basal antennal joint (1)Distance between eyes less than basal antennal joint :

Elytral intervals quite, or almost, leevigate, 10-12 mm. long

Pr onotum metallic or coloured.

|Tarsi nigro-setose.

Elytra striate. Ocular sulcus defined.

Elytral colours in vitte, intervals rugose, distinctly punctur edi Elytral colours not in vitte, in-

tervals nitid, little punctured Ocular sulcus not defined. Intervals strongly convex,

of prothorax arcuate Intervals lightly convex, sides of

prothorax nearly straight Elytra seriate-punctate.

sides

Intervals sub-convex. Underside black, ocular sulcus defined.

Elytral colours in vitte

(Elytral colours not in vitte .

Underside iridescent, saa sul- cus not defined BORA ce gitar

Intervals flat.

Length greater breadth.

Size large, 18 mm. long

Sides of prothorax arcuate.

Ocular sulcus subfoveiform, form very narrow

Ocular sulcus defined, form much

| wider . ,

Sides of. prothorax nearly

| straight, ocular suleus wanting

than twice

notum may be black or slightly metallic.

longipennis, Hope similis, Blkb.

doddi, n. sp. gracilicornis, Blkb. iris, Blkh.

paimerensis. Blkb.

obscurus, Blkb. neglectus, Blkb. Blkb.

minor,

. punctipennis, Macel. plutus, Blkb. puncticollis, Hope

purpureus, Germ.

ividicolor, Bless. murrayensis, Blkb.

cyaniventris, (longipennis,

n. sp. Blkb.)

brevipes, Blkb.

*macer, Blkb. lepidus, Blkb. eyrensis, Blkb.

is one of the rare exceptions in which the pro-

29

114/132| Length almost exactly twice the | breadth. A [Elytral colours in vitte 116 132 Elytral colours not in vitte | ‘Underside blue Pet as var. (?)

118/132| Underside black.

119/123/Ocular sulcus defined.

Size larger, 15 mm. long ...

Size smaller, 10-11 mm. long.

‘Prothorax coarsely punctate

\Prothorax finely punctate...

(Ocular sulcus not defined.

129\Interstitial punctures distinct, | elytra variegated.

126| 'Seriate and interstitial punctures searcely differentiated : 127|132'Seriate and interstitial punctur es

130]

| 137| ‘Elytral punctures large, head | | and.sternum black ... ‘Elytral colours not in

rc Vv vittee,

| head metallic 7 \eiee smaller, 10-16 mm. long. 140|146| Under-side iridescent or metallic. 141|143!Ocular sulcus defined.

149| |Prothorax strongly narrowed

| anteriorly

Blkb.

iridiventris, Blkb. meyricki, Blkb.

oblongus,

punctulatus, Blkb.

yorkensis, Blkb. eremita, Blkb.

micans, Blkb.

vividus, Blkb.

variabilis, Bless.

bellus, Blkb. carus, Blkb.

cesar, n. sp. rugosipennis, Mael.

maximus, nh. sp

(cupreus, Bikb. )

viridicollis, W. S. Macl. *bicolor, Geb.

smaragdulus, Fab. semiticus, Pase. vigilans, Blkb.

cairnsi, Blkb.

fervens, Germ.

Geb.

*michaelsent,

30

150 Prothorax with sides subparallel *parallelocollis, Geb- 151/170|Femora black.

152/158|Size larger, 14-16 mm. long:

153! {[Pronotum coarsely rugose oe

tate ay, . .«. Trugosicollis, Macl. 154!170! Pronotum finely punctate.

155|157|Seriate and interstitial punc-

tures not strongly differ-

entiated. 156 Metasternum and femora strongly punctate... ... placidus, Blkb. 157 Metasternum and femora not strongly punctate ... ... ... cupripennis, Hope

froggatti, Blkb.

var. (?) (2)semi-seriatus, Blkb.

158 Seriate and interstitial punc-

tures distinctly differentiated inconspicuus, Blkb.

159|170|Size smaller, 10-13 mm. long.

160|167|Elytral intervals distinctly punc- ~

tate.

161 Seriate and interstitial punctures

scarcely (or not) differentiated fastwosus, Germ. obsoletus, Macl.

confluens, Blkb.

162/170|Seriate and interstitial punctures | distinctly differentiated. 163 Head black, eyes very widely separated ... polychromus, Pase. 164 Head black, eyes not very widely | separated RR aa Late e Lous tal keloe 165/169|Head metallic. 166 Pronotum somewhat opaque, seriate punctures large ... ... vinosus, Pasc. | (?) resplendens, Boisd. 167 Pronotum very nitid, seriate | punctures much smaller... ... versicolor, Blkb. 168/170|/Elytral intervals sublevigate. 169! Upper-surface very nitid . ... letus, Blikb. 170 Head black, upper- -surface less TAC eee . *uvenis, Blkb. 171|209/Tarsi flavo-setose (or rufo-setose).

172} Elytra striate, head and under-

side generally metallic ... ... cupriventris, n. sp- 173}209|Elytra seriate-punctate.

174|176|Length greater than twice

| | breadth. Wo Eyes very close, under-side black *ocularis, Blkb. 176! '‘!Kyes not very close, under-side

| | 18h (st ape enamum nme uaE a 2 ote venturi. lal. 177|192|Length almost exactly twice

| breadt

178|180|Size large, 16-18 mm. long.

179 Elytral colours in distinct vitte catenulatus, Blkb. 180 Elytral colours not in distinct

vitts (eye carinate on inner-

margin) ... leai, Blkb. 181]192|Size smaller, 12-14 mm. “long.

(2)Though distinguished by the author by its ‘“‘ocular sulcus’—and I possess a specimen named by him—in a long series I have been unable to separate semi-seriatus from froggatti.

31 182 [Head and under-side prudiantly

185/192| Elytra concolorous (blue or gr een),

intervals not distinctly punc-

tate.

186 i\(3)Femora red eth se la GIMeELNUGLEn Use Mabe 187|192|Femora black.

188)/191|Pronotum opaque, ee) finely

punctate.

189 Elytral intervals at lee.

seriate punctures small and

| distant Adel Asem .. *hartmeyeri, Geb. seriate punctures elongate and

| seratch-like Byte eee ieopaercoliis.. Macl.

|

| a Elytral intervals subleevi gate, hunterensis, Bikb.

191 Elytral intervals finely but more

distinctly punctate, seriate

punctures larger and closer ... pulcher, Blkb. 192 Pronotum very nitid, more

strongly punctate ak cyaneus, N. sp.

193|209|Length less than twice br eadth.

194/198/Size large, 18-19 mm. long.

195 Hyes very close, av elypeal colours in

| Wao 2a grandis, Macl. 196|198/Eyes much more distant, ‘elytra

‘nearly concolorous.

197 Intervals strongly convex ... ... proditor, Blkb. 198 ‘Intervals feebly convex, seriate punctures smaller ..._. ... major, Blkb.

199'209/Size smaller, 13-16 mm. long. 200/202|Legs red or piceous.

201 Colour blue or blue-green, seriate punctures very small alee. egniransis, Pasc: rufipes, Macl. 202 Colour green, seriate punctures | Peneen ie eee in.) ee: eee epicapes.. Mack

| 203/209! Legs black.

904/206'Elytra and epipleure scantily | setose.

205| Colour metallic-green, pronotum | distinctly punctate, elytral punctures blue or purple s.. setosis, Bikb:

206 Colours obscure, pronotum

scarcely evidently punctate,

. | elvtral punctures larger... .... nobilis, Blkb. 207/|209|Elytra and epipleure not setose.

208) Elvtra purple, pronotum green

| (or blue), seriate ens

| uniform to apex : . rusticus, Blkb.

209! Elytra bronze, pronotum dark-

bronze, seriate punctures obso-

ee ete near APSR i. Jc oe) eeemelubinus. W- S.: Mact.

qucundus, Blkb.

(3) This species has both black and red hairs on the tarsi; the posterior tarsi are rather ‘‘nigro-setose,’ while the anterior and inter- mediate tarsi are rufo-setose.

32

AMARYGMUS. Synonymy :— 1. A. obtusus, Pase.=A. tristis, Fab., var. 2. A. ellipsoides, Pasc.=A. anthracinus, Hope. 3. A. indigaceus, Pasc.=A. picicornis, Hope. 4. A. tasmanicus, Blkb.=A. alienus, Blkb. (curvipes,

Geb.), var.=A. umforms, Bikb. =A yagea striatus, Fairm.=A. foveoseriatus, Fairm.=A. morio, Fab.

5. A. tardus, Blkb.=(1) A. tormdus, Pasc. =A. bicolor, Fab.

6. A. rutilipes, Blkb.=A. minutus, Pasc.

7. A. maurulus, Pasc.=(?) A. pusillus, Pasc.

The last-named in each case has the priority.

A. tristis, Fab. This name has been generally accepted in our museums for the very common black species found over the whole coastal region of New South Wales and Queens- land. In the northern part of New South Wales and in South Queensland I have taken a purple variety, while fur- ther north there is a second variety with greenish elytra and rather larger elytral punctures, but otherwise identical with the Sydney insect. A specimen of obtusus, Pasc., sent by Mr. Blair agrees with the purple variety. I can only regret that he did not send an authentic specimen of tristis, Fab., but I find no mention of this type amongst his notes.

A. anthracinus, Hope, from Port Essington. The locality is not given in the description, which omission led Blackburn into the assumption that it was an Adelaide insect, hence a black variety of purpureus, Germ. Mr. Blair writes that A. ellipsoides, Pasc.=A. anthracinus, Hope. There is, however, just a shade of doubt as to whether A. semvssis, Pasc., is not intended, since evidently semzssis and ellipsoides are extremely close, and while specimens of both these species have been sent me, certainly in one case the name ellipsoides has been attached to a specimen—the common Sydney species —which I take to be semzssis, Pasc. Both these species were described by Pascoe in the same paper and on the same page, and, while evidently allied, the following distinctions are made by the author.

A. semissis. A. ellipsordes.

(1) Elytra black. Greenish-black.

(2) Eyes moderately appropriate. Eyes not approximate. (3) Form broader and less convex. More elliptic.

(4) Habitat: Kiama (N.S.W.). Queensland.

33

Of these the only definite character, since the colour dis- tinction is slight, is (2), and I find this clearly demonstrated in specimens sent.

Cnodulon picicorne, Hope=A. indigaceus, Pasc. Mr. Blair writes: ‘Hope’s type is rather smashed up, and ap- pears to be a little longer than Pascoe’s, but I think there can be no doubt as to the identity of the two. Pascoe’s bears locality Sydney, while Hope’s has none—only three of his types bear locality indications in Hope’s writing on the name label.”’

A. uniforms, Blkb., Mr. Blair writes, “is either very near or conspecific with A. foveoseriatus, Fairm., from Duke of York Island, though the latter is a dark greenish-black colour.’’ This is the colour given by Blackburn for wniformis in his note under the description; moreover, the fauna of Duke of York Island is typically a Queensland fauna, from many experiences in other species.

A. tasmanicus, Blkb., was stated by Blackburn to be a variety of wniformis. Gebien places it in the new catalogue as a distinct species. The locality (Tasmania) requires con- firmation, as, so far, only a single mutilated specimen (the type) is known, and is probably explained by the well-known possi- bility of error in labels, as is shown in the case of C. setosus, Blkb.

A. alienus, Blkb. (curvipes, nov. nom., Geb.), Mr. Blair writes, “is, I think, identical with specimens labelled as costatus, H. Deyr (?M.8.), from New Guinea. How they got down to Victoria is beyond me. [Probably another erratic label.—u. 3. c.] This specimen differs [from wniformis] in its blackish-green instead of bronzy-green colour, and in the punctures of the median series being much larger and further apart than the rest. The latter character is present in uniformis, but to a less degree, and these two may be con- specific.” It is very probable that alienus is thus only a variety of foveoseriatus, Fairm.; at any rate, alienus is nom preocc. by Pascoe for a Ceylon species.

A. breolor, Fab. Mr. Blair writes: “Very near torridus, Pasc. The elytra are scarcely so nitid as in specimen sent; the punctures, especially on the declivity, are fewer but more elongate, with a tendency to run together in pairs. Instead of being concolorous with the elytra, they have a tarnished appearance as in tardus, Blkb. The legs and under-side are of a darker red, as they are in some specimens of our series. Tardus, Blkb., is, in my opinion, probably identical with bicolor, Fab. The type is a little larger, under-side and legs still darker, and the number of punctures on the inner series is distinctly larger than in the others: the tendency to form

Cc

34

dashes is also present, and the peculiar colouration of the punctures is the same; the general colour of the elytra is brownish, like that of the thorax of torridus, Pasc. Our series of torridus contains eight examples—Cape York (1), Torres Strait (1), Murray Island (3), Port Moresby (1), Rock- hampton (1), Northern Australia (1)—which hardly differ ex- cept in the depth of the red of legs and under-side (almost black in some), while the types of bicolor and tardus differ from them in the colour of the large punctures on the elytra and their tendency to form dashes; the differences between these, as indicated, are very slight and doubtfully specific.” From the above, and from the specimen sent, I should say that tardus, Blkb. = bicolor, Fab., and that torridus, Pasc., is a variety of the same species, having reddish legs and under- side, with the foveze concolorous with the elytra. The name of Pascoe’s species should be retained for this distinct variety.

A. minutus, Pasc. Mr. Waterhouse very kindly com- pared the types, and writes: “=rutilipes, Blkb., which is like yours. Type of minutus is a little smaller, and I fancy the punctuation is a trifle finer, but they seem to be the same species.”

A. maurulus, Pasc. A specimen sent agrees exactly with specimens I had determined from the Illawarra, New South Wales, as pusillus, Pasc., and there is little to distinguish these species in their respective descriptions, both from the same locality, except a slight difference in colour and size, maurulus having the elytra “dark blue-black” and length 3 to 34 lines, while in pusillus Pascoe says “elytra nearly opaque, brownish-black,” length 2? lines. )

A. frencht, Blkb., Mr. Blair writes, “seems to be another such erratic (as wniformis and alienus). It is somewhat variable, but we have many specimens from New Guinea, Gilolo, Ternate, Obi Islands. There are also other allied forms in this region, and these all seem to be more at home there than amongst the Victorian fauna.” Certainly amongst the many hundreds of specimens examined and captured from every Australian State I have never met with it, so that again its locality requires confirmation.

SUPPLEMENTARY NoTES oN AMARYGMINZ.

Amarygmus (Erotylus) morio, Fab. In a later communi- cation Mr. K. G. Blair writes: “I have discovered another type of Fabricius; the specimen was apart from the others in the Banks Collection, and had been quite overlooked by me. E. morio is identical with the specimen sent from Murray Island, and specimens from New Guinea have also been

35

received. If you refer to Fabricius’ description of morio, it does not appear to agree with the specimen :—‘Antenne fili- formes, atre. Thorax nitidus, ater, levis, elytra atra punc- tata striata.” As a matter of fact the type was a dull-black, with hardly a glimmer of metallic lustre, but it seemed to me so like in structure to the insect sent that I thought I would try the effect of a little soap and water. The effect was marvellous, and the thorax and elytra, when washed, show as bright a colour as a modern specimen. The antennz (two joints on one side, three on the other) I dare not wash, but they show distinct signs of red, and I have no doubt would be as red as they should be if cleaned. This shows that the creature must have been in its present dirty condition when it came into Fabricius’ hands, and that it is not a change due to the accumulation of years.” Mr. Blair’s specimen sent, as compared with this, is, in my opinion, one of the many varieties of the species named wniformis, Blkb. From the typical North Queensland form it differs only in (1) the more green-bronze colour of upper-surface, (2) the slightly larger seriate-punctures of elytra, with more irregularity in its striation. This would make wniformis, Blkb., and its synonyms in my table give place to A. morio, Fab., as the earliest name. The name has been unaccountably omitted from the catalogues, e.g., Gemminger and Harold, Masters, Junk.

Table of AMaryemus (Australian species).

Species marked * not personally examined by the author.

Numbers in the columns as in Cha/copterus table, supra.

1|58|Pronotum black.

2\28|Elytra black (or so dark as to be

indistinguishable from black).

3\25|Klytra striate.

4|16|Upper-surface more or less nitid.

5| |Size large, 12 mm. long .. inistis: Mab: Purplish, var. obtusus, Pasc.

6/16 Size smaller, 4-9 mm. long.

f

Length gr eater than twice breadth minutus, Pasc. rutilipes, Blkb.

Bee Length less than twice breadth. = ioe Elytral intervals strongly convex. ‘Form wide and convex, surface very nitid ao SL OlOURE! SRC eanuornn isp: Form less wide. Sides of pronotum widely arcuate perplexus, Blkb. 13| Sides of pronotum nearly strate | (narrowed in front) ... ... pinguis, Blkb. - 16\Intervals very lightly convex. oes DPLOMIMIDEE) <i. <2: «+ oa “SOMMESSIS, Pease.

i 4

16|

1 r

19)

20 21

22

36

Eyes not approximate ... 25|Upper-surface opaque.

(Form very wide and convex, hind

tibiz curved a 25|Form less wide and conv ex, “hind tibiz straight. 22/Pronotum nearly smooth.

Size larger, seriate punctures

smaller, antenne dark-piceous ...

Size smaller, seriate punctures

larger, antenne paler : '25|Pronotum rugose.

‘Length equal to twice breadth,

| anterior auigles produced and

acute : ok she Sl ee EO

Length less than twice breadth,

anterior angles not produced, rectangular 28] Elytra seriate-punctate.

Seriate punctures large, eyes widely

distant, abdomen finely punctate

Seriate punctures smaller, eyes

Length greater than twice breadth

‘Length equal to twice breadth

; (larger than preceding) ...

Legs Ted, length less than twice

breadth ... Hee '38/Strizee lightly impressed.

Form widely ovate and convex,

tibice ferruemmous Ga. pes eee

Form much narrower, tibie black 47|EKlytra seriate-punctate.

[Legs dark, seriate puree es fovel- form ; oo atiats 47\Legs red.

Form widely ovate (length less than

| twice breadth) 47\Form much narrower (length equal

to twice breadth). '46|Colour subopaque, seriate punc- tures small.

Eyes subapproximate

Hyes not approximate ... .

nee very nitid, seriate punctur es 58 Blytra brightly ‘coloured or

metallic.

[Finely striate, under-side red '58|Elytra seriate- punctate.

anthracinus, Hope ellipsoides, Pasce.

sphaeroides, n. sp-

striatus, Macl.

pusillus, Pasc. maurulus, Pase.

rugaticollis, Blkb. aborigine, n. sp.

stolidus, Blkb.

lilliputanus, Blkb.

diaperoides, Blkb queenslandicus, Blkt.

tibialis, n. sp.

corpulentus, nN. sp. foveolatus, Macel.

porosus, Blkb.

convexus, Pasc.

convexiusculus, Macl. tarsalis, Pasc.

lindensis, Blkb.

rufescens, n. sp.

37

51/55|Antennez black, or nearly so. 52| |Sides of prothorax arcuate ... si Sides of prothorax nearly straight.

I

64) int brown | | |

68/70, Intervals feebly convex. 69| |Prothorax long and narrow, elytra violet-purple and obovate . a 70| |Prothorax transverse, arcuately narrowed, elytra blue and oval.. 71|73)|Elytra substriate (strize irregular).

72| |Klongate and per allel, elytra varie- gated : 73| |Elongate ovate, elytra. ‘coppery-

purple, punctures gold

74|76|Klytra seriate-punctate, pronotum | green.

75 ae and legs black 76 ee and legs red . 77|85|Pronotum and elytra bronze (species |_ large, 10-12 mm. long). 78/80 | Elytra striate.

79 Intervals more or less convex var. var. 80

|

[Intervals quite flat, seriate a: | AERC ODOM orcs.) ace.) 00.8 Ne

81/84|/HKlytra seriate-punctate, punctures foveiform.

82/84'Punctures purple (except in tor- ridus ).

| | | |

cupido, Pasc.

suavis, Blkb.

kershawi, n. sp. ruficornis, Blkb.

picicornis, Hope indigaceus, Pasce.

frenchi, Blkb. tyrrhenus, Pasce.

tropicus, N. sp.

termitophilus, Lea

femoratus, n. sp.

hackeri, n. sp.

ceger, Blkb. geminatus, n. sp.

kurande, n. sp. exilis, Pasc.

A. morio, Fab. A. foveo-seriatus, Fairm. A. foveo-striatus. Fairm.

*A. uniformis, Blkb. *A. tasmanicus, Blkb.

A. curvipes, Geb. (A. alienus, Blkb., nom- preocc.)

pascoei, Geb. (nom-preocc. cupreus, Pasc.)

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83} |Form widely ovate, punctures | round wot, ate et ERS SRO acolors wale | tardus, Blkhb. (Punctures concolourous with

elytra) var. torridus,. Pasce. 84, |Form elongate and narrow, punc-

' | tures elongate 3 .. remosus, Blkb. 85 |HKlytra irregularly punctate (pune- | tutes Notwin series) =. Jol. vartolaris, Pase.

The following are the descriptions of the new species : —

AMARYGMUS CARBO, 0. sp.

Convex, widely ovate, very nitid-black above and be- neath, antennz and tarsi castaneous.

Head minutely punctate, eyes very approximate, separated by a space about equal to length of the second antennal joint, antenne rather long, fine, with apical-joints very little thickened, joint one unusually long, second very short, third equal to fourth and fifth combined, fourth to tenth subequal, eleventh longer than tenth, elongate-ovate. Prothorax very transverse, 2 x 5 (vix.) mm., anterior angles a little acute (about 80°) and produced, base very slightly lobate in the middle, posterior angles subacute but rounded, sides evenly but arcuately converging forwards, disc finely and closely (not distinctly) punctate, without any sign of medial line. Hlytra very convex, wider than prothorax and oval, striate-punctate with eight well-marked striz on each elytron (the four middle fine, the four exterior deep); the punctures therein very small, half-concealed, evenly, and rather widely placed, intervals very lightly convex near middle, strongly convex laterally, minutely punctate. Abdomen finely strio- late, sternum slightly striolate at sides, all tibie nearly straight. Dimensions—75-9 x 5-5°O mm.

Hab.—North Queensland: Kuranda (F. Dodd); Bloom- field River (D. Le Souef).

Apparently a common species, judging by the number of specimens met with in collections. Seven specimens under examination. Less wide, more nitid, intervals more convex than A. spheroides (infra); it is somewhat similar in form to A. converus, Pasc. (a non-striate species), but its prothorax is much wider, with more approximate eyes. Much wider and more convex, eyes more approximate than A. striatus, Macl. Types in the author’s collection.

AMARYGMUS SPHZROIDES, N. sp.

Widely ovate, very convex, head and prothorax opaque- black, elytra, under-side, and legs slightly nitid-black, the last red at the knees, antenne and tarsi red or ferruginous, tarsal clothing red.

39

Head impuuctate, eyes widely separated (space equal to the length of the second and third antennal joints combined), antenne joint three little longer than fourth, joints seventh to eleventh successively wider. Prothorax subtruncate in front and behind (very little produced at the anterior angles or at the centre of base), anterior angles obtuse but well defined, posterior obtuse and rounded; twice as wide as long, sides rounded on hinder half, more straightly converging anteriorly, disc impunctate. Scutellum widely triangular, smooth. Elytra very convex both ways, wider than prothorax; striate punctate, with eight well-marked strie on each elytron, continuous throughout, the punctures in striz small, rather close, and half-concealed, intervals wide and flat on middle, slightly raised at sides and apparently impunctate. Under-side smooth, hind tibiz strongly curved (moreso than in A. converus, Pasc.). Dimensions—8 x 5 mm.

Hab.—Queensland: Mackay.

Two specimens, given me by Mr. French, are very like a small A. pascoei, Geb. (Huripera cuprea, Pasc.) in form and sculpture, but differ in size, colour, tarsi, and the strongly curved hind tibie inter alia. In form like A. ellip- soides, Pasc. (the elytra of which are not striate). Types in the author’s collection. .

AMARYGMUS ABORIGINE, n. sp.

Elongate-ovate, opague-black above, slightly nitid be- neath, antenne and legs piceous-red, tarsi pale-red.

Head finely punctate, eyes distant the length of basal joint of antenne; antenne, all joints short, gradually enlarg- ing to the apex, third slightly longer than fourth, eleventh nearly round. Prothorax moderately convex, truncate at apex, sinuate at base, not much wider at base than at apex, sides evenly rounded, anterior angles subrectangular, pos- terior obtuse, margins not evident from above; finely but very strongly and closely rugose-punctate (almost as in A. rugaticollis, Blkb.); smooth medial line distinct throughout and terminated behind in a foveate depression, with two smaller depressions limiting the central basal extension. Scutellum large, triangular, closely punctate. Hlytra nar- rowly ovate, wider than prothorax at base, striate-punctate, intervals lightly convex, more strongly so at sides and apex, punctures in strie very small, half-concealed and not very close; intervals microscopically punctate, with a velvety ap- pearance ; sternum and abdomen densely punctate; hind tibize slightly bent. Dimensions—4°5 x 2°5 mm.

Hab.—Queensland: Mackay.

40

A single specimen, kindly given me some time ago by Mr. C. French. Two specimens also in Mr. Lea’s collection. Most nearly allied to a rwgaticollis, Blkb., but differs from that species in (1) still more opaque upper-surface, (2) shorter and stouter antennez, (3) smaller and more concealed seriate punctures in the well-defined striz, (4) shorter and more oval form. Type in the author’s collection.

AMARYGMUS TIBIALIS, N. Sp.

Ovate convex; head, pronotum, and under-side nitid- black, antennz and legs piceous-red, tarsi pale-red, elytra dark purple-violet, moderately nitid, the suture black.

Head and pronotum closely and finely punctate, eyes dis- tant the length of two basal joints of antennz, antenne short and stout, gradually enlarging to the apex, all joints short and closely fitted, two apical-joints widely oval. Prothorax wide and short, base much wider (but not twice as wide) than apex, subtruncate at base and apex, sides widely rounded. Elytra wider than prothorax at base, ovate, striate-punctate, punctures in striz rather large and close (distant the diameter of one), intervals feebly convex and apparently impunctate. Metasternum irregularly, coarsely punctate. Abdomen smooth, all tibie curved. Dimensrons—4°2 x 2°5 mm.

Hab.—North Queensland: Cooktown.

A single specimen (male) in my collection was labelled by me A. diaperoides, Blkb., until I was able to compare it with authentic specimens of that species from the Northern Territory of South Australia. The true A. diaperoides, Blkb., is wider, darker in colour, with the striations more deeply marked, the punctures therein smaller and more con- cealed, and its intervals evidently punctate. A. trbralis is also near A. rufescens (above), but the colour differences are very marked, while the latter has much smaller seriate punc- tures and evidently punctate intervals. The curved tibiz alone distinguish ¢:dialis from both allies, though this may be sexual. Type in the author’s collection.

AMARYGMUS CORPULENTUS, n. sp.

Widely ovate, very convex; head and pronotum dull- black, elytra dull blue-green, under-side moderately nitid- black, legs and antenne reddish-brown, femora darker, tarsi flavo-setose.

Head and pronotum microscopically punctate, elypeal suture straight and deep, eyes separated by a distance equal to the length of basal joint of antenna, the latter with joint three half as long again as fourth, fourth to sixth equal, seventh to eleventh successively enlarged and _ obconic,

4]

eleventh widely oval. Prothorar 2 x 44 mm., truncate in front, a little sinuate at base, arcuately widened from apex to base, anterior angles acute, posterior obtuse, disc without fovee or middle line. Llytra of same width at base as pro- thorax, widening in the middle, very convex in each direc- tion, seriate-punctate, with eight lines of oval punctures, larger and more widely placed than in A. convexus, Pasc., intervals flat, minutely but visibly punctate. Abdomen faintly striolate, tibiz a little curved. Dimensions—9-10 x 6-64 mm.

Hab.—Queensland: Carrawal and Mount Chalmers.

Three specimens, including the sexes, received from Mr. C. French, were at first determined by the author as A. ellupsoides, Pasc. One specimen was sent to the British Museum, and compared with the type by Mr. C. O. Water- house, who very courteously took this trouble and writes that ellupsoides is “blacker, longer, with the interstices of elytra convex; yours is very near 4. convexus, Pasc., but the an- tennz are shorter and a trifle more slender, the elytra duller and more green, the punctuation visible; there is none in converus.” A. convexus, Pasc., is a very common South Queensland species, smaller, more nitid, the legs brighter-red, and quite distinct from the above.

AMARYGMUS RUFESCENS, n. sp.

Ovate convex; head and pronotum nitid-black (with the labrum and front and hind margins of pronotum reddish), antenne, legs, and under-side red, tarsi pale-red, elytra brilliant-purple, with coppery reflections at the suture and green on the postero-lateral margins.

Head closely punctate, eyes distant the length of the first two antennal joints; antenne short and thin, scarcely enlarged apically, joint three little longer than fourth, fourth to seventh short and linear, eighth to eleventh narrowly oval. Prothorax apex truncate, base slightly sinuate, sides lightly arcuate, base about one and a half times as wide as apex; finely, not very closely, punctate, without a medial line. Scutellum large, triangular, metallic. Hlytra rather wider than prothorax, ovate; finely striate-punctate; strie shallow but distinct, the punctures therein small, placed at a distance equal to the diameter of one, intervals flat (feebly convex at the apex and sides) and minutely punctate. Under- side rather closely striolate. Dimensions—5 x 2°8 mm.

Hab.—North-western Australia.

A single specimen in the Macleay Museum is differen- tiated from its nearest ally A. diaperoides, Blkb. (of which I have -seen two specimens from the South Australian

42

Museum, with Mr. Blackburn’s label attached) by the follow- ing:—(1) Colour brighter and more brilliant (blue-black in A. diaperoides), (2) under-side and legs red (black in A. diaperoides), (3) striz less deep, with the intervals flat. Type in the Macleay Museum.

AMARYGMUS KERSHAWI, Nl. Sp.

Elliptic, moderately convex nitid; head, prothorax, legs, antenne, and tarsi black (also tarsal clothing black), under- side black with metallic reflections ; elytra purple-bronze with the suture and sides green.

Head finely distinctly punctate, eyes distant the length of basal joint of antenne, antenne with apical-joints en- larged, third shorter than fourth and fifth combined, third to seventh cylindrical, eighth to tenth shorter and thicker, eleventh oval. Prothoraz (2 x 3°5 mm.), with apex pro- duced slightly in the middle and strongly so at the acute anterior angles, base slightly sinuate, not much wider than apex, sides with basal half nearly straight, anterior half arcuate; finely, distinctly punctate, with indications of a smooth medial line; lateral margins evident from above. Scutellum black, triangular smooth. JHlytra considerably wider than prothorax, oval, seriate-punctate, the punctures in series fairly large (as in C. variabilis, Bless.), placed at a distance wider than the diameter of one, intervals flat and strongly punctate, these punctures much smaller than the serlate. Under-side finely striolate. Dimensions—T5 x 4 mm.

Hab.—New South Wales.

A single specimen in the Melbourne Museum is differen- tiated from all described species by its combination of black prothorax, legs, antenne, and tarsi, and bright vari- coloured elytra. The strongly produced anterior angles and nearly straight sides of prothorax (shaped somewhat like Chal- copterus purpureus, Germ.) are distinctive. The elytra are sculptured somewhat as in C. variabilis, Bless. Type in the Melbourne Museum.

AMARYGMUS TROPICUS, N. sp.

Rather narrowly ovate, moderately convex, nitid; head, underside, and legs black, antenne and tarsi obscurely red- dish, pronotum coppery-black (black with metallic reflec- tions), elytra more or less purple, with some green towards the sides.

Head minutely punctate, eyes distant the length of third antennal joint; antenne short and fine, scarcely thickened apically, third not much longer than fourth, fourth to tenth

43

short and subequal, eleventh longer and oval. Prothoraz rather narrow, slightly convex, subtruncate at base and apex, sides nearly straight, not much narrowed in front, anterior angles a little produced, acute, posterior obtuse, disc finely punctate, without medial line. Llytra elongate-ovate, wider than prothorax, striate-punctate, the striz shallow with small punctures closely placed, the intervals flat and minutely punctate. Abdomen distinctly striolate. Dimensions— 6-7 x 3-3°5 mm.

Hab.—North Queensland: Coen River, Cape York, and Cooktown.

Six specimens from Cairns and Cape York (A. Lea), Coen River (Melbourne Museum), and Cooktown are near A. tarsalis, Pasc., and A. suavis, Blkb., but the species differs from the former of these in its metallic and evidently punc- tured pronotum, from the latter in the sculpture of the elytra (inter alia), the striz, though fine and shallow, being evident, while the punctures are much smaller and closer than in A. suavis. Type in the author’s collection.

AMARYGMUS FEMORATUS, 0. sp.

Elongate, narrowly obovate, convex above and below a beautiful violet-blue nitid, femora bright-yellow, tibiz, an- tenne, and tarsi piceous-brown.

Head coarsely punctate, eyes widely distant, the length of the first two antennal joints; antenne long, enlarged to- wards apex, third little longer than fourth, third to sixth cylindric, eighth to eleventh oval. Prothorax very long and convex, nearly as long as wide, greatest width in front of middle, truncate in front and behind, sides gradually widen- ing from base to beyond the half-way, then rather rapidly but arcuately converging, all angles obtuse, the anterior much depressed, lateral margins evident from above; densely and strongly punctate, without medial line. Scutellum large, triangular, and punctate. Hlytra convex, of same width as prothorax at base, gradually widening to behind the middle; finely striate-punctate, the striz shallow, the punctures small, round, and very close (separated by a distance less than the diameter of one), intervals feebly convex and closely, minutely punctate. Prosternum distinctly, sides of meso- sternum coarsely, metasternum and abdomen finely punctate. Dimensions—6 x 2°5 mm.

Hab.—North Queensland (or Port Darwin?) (F. Dodd).

Mr. Dodd sent this, with other insects, shortly after his return from Port Darwin, but as no locality was affixed I am unable to state the habitat more precisely. An extra- ordinarily shaped insect, easily distinguished from all

44

described species by its unusually long subcylindric prothorax, its narrow obovate elytra, brilliant-blue colour above and below, and its pale-yellow femora. Another genus may pos- sibly be found necessary for this species. Type in the author’s collection.

AMARYGMUS HACKERI, N. sp.

Convex and ovate; head blue, pronotum brilliant-purple, elytra violet-purple, with metallic reflections on suture and sides, under-side black, legs piceous-red, antenne and tarsi clear-red.

Head very finely punctate, eyes approximate, distant little more than the second antennal joint, antenne long, con- siderably enlarged towards apex, joint three nearly as long as fourth and fifth combined, seventh to tenth rather widely subconical, eleventh pear shaped. Prothorax very convex, straight in front, slightly sinuate behind, twice as wide at base as at apex, all angles obtuse but (with the margins) not evident from above, sides evenly arcuately converging for- wards. Scutellum small, triangular, metallic-green. LHlytra very little wider than prothorax, moderately convex, striate- punctate, the punctures in striz very small, close and half- concealed, intervals feebly convex, except towards sides, and impunctate ; under-side minutely striolate, basal joint of hind tarsi as long as the rest combined. Dimensions—6°5 x 3 mm.

Hab.—Queensland : Coen River, Cape York (H. Hacker).

A single specimen, given me some time ago by Mr. Hacker, is distinguished from its nearest ally, A. tromcus (supra), by its brilliant colour, approximate eyes, and im- punctate intervals inter alia. Type in the author’s collection.

AMARYGMUS GEMMATUS, N. sp.

Elongate-ovate, very convex; head and _ prothorax metallic-green, the latter purplish towards base, elytra bright coppery-purple, the punctures a brilliant-gold; under-side brownish-black nitid, legs black above, tibiz reddish beneath, antenne and tarsi castaneous.

Head densely, finely punctate, eyes very distant (about the length of the first two antennal joints), antennz short and thickened apically, all joints unusually short, third scarcely longer than fourth, eighth to tenth subtriangular, eleventh bluntly ovate and larger than preceding. Prothorax convex, not much wider at base than at apex, sinuate at apex and base, the apex produced in the middle and at the anterior angles, these widely acute (about 80°), posterior angles ob- tuse, sides evenly, not widely, rounded, densely and finely rugose-punctate, without any medial line; lateral margins not

45

visible from above. Scutellum triangular with curvilinear sides, minutely punctate. Hlytra very convex, of same width as prothorax at base, slightly wider behind shoulders, then gradually narrowed to the rounded apex: each elytron with eight rows of large, sometimes elongate, punctures, placed closely (the intervals between two less than the diameter of a puncture), the first series and the last forming continuous striz, the others only striate at the apical declivity, intervals convex (strongly so at the apex). Abdomen smooth except for a few round punctures between the posterior coxe, a similar cluster of punctures on the metasternum between the inter- mediate coxe continued along the anterior margin of metasternum,; intermediate and hind tibize curved. Dimen- sions—7T x 3 mm.

Hab.—North Queensland: Kuranda (F. Dodd).

A single specimen sent by Mr. Dodd is the most beautiful Amarygmus known to me, the golden subfoveate punctures on the coppery-purple elytra and the metallic pronotum alone distinguishing it from all described species. In form it is very like a small A. variolaris, Pasc., but the punctures are smaller and more elongate with quite a different arrangement, while the prothorax is more convex and rounded at the sides than in Pascoe’s species. The elytra are scarcely striate, ex- cept on the first and the external row, also at the apex, where the striz are deep and well marked, but towards the middle the deep and close punctures, narrow, and sometimes con- fluent or elongate, give much the impression of striation, but the spaces between the punctures are distinctly on the same level with the raised interstices. Type in the author’s col- lection.

AMARYGMUS KURAND#, N. sp.

Moderately convex, ovate; head, antenne, legs, and under-side black, the last nitid, pronotum green, elytra obscure blue-green with purple reflections moderately nitid, tarsal clothing red.

Head densely, finely punctate, eyes separated by a dis- tance equal in length of third antennal joint, antenne not extending to middle of body, joint three shorter than fourth and fifth combined, apical-joints slightly enlarged, fourth to sixth equal and short, seventh to tenth subconical, eleventh longer and ovoid. VProthorax slightly produced in the middle and angles at apex, very slightly lobate at base, sides evenly and arcuately converging forwards, not twice as wide at base as at apex, anterior angles rectangular, posterior obtuse, margins evident from above; closely and very finely punctate and without any medial line. Scwtellwm smooth, metallic, and triangular. Hlytra oval, moderately convex (as in 4.

46

foveolatus, Macl.), seriate-punctate, seriate punctures rather large and oval (smaller than in A. foveolatus), those in the three middle rows larger than those in the others, all punc- tures becoming smaller towards apex, intervals flat, minutely and closely punctate; under-side (including sternum) smooth or faintly striolate. Damensions—8-8'°5 x 3:5-4°5 mm.

Hab.—Queensland: Kuranda (F. Dodd); Yandilla (F. A. Gore).

Two specimens sent by Mr. Dodd, and one in the Bris- bane Museum (from Yandilla) are distinguished from other described species by the combination of coloured prothorax, black antenne, legs and tarsi, with seriate-punctate elytra. Nearest A. foveolatus, Macl., it is readily distinguished by the different-coloured thorax and their produced anterior angles. Types in the author’s collection.

TRICHAMARYGMUS, n. gen. (Amarygminarum ).

Whole upper-surface thickly clothed with long and up- right white hairs, the legs and under-surface with shorter hair, mandibles truncate at apex, antenne very long, with joints seven and eight slightly wider than preceding, ninth to eleventh narrower than eighth, the last two subcylindric, fourth to eleventh of nearly equal length, joint three about as long as first and second combined. Elytra coarsely, un- evenly punctate, each puncture bearing a long white hair, the punctures of different size and arranged in crowded rows, three or more rows forming irregular series, with convex nitid intervals, the rest as in Amarygmus.

TRICHAMARYGMUS PILOSUS, N. sp.

Narrowly ovate; head, prothorax, and scutellum black, antenne at base piceous, apical-half of antenne, under-side, legs, and tarsi reddish, elytra a uniform rich violet-purple, nitid, and pilose, tarsi beneath flavo-setose.

Head densely, rather coarsely punctate, eyes separated by a distance equal to the length of the basal joint of antenne, ocular sulcus narrow; antenne not enlarged at apex. /Pro- thorax 2 x 3 mm., very convex, short, truncate at apex, sinuous at base, sides widely rounded, coarsely impressed with setiferous punctures, larger than those on the head, without a central line. Scuwtellwm triangular and finely punctate. Elytra ovate convex (somewhat cylindrical), nearly twice as long as wide, intervals between series of rows minutely but densely punctate; epipleure coarsely punctate. Abdomen coarsely and sparsely punctate; pro- and meta-sternwm more closely and finely punctured, especially on the flanks;

47

posterior tarsi with basal joint nearly as long as the rest com- bined. Dimensions—8°5-10 x 4-4°5 mm.

Hab.—Western Australia: Shark Bay.

Two specimens, I think both sexes, sent by that inde- | fatigable enthusiast, Mr. C. French, are so different in cloth- ing and sculpture from all Chalcopteri as to require a separate genus. The sculpture may be described as seriate-punctate, but in the place of defined single rows of punctures, there are irregular rows, sometimes three, sometimes four or more confused, but forming series of depressions, so that the inter- vals are distinctly convex. These punctures are generally large—much larger than in C. affimis, Bless.—but become finer at the sides, the apparently smooth intervals, under a strong lens, are seen to be very densely punctate also. Types in the author’s collection.

48

MECHANISM OF POLLINATION IN CERTAIN AUSTRALIAN ORCHIDS.

By R. 8S. Rocers, M.A., M.D. [Read June 12, 1913.] Puates VI. to IX.

Dipopium PuNcTaTUM, Br. Pl. vi.

The column (figs. 1 and 2) is about quarter of an inch long and semicylindrical in shape. It is flattened in front, the upper third of this surface being bevelled antero-posteriorly. The lid-like anther rests on its summit, and is attached thereto by a minute posterior hinge. The rostellum is on a level with the base of the anther, and immediately below the rostellum is the elliptical stigma.

There is little or no evidence of winging. In the raceme of flowers it occupies a horizontal position, but for convenience of description it will be assumed (except where otherwise stated) to be vertical. Anteriorly its central third is in close contact with the middle lobe of the rigid sessile labellum ; its upper portion forms with the latter a wedge-shaped space (fig. 9), in which are the rostellum and the stigmatic cavity. The margins of the anterior surface are accurately embraced throughout their length by the lateral lobes of the labellum (Giles, 8).

The rosteliwm can be seen in the immature flower as a small, blunt, and almost horizontal projection immediately above the stigma (fig. 5). It extends also horizontally back- wards so as to form a sort of incomplete roof to the column. An examination of the top of the rostellum at this stage will reveal in relief the outlines of the future “disc,” and passing horizontally backwards from the latter the outlines of the two pointed caudicles or “stipites.”’ These structures have as yet no connection with the pollinia, and are developed from ros- tellar tissue. The disc is somewhat oyster-shaped, and lies upon the blunt point of the rostellum. At a later period well- marked separation lines appear between this portion (disc and appendages) of the pollinarium and the subjacent tissues, but even in the comparatively advanced bud it may with care and a little trouble be removed en masse. At this stage a rather blunt triangular tongue of tissue may be seen projecting up- wards and backwards from the rostellar roof so as to insert itself into the triangular space between the anther loculi.

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This subsequently extends backwards and becomes attached to the top of the column, thus forming a little raised falcate eminence, which fulfils a highly important function in accur- ately guiding the pollen masses when they fall from the anther-case into the most advantageous positions.

The anther is hemispherical, with a slight anterior pro- jection over the tip of the rostellum. In the bud it may be lifted backwards, showing its attachment to the column and displaying its two loculi, each containing a perfectly spherical yellow pollen-mass. There is as yet no signs of dehiscence, nor is there any connection whatever between pollinia and rostellum. There can be seen, however, on the lower surface of each loculus an oblique sulcus corresponding to the depres- sion between the two lobes of each pollen-mass. It is along this sulcus that dehiscence subsequently takes place. The two loculi do not nearly fill the anther-case. They occupy only the upper and anterior portion, and as the case rests like a small inverted basin on its rim upon the rostellar roof, the pollen-masses are in this way kept raised a little above the stipites.

The stigma (figs. 5 and 6) is elliptical in shape, its long axis being transverse. It is placed immediately below the tip of the rostellum. It is deeply concave, and communicates in its lowest part directly with the cavity of the ovary by means of the stigmatic canal. Situated near each end of the ellipse is a separate tiny depression. This depression is just the correct size to receive a pollen-mass.

Dehiscence of the anther is completed just as the seg- ments of the perianth begin to separate in the act of expan- sion, and the pollinia still retained within the dehiscing loculi are found to be very sticky on their lower surfaces. The contour of the rostellar roof is exactly adapted to receive them when they are subsequently released and fall.

A very little later, and before expansion of the flower is complete, the anther-case becomes very hard and rigid, the pollen-masses are liberated, and each drops upon the stipes a little above the distal end, being guided accurately into posi- tion by the falcate mesial band already referred to. Bilobing of the pollinia is very slight, and only noticeable as a groove on the under-surface. When they drop from the anther they do so in such a manner that each is received by the stipes in this particular groove and becomes adherent by its own sticky secretion. This secretion is possibly selective in its action, as the pollinia never appear to become adherent to any of the adjacent parts. Possibly, however, this may be due to the fact that the stipites stand up in relief from the underlying struc- tures. The pollen-masses do not harden immediately they

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fall, but in a very short time assume a stony hardness which is a striking phase in their life history.

At this stage the disc and stipites are found to have undergone complete separation from the rostellum, the former being merely retained in position by its sticky under-surface. A touch on the disc now easily removes the whole pollinarium, and the pollinia undergo “the act of depression” within one minute of its removal. This “act of depression” is brought about by the curving downwards of two stipites to which the pollen-masses are attached. The pollinarium rapidly becomes hard, and the disc is firmly cemented to the object removing it. The substance fastening the pollinia to the stipites is, however, very elastic, and does not become dry like the other parts, so that the whole apparatus may remain effective, even when it has been attached for a long time to the head of a visiting insect.

If the pollinarium be now presented to the stigma, it will be found that the pollinia are so spaced as to fit exactly into the little cup-like depressions already noticed in the ends of the stigmatic cavity (fig. 6). Here they adhere, and any attempt to withdraw the pollinarium results in the separation of the masses from the stipites and their retention in the stigma, the disc and stipites being carried away by the object first responsible for their removal.

The labellum (figs. 7 and 8) is about half an inch long, .e., twice the length of the column. The long middle lobe is keeled from the tip to a point a little below its centre, which marks its contact with the base of the bevelled portion of the column (fig. 9). Here it gives place to two raised lines with a tuft of hairs between them forming a pad. ‘The tip is fur- nished with a woolly landing place, the hairy condition being traceable for some distance along the keel, thus forming a good walking track. The hairs point inwards towards the stigma. The lateral lobes are half the length of the middle one. They are smooth and petaloid, and clasp the column on each side of the stigma.

As already stated, a wedge-shaped space (fig. 9) contain- ing the stigma is enclosed between the bevelled portion of the column and the labellum. Facilities are afforded a visiting insect to enter this space—a good landing place, an easy foot- ing until it is reached. The presence of the insect is, how- ever, strictly limited to this part of the flower, where its opera- tions will be useful. It cannot proceed further down the column, because of the close contact of the latter with the labellum and the presence of the hairy pad. It is prevented from straying to the sides by the lateral lobes of the labellum. On entering it will not remove the pollinarium, because it

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does not press against the sticky surface of the disc. It is only on retiring (and this process is made a trifle difficult owing to the direction of the hairs) that it will come in contact with the adhesive part of the disc, which it will then carry away in a position vertical to its own body. But when the pollinia perform the “act of depression,” the pollinarium becomes horizontal, or almost so. When the next flower is visited the pollen masses are deposited in their respective cups in the stig- matic cavity, and the visitor departs bearing with it the disc and the stipites.

I do not know what the actual fertilizing agent is in the case of Dipodiwm, but judging by the size of the landing place and the strength of the labellum it is probably an insect of fair size.

ORTHOCERAS STRIcTUM, Br. PI. vi...

The conformation of the flower of this species is shown in fig. 1, pl. vu.s. The dorsal sepal (ds) is relatively large and hooded, enclosing within it the column and diminutive lateral petals. The linear lateral sepals (1s) spread horizontally on each side. The label!um //) is thick, fleshy, and trilobed, the middle lobe greatly exceeding the lateral ones in size. In the mature flower the labellum lies closely reflexed against the ovary (ov), and at its base there is exposed a large yellow gland with a horizontal groove on its posterior surface.

Tt will be convenient to study the mechanism of pollination at several stages in the development of the flower.

1. In the advanced bud the lateral sepals are parallel and vertical, and the front of the hooded dorsal sepal is completely closed by the labellum, which is also at this stage vertical. The first indication that the flower is about to expand is given by a slight divergence of the lateral sepals and a slight descent of the labellum. If the column be examined at this stage (fig. 2) it will be found that the stigma is almost oval in shape, the short diameter being placed horizontally. Its anterior sur- face is glistening, concave, and at the base there is a well- marked funnel-shaped depression which penetrates almost, but not quite, into the stigmatic canal. Posteriorly the stigma presents a flat surface with a slight triangular mesial ridge, which terminates at the base of the rostellum. A transverse section of this ridge exposes a cavity continuous with the stig- matic canal.

The rostellum (7) is slightly lower than the anther-tip (a) and is placed vertically.

The lateral appendages (/ ap) of the column reach a little higher than the rostellum, but not quite as high as the anther- tip. Their free ends incurve towards each other. They are partly hidden by the lateral margins of the stigma, and are

O2

better seen in fig. 3, which shows the column from the back. They are attached to the sides of the anther-case at its base. The blunt point of the anther (fig. 3, a) is incurved over the rostellum, and if it be examined at this stage it will be found that dehiscence has already commenced, as indicated by an oblique slit in the anterior surface of each chamber, through which the pollen can be seen. This is moderately friable and inaccessible, unless the anther is forcibly disturbed from its natural position. The pollen-masses are guarded by the anther-case behind, the stigma in front, and the lateral appendages at the sides.

2. The flower has just expanded. The labellum has descended, and the lateral sepals are almost horizontal. Dehiscence of the anther is complete. The rostellum has bent a little forward (fig. 4, 7), and it can be seen that the pollinia are still retained loosely within the anther-case. They are united at their upper ends and are simply hung like saddle- bags on each side of the septum, which divides the case into two loculi. There is no connection whatever between them and the rostellum. They are not at all sticky, and when removed present the appearance shown in fig. 7, where their anterior surface is uppermost.

3. At slightly more advanced stage the stigma is still glistening and moist-looking. The anther-tip has retracted slightly and the rostellum continued to bend forward. At this stage the pollen-masses, still attached at their upper narrow ends, drop accurately from their loculi, one on each side of the little mesial ridge already referred to on the back of the stigma. This ridge now exactly occupies the anterior groove between the pollinia, and helps to retain them in position. This position is further secured by the lateral appendages of the column, which prevent the masses from being shifted to either side.

4. Shortly after the pollen-masses have fallen from their loculi they become adherent to the back of the stigma. The late R. D. Fitzgerald noticed and recorded this interesting fact some years ago, and thought that the subsequent pollination was effected by an erosion of the anterior wall of the stigma until the pollen gains access to that surface. I have not been able to verify this observation. Nor is there any curling back of the stigmatic margins, so as to bring the anterior surface into contact with the pollen, such as occurs in some of the Thelymitras.

What does happen is that about the time adhesion is going to take place there is a general softening of the stigmatic plate and some of the pollen grains germinate. The actuating cause of their germination is still obscure. So far as I am aware,

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they have not been brought into actual contact with the stig- matic exudation. Numerous pollen-tubes penetrate the back of the stigma in the neighbourhood of the ridge which covers the stigmatic canal and cause the pollinia to become firmly adherent. There is no adhesion at the extreme base of the masses nor in the region of the rostellum. They become attached only along the middle third of the anterior groove which formerly separated them. The rostellum now generally collapses completely on to the anterior surface of the stigma, as shown in fig. 5, leaving the narrow ends of the pollinia exposed. The margins of the stigma are still well defined and raised, but the upper part of the anterior surface begins to lose its glistening appearance.

5. A moist, sticky depression now represents the former funnel-shaped cavity at the base of the stigma, and the whole

eae

: Koo fee ov Su Noe au Soe,

EXPLANATION OF THE TExT Figure: 7, rostellum; a ws, anterior wall of stigma; /, labellum; g, gland at base of labellum; m, horizontal groove at back of the gland (g); n, projecting ridge at base of stigma, corresponding to the groove (m); ac, anther-case: Pp, pollen-mass; 6s, back of stigma; ov, ovary.

anterior surface becomes mammilated in appearance. The labellum once more rises up in front of the column. The pro- minent yellow gland at its base fits exactly into the middle

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of the sticky stigma, so as to press it back against the pollen- masses (see g, in text figure). So accurate is the apposition that even the horizontal groove (m) at the back of the gland finds a corresponding ridge (n) at the base of the stigma, which exactly fits into it.

The margins of the dorsal sepal now curl inwards and envelope the edges of the labellum. The flower has returned to its second childhood—the bud condition—and the whole of the sexual apparatus is shut off and sealed against external influences.

It is this effectual sealing up which I believe to be the important function of the labellum and its gland. Orthoceras blooms during extremely hot weather, December and January, when conditions are dry and arid. It would seem desirable that the sexual parts should be kept moist until fertilization has become definitely effected, a period of probably about three weeks in this species.

PRASOPHYLLUM GRACILE, Rogers. Pl. vii.a.

The discovery of a new locality where this hitherto rare orchid grows in great abundance, has afforded me the oppor- tunity of carefully studying its mode of pollination.

The anther-case is about the same length as the column, reaching to the level of the rostellum. In the immature flower it completely covers the two pollinia and the caudicle, which at this stage lie closely in contact with the back of the stigma and rostellum. A strap-like caudicle attaches the pollinia to a somewhat triangular disc in the manner shown in fig. 6 of pl. vii.a. The rostellum fits into the wedge-shaped space between the caudicle and disc, receiving the latter into a slot-like depression on its anterior surface. The lateral appendages of the column are somewhat shorter than the ros- tellum, and protect the stigma on each side. The latter is voluminous and sticky.

The disc with attached pollen-masses can be easily removed from the rostellum by an upward shearing force. It is sticky on its rostellar side, and adheres to the object removing it. After removal the pollinia rotate through an angle of about Nee

The flowers are much frequented by a small beetle, Trogoderma adelaide, and in several instances I found pollinia adhering to the cephalo-thorax of these insects and presenting forward in such a position that they must have been deposited on the stigma of a flower had the carrier attempted to crawl towards the base of the labellum, a locality which they appear to frequently visit.

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As the flower matures the anther-point recurves (fig. 1, pl. vii.), exposing the caudicle and upper portions of the pollen- masses to the drying effects of the atmosphere. As a conse- quence the caudicle begins to curl upwards, dragging the pollinia with it and leaving a triangular space between itself and the back of the rostellum. This is the first stage of the complete rotation of the pollinia which subsequently occurs, unless they are removed. They can be readily detached by a needle passed into the triangular space just referred to at the back of the rostellum. This is probably what happens when removed by crawling insects. In avery large number of flowers examined I found that the pollinia had been removed and in many cases pollen-masses, completely detached from the rostellum, were seen adhering to stigmas. In some of these eases the pollinia were still attached to the rostellum, showing clearly that the masses on the stigma had been transported from other flowers. Hence it is certain that cross-pollination does occur in a large percentage of cases in this species. Whether the agent is always Trogoderma adelaide I am not prepared to say. It is, however, the only insect visiting these plants to which I have seen pollen-masses adhering.

Should the pollinia not be removed, the act of rotation is proceeded with. The second stage of this is shown in fig. 2, where the pollinia have assumed a position at right angles to the back of the column. The third stage is shown in fig. 3. The curling of the caudicle has proceeded to such an extent that the two masses are raised vertically above the rostellum. Finally they are deposited, usually with great accuracy, on the middle of the stigmatic surface (fig. 4). When this occurs the caudicle still remains attached by the disc to the rostellum.

Occasionally, from some accidental cause, the curling of the caudicle in the final stage of rotation is irregular, and there is a tendency for the masses to be deposited elsewhere than on the stigma. This is generally prevented, however, by the lateral appendages, which are higher than represented in figs. 4 and 5. Such a misplacement is shown in fig. 5, where the lateral appendage has saved the situation, and pollination has been successfully effected.

The fertilization of Prasophyllum gracile then is one of extreme interest. It is an instance where cross-pollination is clearly invited, but failing this the plant is able to accomplish the process of fertilization by itself.

Whether this method of pollination takes place in other species of Prasophyllum I am not at present in a position to say, but judging from the extreme degree of rotation so fre- quently seen in the pollinia of plants of this genus, it probably does, though perhaps not so frequently as in the species under review.

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THELYMITRA ANTENNIFERA, Hook. f. PI. viil.a.

The flower of this species is sweet smelling, yellow in colour, and is provided with two very conspicuous reddish- brown lateral appendages to the column, which stand up like a pair of ears. These, together with the projecting, blunt anther-point, give the column a singularly bat-like appearance. Unlike many other Thelymitras, the flowers open freely in sun- shine. The various stages in the mechanism of pollination are represented in pl. vili.a, figs. 1 to 5.

If a fairly early bud be examined (fig. 1) the column will be found to be comparatively narrow, the anther-point broad, smooth, and emarginate. The wings of the column (w) are imperfectly developed, the rostellum very prominent and situ- ated in a notch in the upper border of the stigma. At this period of development the pollen-cases (p c) are situated ver- tically, and the pollinia at their lower narrow ends are in close contact with the rostellum.

A little later (fig. 2) a certain degree of obliquity has become apparent in the pollen-cases, owing to the lateral growth of the column forcing their upper and wider ends apart, while the lower ends still remain united. The wings of the column have become broader, the stigma has deepened, and its edges have become more everted. The rostellum is now very conspicuous and overhanging, and the column itself has gained slightly in height as well as greatly in width.

By the time the flower has become almost ready to expand (fig. 3) oblique dehiscence has taken place in the pollen-cases, the column has increased considerably in height, drawing up these cases, thus causing an upward tugging by the pollinia on therostellum. The attachment of the pollen-masses to the rostellum is now exposed and is seen to be almost direct, the caudicle being virtually absent. The anther-point has become roughened and has grown forward and curved downward, thus tilting the lower ends of the pollen-cases backwards. As the pollinia are being withdrawn from their cases by the up- ward growth of the column this tilting movement forces their upper ends further and further backwards (fig. 4) until the masses at length lie in a horizontal plane.

When expansion takes place (fig. 5) the anther-point is found to have grown still further forward and to have curved still further downward. It has lost its greenish colour and has become quite yellow and woolly. The growing forward of the wings of the column and the deepening of the cup-like space between them, together with the movements of the anther- point, have increased the convexity of the back of the column

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and completed the tilting movement of the lower ends of the pollen-cases. The pollinia are now divergent and quite horizontal, and may be easily removed by a touch on the ros- tellum. Their position behind the stigma renders self- pollination impossible. The rough and prominent anther- point affords an excellent landing place for an insect. The reddish-brown lateral appendages not only attract the attention of a visitor to this platform, but likewise prevent it from travel- ling towards the back, rather than towards the front of the column.

THELYMITRA MACMILLANI, F. v. M.

Unlike Thelymitra antennifera, T. macmillani is a rare orchid. Structurally it approximates closely to the former, and its mechanism of pollination appears to be the same. The flower is a salmon-red; the lateral appendages are tall, nar- row, yellow structures; and the rough, yellow anther-point is longer, narrower, and more prominent than in the case of its ally.

THELYMITRA LUTEOCILIUM, Fitz. Pl. viii.s.

As T. antennifera typifies the mechanism of cross- pollination in the genus Thelymitra, so T. luteocilium typifies the mechanism of self-pollination. The flowers of this species cannot be said never to open, but they open very rarely, and then only on hot days. They are, however, fertilized in the bud long before expansion is possible, and before the full size of the mature flower has been attained. One has indeed to search diligently to find a bud young enough to show the con- dition of the parts prior to dehiscence of the anther.

In such a bud (fig. 1) the middle lobe of the column is _eristate and forms an incomplete hood. ‘The lateral lobes are yellow, pencillate, and vertical, rising to about the same level as the middle lobe. The anther is attached to the front of the column near the top. Its rather blunt triangular point is situated between the lateral appendages. The pollen-cases form two long convex somewhat triangular bodies, with a deep sulcus in the middle line between them. Their lower borders rest on the two cusps which represent the upper margin of the stigma, and between them, where the two cusps join, is situated the rostellum. The stigma itself is placed obliquely from above downwards and forwards, and the wings of the column pass forward and unite in front of its lower border, so as to form a cup-like depression.

At a rather more advanced stage (fig. 2), but long before the flower is capable of expanding, the pollen-cases dehisce in a valvular way along their internal and lower borders, ex- posing the very granular pollen within them. There is no

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connection between the pollinia and the rostellum. The column has grown in height, carrying the anther with it; but the anther-case still guards the pollen in such a way that when it falls it can only do so in one direction, v1z., down upon the stigma. The closed segments of the perianth no doubt help to further facilitate and ensure this result. In the bud the labellar petal is in close apposition with the front of the column and extends slightly beyond lateral appendages.

At a still later stage of development (fig. 3) the column has increased in height and width, the dehiscing margins of the pollen-cases have retracted far back, and the friable pollen is seen to be massed upon these and upon the interlocular septum, just above the rostellum and the stigma. Some of it has already fallen upon the latter. The falling of the pollen is brought about by the ordinary action of gravity, by the shaking of the flower, or by the movement involved by the separation of the cases from the pollinia and the upward move- ment of the anther itself.

Very often after most of the pollen has fallen a consider- able quantity still adheres to the shrivelled cases for a time, but eventually reaches the stigmatic surface. Any pollen fail- ing to fall directly upon this surface will, nevertheless, be caught in the cup-like depression (fig. 4) formed by the wings of the column at the base of the stigma, and will in this way be available for purposes of fertilization.

The function of the pencillate appendages is not very cleac. Possibly they are intended to guard against misplacenent of the pollen in an upward direction, such as might occur from violent shaking of the flower in windy weather.

The whole process of dehiscence of the anther and sub- sequent pollination may be observed at leisure by stripping the perianth from a suitable bud and watching the column on a warm day.

THELYMITRA FUSCOLUTEA, Br. Pl. 1ix.a.

The flower of this orchid is yellow with dark-brown spots, and is sufficiently conspicuous to suggest cross-pollination. Such, however, does not appear to be the case. The flowers open in hot weather, and nearly all become fertilized. On twenty-two plants chosen at random I counted 104 flowers. Out of those ninety-nine were fruiting. The plant blooms in November and December, the hot weather apparently being advantageous in several ways, especially in drying and pul- verizing the pollen. The anterior or labellar petal is more differentiated in this species than in most Thelymitras, and is always shorter and narrower than the lateral petals.

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The column is peculiar. In its lower two-thirds (fig. 1) it is expanded into wide wings, which pass upwards and forwards and unite so as to form a combed hood over the anther. The upper third is produced, external to this hood, into a dorsal clavate undivided process (fig. 2). The roof of the hood along the line of union of the two wings is tomentose, and reaches to about the same level as the dorsal process of the column.

The anther (fig. 1) is attached to the base of the column and is, with the exception of its point, hidden until maturity of the flower behind the stigma. Its point (figs. 1 and 2) is produced into a long, blunt, recurved, finger-like process. This does not reach the roof of the hood until the flowers are ready to expand. The pollen is very friable, there is no sign of a caudicle, and no very definite connection between the ros- tellum and pollinia. The former is, however, sticky, and a small quantity of pollen adheres to it when pulled forward with a needle-point. It is not possible to remove the pollinia, however, by touching the rostellum, as in the case of cross- fertilizing plants.

The stigma (figs. 1 and 2) les in the lower part of the con- cavity formed by the column and its wings. It is very sticky and somewhat triangular in shape. The lower part of it is concave, and projects obliquely forward.

The rostellum is well marked, and occupies the upper angle of the stigma.

As the flower matures the anther is carried slightly up- wards until its point touches the hood and the upper parts of the pollen-cases become exposed (fig. 3). An oblique dehiscence of the cases then takes place, leaving a compara- tively small portion of the pollinia uncovered just above the rostellum and upper border of the stigma. This soon dries, and crumbling away falls upon the rostellum and upper part of the stigma (fig. 4). In hot weather, when the flowers open freely, the process appears to be facilitated by the hardening and bending forward of the rostellum. As some pollen has become adherent to it, a degree of slight traction is exerted upon the masses, helping them to rupture and fall more freely upon the stigma (fig. 5). More frequently, however, the rostellum undergoes a degenerative process of black cicatriza- tion or necrosis (fig. 6). The contraction thus caused increases the area of pollen exposed and assists materially in pollination. Then, too, the bending forward of the anther over the stigma, which occurs about this time, is also a beneficent factor in the process which must not be overlooked. Apart from these physical factors, I believe that the breaking up of the pollen

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masses is hastened and assisted by numerous minute crawling insects which seem to frequent these flowers in great numbers.

THELYMITRA VENOSA, Br. PI. 1x.B.

This pretty swamp form with its dainty blue flowers would, one would think, prove sufficiently attractive to induce many insects to visit it. Nevertheless, its mechanism is adapted entirely for self-pollination, which, as in the case of T. luteo- culuum, is accomplished in the very early bud long before there is any possibility of expansion of the flower. It blooms in December, and the flowers open freely in the sunshine.

The column is winged, its lateral appendages erect, rather blunt, spirally twisted, not pencillate. These appendages are connected to each other and to the back of the anther towards its base by an inconspicuous crest. They do not reach the level of the anther-point when dehiscence takes place, but may sub- sequently much exceed it, owing to alterations in the position of the anther itself.

The anther is attached close to the top of the column, and even in the very early bud it will be found that only a small portion of its base lies below the level of the upper border of the stigma and that its bifid point is already. carried well forward, so as to cause the pollen-cases to overhang the stig- matic surface. The pollen-cases are very protruberant, and there is no caudicle and no connection of any kind between the pollen masses and the rostellum.

The stigma is placed in a plane making an angle of about 45° with the vertical column, its upper margin is bicusped, and the wings of the column unite, so as to form a sort of cup at its base.

The pollen is very friable, and, as already stated, dehis- cence of the anther takes place in the early bud (figs. 1 and la). The pollinia cannot be removed by touching the rostellum.

Just before expansion of the flower the anther assumes an angle of about 45° with the column (figs. 2 and 2a), thus bring- ing its point to a lower level than that of the lateral append- ages. There is thus an angle of about 90° between anther and stigma, and the granular pollen falls plentifully upon the latter (figs. 3 and 3a). Loss is guarded against by the retracting anther-cases above and the cup-like depression at the base of the stigma below.

By the time the flower has become fully expanded (figs. 4 and 4a) the anther is almost horizontal, and the stigma has lost its glistening appearance; it has become tumid, and has swollen up to a level with the edges of the column cup.

61 DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

Prate VI. Dipodium punctatum, Br.

Fig. 1.—Column from the front, x 3—a, hemispherical, lid-like anther; 7, rostellum; s, stigma.

Fig. 2.—Column from side, x3.

Fig. 3.—Column and labellum from the side (x3), showing— col, column; a, anther: /, labellum (middle lobe); w, lateral lobes. of labellum, embracing column on each side of stigma.

Fig. 4.—The same seen from back of column. Lettering as in fig. 3. Note the hairy landing stage on tip of labellum. The hairs are directed inwards towards the column.

Fig. 5.—The top of the column and rostellum, from a bud, just before expansion. The anther with its contained pollen-masses. has been removed, showing—d, the disc developed from the ros- tellum and overhanging the stigma; c, the false caudicle or “‘stipes,’’ developed also from rostellum, and growing backwards from the disc; ft, a triangular tongue of tissue rising in a sickle- shaped eminence between the stipes. This is quite short in the young bud, but gradually grows backwards until it unites with the back of the column; lc, back of column; s, stigma.

Fig. 6.—Stigma very much enlarged, showing—dep, the little depressions in its floor into each of which a pollen-mass is subse- quently deposited.

Fig. 7.—The labellum seen from the top (x3), showing—m I, the middle lobe with its hairy tip; w, the lateral lobes.

Fig. 8.—The same seen from the side.

Fig. 9.—Column with labellum in_ position. Half the labellum has been removed by a longitudinal section. Note its close contact with the middle third of the column, just below the bevelled portion of the latter, so as to show the triangular space in which are situated the stigma and disc—ts, triangular space; col, column; a, anther; r, rostellum; ml, middle lobe labellum.

Puate VIT.a. Prasophyllum gracile.

Fig. 1._-A side view of the column, showing the anther-case retracting, thus liberating the two pollen masses, which are attached to the rostellum by a strap-like caudicle—a c, anther-case ; pe pollinia; c, ee r, rostellum and disc; lap, lateral appendages of column; s, stigmatic surface.

Fig. 2.—More complete retraction of the anther-case_ has allow Ed’ the pollinia to spring out and assume a horizontal position behind the rostellum. This is the second stage in rotation. Let- tering as in fig. 1.

Fig. 3.—Represents the third stage in rotation of the pollinia. They are now vertically over the rostellum. Lettering as in fig. 1.

Fig. 4.—Complete rotation of the pollinia has taken place, and they are now adherent to the centre of the stigma, but still attached to the rostellum by their disc. The lateral appendages in this eee the next figure should have been shown longer. Lettering as in fig.

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Fig. 5.—Owing to some uneven twisting of the caudicle the pollinia have been deposited on the margin of the stigma. The lateral appendages have prevented them from altogether going eeuey: and pollination has been safely effected. Lettering as in

OFEILE

Fig. 6.—A very much magnified view of the two pollen-masses

(p), of their caudicle (c), and disc (d).

Pyuate VII.z. Orthoceras strictum.

Fig. 1.—The mature flower (natural size) from the front, show- ing—ls, the lateral sepals; ds, the large hooded dorsal sepal, enclosing the column and lateral petals; J, the labellum; ov, the ovary.

Fig. 2.—Front view of column of an unpollinated flower (x6) from the front, showing—a, anther; lap, lateral appendages of the column; 7, rostellum; s, stigmatic surface.

Fig. 3.—The same column from the back showing a posterior view of the same parts.

Fig. 4.—A side view of the column of a flower that has just expanded in which dehiscence of the anther is complete and the rostellum is beginning to bend forward—ac, anther-case; other lettering as in figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5.—Front of the column after the adhesion of the pollinia to the back of the stigma and collapse of the rostellum; p, free upper ends of pollen-masses; 7, rostellum ; s, stigma.

Fig. 6.—Back view of column shown in the last figure. The pollinia are free at their bases and upper ends, but attached in their middle third. Lettering as in fig. 5.

Fig. 7.—The pollinia, x6. The anterior surface is uppermost, and shows the groove, along the middle third of which they after- wards become attached to the back of the stigma.

Puate VIII.a.

Thelymitra antennifera. The various parts of the column are magnified by 4.

Fig. 1.—Column of rather a young bud, showing the vertical pollen-cases and smooth anther-point—s, stigma; r, rostellum; pc, pollen-cases; w, column-wing; ap, anther-point; | ap, lateral appendages.

Fig. 2.—Column of more advanced bud. Note the increased growth in width; the commencing roughness of the anther-point; the obliquity of the pollen-cases. The lettering as in fig. 1.

Fig. 3.—Column shortly before expansion of the flower, show- ing oblique dehiscence of the pollen-cases; the marked increase in height of column drawing the cases away from the pollinia. Let- tering as in fig. l.

Fig. 4.—Column just before expansion of flower, showing the increased roughness and the curving forward and downwards of the anther-point, the tilting back of the lower ends of the pollen-cases, and also the forcing backwards of the upper ends of the pollen masses—p, pollen masses. Other lettering as in fig. 1.

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Fig. 5—Column of expanded flower. The pollinia are diver- gent, and rest in the horizontal plane behind the rostellum and the stigma; the column-wings are wide and deep; the anther-point is yellow and woolly; the rostellum and pollinia can be easily removed. Lettering as in fig. 4.

Puate VIII.z. Thelymitra luteocilium, Fitz.

Showing the front of the column (magnified 6 times) at various stages of development.

Fig. 1—The column of a very young bud, showing the posi- tion and shape of the still closed pollen-cases, the anther-tip, the stigma, rostellum, and pencillate appendages—s, stigma; rT, ros- tellum ; pc, pollen-cases; a p, anther-point; lap, pencillate lateral appendages.

Fig. 2.—A slightly more advanced stage, showing the pollen- cases beginning to dehisce. The friable pollen is seen between the receding margins. Lettering as in fig. 1

Fig. 3.—A still more mature column. It has grown taller and wider; the anther has been carried up with its growth; the dehiscing margins have retracted greatly; the pollen has massed itself over the rostellum and stigma; some has fallen upon the stigmatic surface. Lettering as in fig. 1.

Fig. 4.—Column in which pollination has been completed. The pollen-cases are empty, showing the inter-locular septem between them. Pollen is seen on the surface of the stigma and massed up in the cup-like depression at its base. Lettering as in) fio Te

Puate IX.a.

Column of Thelymitra fuscoluteca (magnified 3 times), showing various stages in the process of pollination.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the structure of the column before dehiscence of the anther. Note the wings of the column widely expanded into a combed hood. In fig. 2 one side of this expansion has been cut away, so as to show the attachment of the anther to the column and the position of the pollen-cases relatively to the stigma. They are well behind the stigma, and cannot be seen from the front at this stage. Note also in this figure the obliquity of stigma and the peculiar dorsal appendage (or middle lobe) of the column—z, dorsal appendage of column; ap, anther-point; w, wings of column; 7, rostellum; s, stigma; pc, pollen-case.

Fig. 3.—A more advanced stage. The growth of the column has brought the pollen-cases above the level of the stigma, oblique dehiscence has already commenced exposing a small area of pollen in each case. Lettering as in figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4.—Front view of column at a slightly later stage. Pollen has fallen on the rostellum and upper part of the stigma. The anther has inclined further forward. Lettering as in figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5.—Front view showing a column in which the rostellum has fallen forward, so as to widen the space through which the pollen escapes on to the stigma. Lettering as before.

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rid

ig. 6.—Front view of column in which necrosis of the ros- tellum has taken place, thus effecting the same object as in fig. 5. Lettering as before.

Prate [X.s.

Column of Thelymitra venosa, Br. (magnified 4 times), show- Ing various stages in the process of pollination.

Figs. 1 and la.—Front and side views of column in early bud before expansion has taken place. The bifid anther-point is higher than the lateral appendages, and the pollen-cases have already begun to dehisce, thus exposing the granular pollen. The turg- escence of the pollen-cases can be particularly well seen in the side view (fig. la,—a p, bifid anther-point ; pc, pollen-cases (dehiscing) ; p, pollen; s, stigma.

Figs. 2 and 2a.—Front and side views of the column at a later stage, when the anther has descended to an angle of 45° with the column, and its point has assumed a lower level than the lateral appendages. Pollen is beginning to fall freely upon the stigma. Lettering as in figs 1 and la.

Figs. 3 and 8a.—A rather more advanced stage than shown in the last figures. Lettering as in figs. 1 and la.

Figs. 4 and 4a.—-Front and side views of the column after expansion. The pollen-cases are retracted and practically empty ; the anther is almost horizontal, and the stigma is swollen and tumid.

A NEW GENUS OF CHALCIDOID HYMENOPTERA OF THE FAMILY MYMARIDZ£ FROM TASMANIA.

By A. A, GIRAULT. (Communicated by Mr. A. M. La.) [Read April 10, 1913.]

The following genus was found in a collection of parasitic Hymenoptera loaned to me for study by the South Australian Museum. It is the third genus of the family which is peculiar to Australia, so far as is yet known.

Tribe ANAPHINTI. POLYNEMOIDEA, n. gen.

Q. With the general habitus of Polynema; venation and wings of Cosmocomoidea but the marginal fringes are long ; antenne of Polynema but the club is indistinctly 3-jointed ; tarsi 4-jointed, the proximal joint long; abdomen subsessile, no distinct petiole, no phragma, the ovipositor very long and slender, inserted at base and much exserted beyond tip, curved upward; the exserted portion equals more than the length of the abdomen, which is ovate. Parapsidal furrows complete ; scutellum rectangular, wider than long, followed by a still larger, hemispherical mesopostscutellum; propodium still longer, large. Ocelli in a triangle, the lateral ones rather dis- tant from the eyes. Antennz 11-jointed, the club 3-jointed, asin Stethynium. Marginal cilia of forewing about two-thirds that wing’s greatest width. Forewings fumated, the discal cili- ation moderate; antennz varicoloured. Forelegs with strigils. Scape serrated along its vertical margin.

3. Not known.

Type.—The following species.

PoOLYNEMOIDEA VARICORNIS, Nh. Sp.

Q. Length, 150 mm. Rather large for the family. Black, the legs yellowish-brown, the first four funicle joints of the antenne white, the antenne otherwise black; both wings clouded somewhat throughout, but in the forewing this fuma- tion is a stain along the anterior margin, around the apex and broadly across the wing from the marginal and stigmal veins. Forewings with about twenty lines of discal cilia; posterior wings with a paired row along each margin and a short mid- longitudinal line from apex, but sometimes cut off distad.

D

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First funicle-joint much smaller than the pedicel, the second and third joints of the funicle very long, the second somewhat the longer, the following three funicle joints cylindrical ovate, the last joint not much more than half the length of joint 4, which is about three-fourths the length of 3; the large, ovate club about equal in length to joint 2 of the funicle. Sculpture of body fine, impunctate. (From four specimens, #-in. objective, 1-in. optic, Bausch and Lomb.)

d. Not known.

Described from four females mounted on a card in the South Australian Museum bearing the label “Bred from wood.’”

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Types.—I. 1228, South Australian Museum. Two females on a card. Cotypes to be deposited in the collections of the United States National Museum, Washington.

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NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF CHALCIDOID HYMENOP- TERA IN THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.

By A. A. GiRavtrt. (Communicated by Mr. A. M. Lza.) [Read May 8, 1913.]

The following genera and species were loaned to me for study by the Public Museum of South Australia at Adelaide. The specimens are returned to that institution.

TETRASTICHINI. QUADRASTICHUS, new gen.

Q. Agreeing with Pentastichus, Ashmead, but the fore- wings without long marginal fringes, the pedicel only as long as the first funicle-joint, which is longer than wide, the two other funicle-joints still longer and cylindrical, the flagellum a little capitate, the antennz 8-jointed, with one very short, obscure ring-joint, the club 2-jointed, and terminating in a spinelike seta; scape long and slender. Marginal vein long but shorter than the broken submarginal, the postmarginal absent, the stigmal well developed, long. Wings hyaline. Scutum with a median grooved line, the scutellum with four. Abdomen depressed, ovate, the ovipositor not exserted. Parap- sidal furrows complete. Both mandibles tridentate.

3. Not known.

Type.—The following species.

QUADRASTICHUS NIGRINOTATUS, new sp.

Q. Canary or golden-yellow spotted with dusky-black, as follows:—Meson of pronotum, meson of scutum centrally (divided along median line), outer lateral angle of pronotum, apices of the much-advanced axille (nearly opposite the black in the meson of scutum), median line of propodeum rather broadly, lateral apex of axille, a transverse portion of the propodeum just cepbalad of each spiracle, base of abdomen transversely (obscurely, more or less), and caudad three broken stripes across the next segments, distinct only laterad (each side). Venation and antennz pallid dusky-yellow, the legs concolorous with the body, as are also the scape and pedicel (except at base). Impunctate. Second funicle-joint longest, the third next, distinctly longer than the first; the club-joints subequal.) Length, 1°25 mm.

_ @The magnification of this and all the following species is 3-In. objective, l-in. optic, Bausch and Lomb. D2

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Described from one female specimen remounted in xylol balsam from a card.

Hab.—New South Wales: Mittagong (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1230, South Australian Museum.

QUADRASTICHODES, new gen.

Q. Agreeing with Tetrastichodes, Ashmead, but the antenne 13-jointed, with four narrow ring-joints, 4 funicle- joints, and a 3-jointed club, whose distal-joint is a jointlike terminal cone like a thick spine but a true joint; scape cylindrical oval, unusually thickened and armed with a coarse scaly sculpture; pedicel also similarly sculptured. Mandibles tridentate. Scutellum with four deep grooves, the propodeum with a distinct median carina, laterad of the spiracle with sparse thimble punctures. Postmarginal vein three-fourths the length of the stigmal. Wings hyaline, ample, the mar- ginal vein long.

3. Not known.

Type.—The following species.

QUADRASTICHODES CYANEIVIRIDIS, new sp.

@. Brillant, shining, metallic blue-green with the velvety sculpture of Tetrastichus, including the disk of the propodeum. Legs straw-yellow, the coxe metallic lke the body. Abdomen polygonally sculptured, the polygons regular hexagons. Femora darkened proximad. Pedicel as long as the first funicle-joint, which is longest of the funicle, much longer (about 24 times) than wide, the others shortening. Proximal club-joint subequal to the distal funicle-joint, which is somewhat longer than wide. Length, 2°35 mm.

From two females on cards.

Hab.—South Australia: Port Lincoln (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1231, South Australian Museum. The above specimens (2 cards, 1 pin) and a slide bearing the head.

TETRASTICHUS, Haliday. TETRASTICHUS MITTAGONGENSIS, new sp.

Q. Like gueenslandensis, but the propodeal spiracle laterad of the lateral carina and the propodeum is longer. The scape is brown, coxe and femora concolorous with the body. Second ring-joint very short, the third club-joint spined at apex. Length, 2 mm.

co. Unknown.

Described from one female.

Hab.—New South Wales: Mittagong (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1232, South Australian Museum. The above specimen with the head on a slide.

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NEOMPHALOIDELLA, new gen.

Q. Like Neomphaloides, Girault MS., but the funicle- joints of the antenne are not elongate, the pedicel only moderate in length, the three ring-joints uneven, the abdomen not slender and produced into a stylus but depressed and broadly ovate, the median carina of the propodeum single, meeting a semicircular carina before apex. Funicle-joints subquadrate, the club enlarged, 3-jointed, obliquely truncate at apex, as long as the funicle and twice wider.

3. Not known.

Type.—The species described herewith.

NEOMPHALOIDELLA FASCIATIVENTRIS, new sp.

Q. Black marked with lemon-yellow as follows: —Face and cheeks, lateral margins of scutum rather broadly (con- tinued over the pronotum), latero-occipital angles of vertex, cephalic third or more of each parapside, all margins of scutellum (except the cephalic), postscutellum, legs except the cox proximad, antennz and more or less obscure stripes across the abdomen. Wings hyaline, the venation dark-brown. Sculpture a scaly quadragonal reticulation, including the abdomen. Postmarginal vein slightly developed. Funicle- joints subquadrate and subequal, the first slightly longest. Length, 1°90 mm.

Described from a single female specimen on a card.

Hab.—King Island (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1233, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and slide with an antenna.

QUADRASTICHODELLA, new gen.

Q. Like Quadrastichodes, but the scutum with a median grooved line; also the distal-joint of the club (a fourth “joint” here) appears to be merely a terminal spine and not an articulated joint, the funicle plainly 3-jointed, the club 3-jointed, the last joint terminating in the spine; first ring- joint larger than the others. The scape is clavate, the coarse scaly sculpture at distal half or less.

3. Not known.

T'ype.—The following species.

QUADRASTICHODELLA BELLA, New sp.

Q. Very brilliant metallic-green; legs, including first two pairs of coxz, the tegule and scape bright lemon-yellow, the scape verging to orange at tip, the funicle and club dark- brown. Wings hyaline. Pronotum long, also the stout abdomen. Head, abdomen, and prothorax with fine scaly

70

(polygonal) sculpture, also the propodeum dorso-laterally (an dorsal aspect glabrous) ; mesoscutum, parapsides, cheeks, and axille with the finer sculpture of Tetrastichus. First funicle- joint longest, longer than wide, the others wider than long ; pedicel the longest of the flagellum. Length, 3:15 mm. Robust, long.

Described from a female.

Hab.—New South Wales: Lawson; and Queensland: Mount Tambourine (A. M. Lea).

Type.—Il. 1234, South Australian Museum. The Lawson specimen and a slide bearing antenne. A second specimen was in the same collection labelled Mount Tambourine. It was less robust.

PEDIOBIINI. ERIGLYPTOIDEUS, new gen.

Q. Like Metacrias, Girault MS., but the funicle-joints long and slender, the funicle filiform; also the postmarginal and stigmal veins are long and subequal. Also closely allied with Vesomyia, Ashmead, and Hriglyptus, Crawford, but the two-named veins are long and the club is only 2-jointed; nine antennal-joints including a very short ring-joint, the funicle 4-jointed ; distal club-joint terminating in a spur which, not being a joint, is not counted. Wings hyaline, densely ciliated, the marginal fringes short. Propodeum reticulated, with no carine. Thorax and head polygonally punctate, the body slender, not convex. Petiole short and stout.

3. Not known.

Type.—The following species.

ERIGLYTOIDEUS VARICORNIS, new Ssp.

©. Dark metallic-green, the scutellum and propodeum zeneous, the face sunken, blue. Legs concolorous, the tro- chanters, tibize, and tarsi yellowish; scape pallid at each end, the distal club-joint yellowish-white. Length, 150 mm.

Described from a single female on a card.

Hab.—South Australia: Murray Bridge (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1236, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide bearing forewing and antenna.

OMPHALINI. SrcopEs, Foerster. SECODES SUMNERI, new Sp.

Q. Dark metallic-green, the face blue; propodeum with a short median carina and smooth but polygonally reticu- lated. Tarsi white except distal two joints; legs otherwise

71

concolorous, also the antenne; vertex pro- and meso-thorax polygonally punctate, the abdomen sculptured like the pro- podeum, as long as the head and thorax combined, pointed long conic-ovate. Parapsidal furrows deep, complete. Fore- wings hyaline, the venation dusky-yellowish, the post- marginal vein well developed, a little longer than the stigmal ; discal cilia sparse in the centre of the wing, more dense disto- cephalad, elsewhere practically absent with the exception of seven long regular lines extending to the apex from distal third and an eighth long regular line obliquely backward from the stigmal knob; forewings broad and ample. Third club- joint terminating in a spinelike seta. The four funicle-joints all subquadrate and subequal; one very short ring-joint. Length, 1°85 mm.

é. Not known.

From one female on a card.

Hab.—New South Wales: Lawson (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I1. 1235, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide with antenna and a forewing.

Respectfully dedicated to Charles Sumner, for his addresses on war and the war systems of nations.

RHICNOPELTELLA, Girault MS.

RHICNOPELTELLA RETICULATA, new sp.

Q. Like wmmaculatipennis, but the two distal funicle- joints of the antennz are large and subquadrate, each dis- tinctly as long as the pedicel, the first joint much smaller and like a ring-joint, but it is twice the size of the three pre- ceding ring-joints, the distal funicle-joint plainly more than twice the size of the distal club-joint. Pedicel all dark. Wings hyaline, the postmarginal vein a half or less the length of the stigmal. Outer half of cephalic tibia yellowish, the inner half like the body. Length, 1°55 mm.

3. Not known.

From one female on a card.

Hab.—South Australia: Murray Bridge (A. M. Lea).

Type.—\. 1237, South Australian Museum. The above specimen, an antenna, several legs, and a forewing on a slide.

This is the fifth species of this genus, all from Australia.

GYROLASELLA, Girault.

Q. Like Achrysocharis, Girault, but the antennze with two ring-joints, the scutellum with two longitudinal grooved lines. Flagellum capitate. Two funicle, three club-joints.

3. Not known.

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GYROLASELLA LINEATA, new sp.

Q. Honey-yellow marked with deep metallic-green as follows: —Median line of caudal half or more of scutum, the same of scutellum to distal fifth from cephalic margin, a short transverse dash on each side of the median line of scutum just cephalad of the median green line (like the arms of a T but with all the middle portion missing) ; the meson of each axilla (except at each end) and narrow transverse stripes across the abdomen, joined very narrowly along the meson, the fifth line at the meson curved convexly cephalad; an X-shaped mark- ing centrally at base of abdomen; tip of abdomen black (really tip of ovipositor valves). Wings hyaline. Antennz and legs concolorous. Abdomen deep-yellow. Body eh te ally reticulated. Length, 1:75 mm. Slender.

Described from a single female on a tag.

Hab.—Queensland: Mount Tambourine (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1238, South Australian Museum. The above specimen, the head on a slide.

ACHRYSOCHAROIDES, new gen.

Q. Similar to the preceding genus but the postmarginal vein longer than the stigmal, the scutellum with a rather con- spicuous fovea on each side of the median line, the antennal funicle 3-jointed, the club 2-jointed, the second joint termin- ating in a seta.

36. Not known |

Type.—Chryrocharis sarcophagus, Girault.

CHALCIDIN 4.

MercaLocouus, Kirby.

MEGALOCOLUS RUFINOTUM, new Sp.

Q@. Black, punctate, the venter of abdomen, mesal aspect; the legs (except the cox, proximal half or so of cephalic femur, interior of caudal tibia and the caudal femur) ; and the whole of the mesonotum (including scutellum and tegule) rufous; pedicel, first funicle-joint and tip of club fuscous; forewings irregularly stained, the venation fuscous or darker; staining accented at the stigmal vein, the latter nearly at right angles to the marginal and subequal to the short postmarginal. Posterior femur with seven teeth beneath, widely separated, the first large and obtuse, the last very small. Mandibles with two teeth, both acute, but the inner broadly bevelled off mesad. The small first funicle-joint longer than the pedicel, which is cupshaped; second funicle- joint longest, a third longer than 3, which is more than twice ~

73

the size of the first. The lateral projection on the propodeum is absent. Length, 8 mm., including stylus.

3. Not known.

Described from a single female.

Hab.—Queensland: Cairns.

Type.—I. 1239, South Australian Museum. The above specimen on a card, plus a slide bearing female head and caudal femur. :

STOMATOCERAS, Kirby.

STOMATOCERAS LEAI, new sp.

Q. Wholly black; forewings with a conspicuous deep _-black band across them from the marginal vein, distad of this band obscurely clouded; postmarginal vein slightly longer than the marginal. Plate on end of scutellum separated into two distinct, obtuse, platelike teeth. Comblike teeth along posterior femur extending along distal three-fourths. Pedicel long, somewhat longer than the rather long first funicle-joint, the second funicle-joint longest, about a ‘third longer than the first, which is twice longer than wide. Two platelike teeth dorso-lateral aspect of propodeum. Length, 5 mm.

g. Not known.

Described from a single female. Respectfully dedicated to Arthur M. Lea for his contributions to the knowledge of the Coleoptera of Australia.

Hab.--Queensland: Cairns (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1240, South Australian Museum. The above Specimen, plus posterior femur and an antenna on a slide.

STOMATOCERAS AUSTRALIENSIS, new sp.

©. Black, the tarsi more or less suffused with reddish, the abdomen beneath ferrugineus except distad ; tegulz black. Marginal vein with a dark splotch under it, from the caudal end of which loops an obscure crescent of fuscous around to the costal margin (beyond the postmarginal vein, which is longer than the marginal); wings otherwise hyaline. Teeth of caudal femur extending along distal two-thirds; first funicle-joint over half the length of the pedicel, the second funicle-joint subequal to the pedicel and the club-joint, longest of the funicle. Length, 4°20 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from a single female.

Hab.—New South Wales: Sydney (A. M. Lea).

Type.—lI. 1241, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and posterior femur and antenna on a slide.

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Tumipicoxa, Girault. TUMIDICOXA RUFICORNIS, new sp.

Q. Black, the antenne wholly rufous, also the proximal! half or more of the abdomen ventrad. Knees, cephalic tibiz, proximal half or less of intermediate tibie, and all tarsi yellowish ; posterior femora with from 10 to 12 teeth beneath. All funicle-joints wider than long. Plate of scutellum emar- ginate. Wings hyaline. Proximal third of abdomen dorsad rufous. Length, 2°75 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from six female specimens.

Hab.—Queensland: Cairns.

Type.—l. 1242, South Australian Museum. Three females on a card, plus a slide bearing posterior femora and antenne.

TUMIDICOXA RUFIFEMUR, new sp.

6. Black, the posterior femur bright red; tegule, knees, tarsi, much of cephalic tibia, tips of second tibie and two elongate spots on caudal tibiz (one just ventrad of knee, © one just dorsad of tip) lemon-yellow. Wings hyaline, the venation black. Posterior femur with nine teeth beneath. Proximal club-joint subtransverse; first funicle-joint longest of the funicle; pedicel small. Length, 2°70 mm.

©. Not known.

Described from one male on a card.

Hab.—New South Wales: Mittagong (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1243, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide with posterior femur and an antenna.

TUMIDICOXELLA, new subgen.

Q. The same as Tumidicoxa, Girault, but the antenne only 11-jointed (12-jointed in Tumidicoza); the plate of the scutellum not emarginate and inconspicuous. Second segment of abdomen occupying over half of that region. dg. See below.

Type.—The following species.

TUMIDICOXELLA NIGRICOXA, new Sp.

@. Black and punctate, marked with red as follows :— All of legs except coxe and the cephalic and intermediate femora near base. Forewings slightly stained. Posterior femur with eleven teeth beneath. Pedicel only half the length of the first funicle-joint, which is longest of the funicle, longer than wide, subequal in length to the club-joint. Length, 3°10 mm,

Described from a single female.

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Hab.—South Australia: Port Lincoln (A. M. Lea). Type.—I. 1244, South Australian Museum. The above female and one slide with posterior femur and an antenna.

TUMIDICOXELLA TASMANIENSIS, new sp.

dg. The same as nigricoxa, but the antenne wholly black and the cephalic and intermediate femora are black farther distad, more than half black. Length, 3 mm.

2. Not known.

Described from a single male on a card.

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I1. 1245, South Australian Museum. The fore- going specimen plus a slide with caudal femur and antenna.

TUMIDICOXELLA AUSTRALIENSIS, new sp.

@. Black, punctate, the tegule, knees, and tarsi yel- lowish; wings hyaline. Posterior femur with nine teeth beneath, the ninth tooth very small; funicle 1 and club-joint subequal. Two elliptical lemon-yellow spots on posterior tibiz, one just below knees, the other just before tip. Length, 2°85 mm.

Described from a single female.

Hab.—New South Wales: National Park (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1246, South Australian Museum. The above specimen plus a slide bearing posterior leg and antenna.

STOMATOCEROIDES, Girault. STOMATOCEROIDES RUBIPES, Girault MS.

Two males, one female, Cairns, North Queensland (Lea). The posterior coxze sometimes may be nearly black, sometimes nearly all red; the other legs may be wholly red except coxe.

PERILAMPIDi.

PERILAMPUS, Latreille. PERILAMPUS TASMANIENSIS, new sp.

@. Metallic-bronze, the abdomen darker with bronze reflections; legs concolorous, the tibiz greenish, the tarsi flavous; antenne dark-metallic; wings hyaline, the postmar- ginal vein longer than the stigmal. Scutellum unarmed at apex. Mandibles with three acute teeth, the outer one long. Head with striations on vertex and face. Antenne with . funicle-joints transverse but the first cupshaped, very much larger than the pedicel; 1 ring-joint, 13 joints, but 14, if a small nipple-like joint is counted at apex of third club-joint. Dorsum of abdomen finely punctulate. Length, 2°50 mm.

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3. Not known.

Described from a single female specimen on a card.

Hab.—King Island (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1247, South Australian Museum. The above specimen; an antennz on a slide.

PERILAMPUS AUSTRALIENSIS, new Sp.

@. Metallic cyaneus, with metallic-green reflections about the head and abdomen; tarsi light-yellow; cephalic knees and tibiz brown ; legs otherwise concolorous with body ; sculptured like tasmaniensis, but the punctures on the abdomen not quite so dense; more robust than that species, the marginal vein longer, the nipple-like distal club-joint absent; the second funicle-joint more like the first in tasmaniensis, the first funicle-joint in australiensis somewhat longer than wide and with parallel margins. Club brown. Length, 3°25 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from a single female.

Hab.—New South Wales: National Park (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l1. 1248, South Australian Museum. The above specimen; antenna on a slide.

PERILAMPUS MITTAGONGENSIS, new sp.

@. Metallic blue-green, the knees, venation, and anten- nal club brown, the tarsi yellowish, the wings hyaline. First and second funicle-joints subequal, subquadrate ; postmarginal vein twice the length of the stigmal; otherwise like the pre- ceding but smaller. Antennal club 3-jointed. Length, 1°85 mm.

3. Not known.

From one female.

Hab.—New South Wales: Mittagong (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1249, South Australian Museum. The above; antenna on a slide.

SPHEGIGASTERINI.

SPHEGIGASTEROIDES, new gen.

Q. Agreeing with Pterosema, Foerster, but the antenne with only one ring-joint, the mandibles only bidentate, the second tooth broad, the posterior tibiz compressed toward tip, the body nonmetallic and particoloured, the forewings coloured. Antennz 13-jointed, the flagellum clavate, the ring- joint large, the first funicle-joint subequal to the pedicel, the distal funicle-joints wider than long. Marginal vein twice the length of the stigmal, which is subequal to the postmar- ginal. Ovipostor not exserted, the abdomen conic-ovate, the

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petiole short and stout, the second segment not occupying more than a third, its posterior margin incised at the meson. Lateral carine present, the median carina of propodeum single with two irregular carine on each side of it; propodeum rugulose, the spiracle oval.

3. Not known.

Type.—S. rufinotum, described herewith.

SPHEGIGASTEROIDES RUFINOTUM, new sp.

Q. Shining black, the pro- and meso-thorax and head rufous; also the scape. Forewings with a large smoky blotch under the marginal vein, this blotch extending more than half- way across the wing and extending distad conically beyond the stigmal vein; caudad of it, there is obscure fumation. Head and thorax rather finely punctate. Length, 3 mm.

Described from a single female.

Hab.—-New South Wales: Sydney (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1250, South Australian Museum. The above specimen plus a slide bearing head and antenna.

CLEONYMIN At. APLATYGERRHUS, new gen.

Type.—The following species.

APLATYGERRHUS MAGNIFICUS, new sp.

@. Dark metallic-green, densely punctate, but the propodeum shining, only reticulate and with a median carina; rather hairy, the eyes also. Posterior coxe metallic- bluish; legs fuscous, except posterior coxe and the black posterior tibiz (middle) and middle portions of the femora of the posterior legs. Wings with a conspicuous, large, sub- saggitate, smoky area suspended from the postmarginal vein and distad, the apex obscurely darkened. Postmarginal vein longer than the stigmal, which is long. Antenne 11-jointed, no ring-joint, the club single, terminating in a conical pro- jection and embraced by a long lateral extension of the distal funicle-joint; first funicle-joint smaller than the second, which is larger than the pedicel; other funicle-joints wider than long. Antenne brownish toward tip. Distal funicle- joints pedunculate. Length, 4°70 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from a single female.

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Type.—lI. 1251, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide with cephalic and posterior femora and antenna.

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The genus is characterized by the antennal structure. Later one male and six females were found in the same col- lection bearing the same label and ‘“‘Bred from wood.’’ In the male, the distal funicle-joint has not the long projection.

PLATYGERRHUS, Thomson. PLATYGERRHUS AUSTRALIENSIS, new sp.

Q. Bright metallic-green, with eneous tinges (especially axilla, centres of scutum and scutellum), polygonally punce- tate, the propodeum smooth and shining with a strong median carina and more or less bluish; the spiracle round, a line of fovee leading from its top mesad. Forewings hyaline, but with. a distinct fuscous or smoky loop curving from the base of the marginal vein convexly to the stigmal vein, and when curving up to the latter suffusing indistinctly across to the costal margin in the form of a branch. Legs and tegule fuscous; also the scape. Postmarginal vein very long, nearly as long as the marginal. Antennal club solid, long, acumin- ately truncate from one side, the first funicle-joint narrower than the others, the second longest but not as long by far as the long pedicel, which is subequal to the club; no real ring- joint; 11 joints. Eyes, head, and thorax pilose. Posterior tarsi white, their tibie whitish at tips. Length, 4°10 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from a single female labelled “Bred from wood.”

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1252, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide with antenna and posterior tibia.

PLATYGERRHUS ANNULICORNIS, new sp.

Q. Dark metallic-green and punctate, the wings hyaline, the coxz concolorous except at tips, the legs brownish-yellow ; antenne black, just before tip encircled by a broad ring of yellowish-white (distal three funicle-joints); stigmal vein shorter than usual. Second funicle-joint nearly as long as the pedicel, the club oval; all funicle-joints longer than wide. Length, 5°20 mm.

Cia Not known

From one female labelled “Bred from wood.”

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1253, South Australian Museum. The above specimen ; a slide bearing posterior leg and antenna (also the head of a male Aplatygerrhus magnificus ).

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PLATYGERRHUS TASMANIENSIS, new sp.

Q. The same as australiensis but smaller, and the fore- wings in addition to bearing the same pattern have their tips also fuscous and the backward branch of the loop is more distinct. Moreover, in this species the second funicle-joint is shorter and also the pedicel in relation to the club. Length, 3 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from two specimens.

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1254, South Australian Museum. The two specimens above (2 pins) and a slide bearing cephalic and pos- terior femora and antenne. Later a male was found labelled in addition ““Reared from wood.’

AMEROSTENUS, new gen.

@. Agreeing tolerably well with dMJerostenus, Walker, but the antennz with four ring-joints and a 3-jointed club, 13-jointed ; flagellum cylindrical, the first two funicle-joints subequal, longest of the flagellum, each over a half longer than the fourth (distal) funicle-joint, which is subquadrate. Parap- sidal furrows complete; scutellum with a transverse groove before apex. Propodeum with a median carina, which divides at base; its spiracle round. Postmarginal vein nearly as long as the marginal, the stigmal shorter. Pronotum rather large. Abdomen long and pointed, conic-ovate, produced beneath near base. Forewings obscurely stained. Femora subsimple. Scutellum broadening distad. Mandibles 4-dentate, the inner tooth truncate and broad. Eyes naked.

3. The same, the abdomen depressed.

Type.—Amerostenus australiensis, new sp.

AMEROSTENUS AUSTRALIENSIS, new sp.

Q. Bright metallic blue-green, the antennez, cox, and femora concolorous, also the tibiz along proximal half, the remainder of the legs reddish-brown. Venation dusky-brown. Forewings obscurely stained. Body densely reticulated, the scutellum and parapsides not as rough as the scutum. Length, 0°20 mm.

$. The tibie all dark. Length, 4:50 mm.

Described from one male and three females on a card.

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Type.—Il. 1255, South Australian Museum. The above specimens and a slide with a head. Later two more females were found belonging to the same series and labelled ‘‘Bred from wood.”’

80 PODAGRIONIN Ai.

PODAGRIONELLA, Girault.

PODAGRIONELLA HYALINA, new sp.

Q. Dark metallic-green, the wings hyaline. Venter of abdomen and the legs, excepting coxz and the posterior femora, reddish-brown, the coxze concolorous, the caudal femora with more or less metallic-green. Antennz fuscous, the scape metallic toward tip. Posterior femora with eight teeth, the third one minute, barely indicated, the others dis- tinct, the first longest. Distal funicle-joints wider than long, the club enlarged, deep-black and solid. Petiole of abdomen very short. Propodeum without lateral carine, the median carina V-shaped from base, each arm running meso-caudad. Ovipositor black, longer than the body. Stigmal vein very short. Length, 2°20 mm., excluding ovipositor.

3. Not known.

Described from one female on a card.

Hab.—Queensland: Longreach (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1256, South Australian Museum. The above specimen; one slide bearing posterior leg and antenna.

MEGASTIGMIN 2A. Mecasticmus, Dalman.

Synonym: XANTHOSOMOIDES, Girault. The antennal club in this genus is 3-jointed, the joints not very distinct, hence the antennz 13-jointed. There is but one ring-joint.

MEGASTIGMUS MACULATIPENNIS, Girault.

One female like this species, but the propodeum nearly wholly ochreous, the abdomen with at least two trans- verse brownish stripes across proximal half and the first funicle-joint twice longer than broad at apex. Labelled “Adelaide. Barringer.” Reared from a gall.

MEGASTIGMUS TASMANIENSIS, new sp.

A Tasmanian species, black with a yellow collar, was labelled ‘“Reared from larve of flies attacking Helichryrum scorpioides. R. A. Black.’’ They were accidentally destroyed. However, the collar and the legs (except cox) and the lower third of the face, lemon-yellow. Antenne brownish, the first funicle-joint only a third longer than broad.

Type.—l. 1257, South Australian Museum. One slide— posterior legs, antenne, and two heads.

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MEGASTIGMUS LONGICAUDA, new sp.

Q. Like fulvipes but much less robust, the ovipositor greatly lengthened, distinctly much longer than the whole body. The first funicle-joint twice longer than broad, sub- equal to the pedicel, the second somewhat shorter. Pedicel long. Length, 2°85 mm., excluding ovipositor.

3. Not known.

Described from one female.

Hab.—South Australia: Port Lincoln (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I, 1258, South Australian Museum. The above specimen.

MEGASTIGMUS FUSCICORNIS, new sp.

Q. Like maculatipenms but the propodeum black, the pedicel of the antenna short and equal to the first funicle-joint, which is only about a fourth longer than wide at apex, sub- equal to the second joint ; also the ovipositor is shorter. Length, 2°40 mm., exclusive of ovipositor, which is distinctly shorter than the body.

3d. Not known.

Described from a single specimen.

Hab.—Tasmania: Burnie (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l1. 1259, South Australian Museum.

EURYTOMIN 2. PHYLLOXEROXENUS, Ashmead. PHYLLOXEROXENUS FUSCIPENNIS, new sp.

3. Reddish-yellow, the antennz, the legs (including coxe), and the face honey-yellow; propodeum, the abdomen with its long petiole, cephalic margin of mesonotum, the centre of the occiput, dorsad, and the area containing the ocelli black, the marginal vein fuscous; submarginal vein mostly pallid. Forewing smoky out beyond the end of the stigmal vein from base, accented under the marginal vein and inter- rupted by several longitudinal false veins. Umbilicately punctate. Mesopleurum more or less black. Marginal vein thickened, nearly twice the length of either the stigmal or postmarginal, which are short and subequal. Antenne 10- jointed, one large ring-joint, the joints following long and cylindrical, subpedunculate, the distal funicle-joint only about two-thirds the length of the proximal, shortest of the funicle, shorter than the club-joint. Posterior tibia with one spur. Length, 3°75 mm.

©. Not known.

Described from one male on a card.

Hab.—Queensland: Cairns (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1260, South Australian Museum.

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Brucnopuacus, Ashmead. BRUCHOPHAGUS NIGER, new sp.

Q. Black, the wings hyaline, the venation pallid; abdomen smooth and shining, the fourth and fifth segments longest, the fifth somewhat longer than the fourth, either much longer than any of the others, the sixth transverse. Antenne 11-jointed, the club enlarged, black, the scape ful- vous, the first funicle-joint twice the length of the pedicel and longest, the funicle-joints bevelled off at each end along one side. Knees, tips of tibie, and tarsi pallid-yellow. Length, 2°85 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from one female. |

Hab.—Queensland: Mount Tambourine (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1261, South Australian Museum. The above specimen; a Slide bearing posterior legs and antenna.

Kurytoma, Illiger. EKURYTOMA LINCOLNI, new sp.

. ©. Black, punctate, the abdomen reddish except at proximal third dorsad, the wings hyaline, the flagellum (in- cluding pedicel) black, the scape brownish at extreme base; legs, except cox, red-brownish, paler at the tarsi; petiole of the abdomen black. Postmarginal vein slightly longer than the stigmal. Tegule brown. Funicle-joints ovate, the first longest, much larger than the pedicel. Length, 2°50 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from one female. Respectfully dedicated to Abraham Lincoln.

Hab.—South Australia: Port Lincoln (A. M. Lea).

Type.—i. 1262, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide with an antenna and posterior leg.

PHYLLOXEROXENOIDES, new gen.

Q. Differing from Phylloxeroxenus, Ashmead, in hav- ing the funicle-joints of the antenna transverse after the first ; antenne l1-jointed. Posterior tibia with one spur.

Type.—The following species.

PHYLLOXEROXENOIDES NIGER, New sp.

©. Black, the abdomen shining, the wings hyaline, the postmarginal and stigmal veins nearly equal; pronotum with a yellowish spot on each side, cephalad; venation pallid. Abdominal petiole short but distinct. Legs, except the cox proximad, and the scape, except toward the tip, reddish- brown, the flagellum reddish-brown distad of the third funicle- joint, clavate; first funicle-joint subquadrate, not quite as

\

83

long as the pedicel ; other funicle-joints subequal in length but widening. Club ovate, wider than funicle, its first joint over twice wider than long. Posterior femur nearly all black. Length, 2°50 mm.

3. Not known.

From one specimen.

Hab.—Queensland: Mount Tambourine (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1263, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide with antenna and posterior legs.

MERISIN At. ROPTROCERINI.

ORMYROMORPHA, new gen.

Agreeing with Trzbwus, Foerster, but the posterior tibiz with but a single spur, which is very long, as long as the proximal joint of the tarsi. Antennze with three ring-joints and a solid club, 11-jointed, all the funicle-joints wider than long, shorter than the pedicel, and subpedunculate. Abdomen subsessile, stout, conic-ovate, somewhat longer than the head and thorax combined, densely polygonally reticulated or scaly and with numerous scattered thimble punctures. Forewings banded, the stigmal and postmarginal veins rather long, sub- equal, each about two-thirds the length of the marginal. Pro- podeum with a median carina two-thirds complete, but no lateral ones nor sulci. Parapsidal furrows indicated only latero-cephalad. Mandibles both tridentate. Propodeal spiracle armed with a tuft of white hairs; mesonotum pubescent, as in Catolaccus nearly; intermediate tarsi yellowish-white.

3d. Unknown. Type.—The following species.

ORMYROMORPHA TRIFASCIATIPENNIS, new sp.

Q. Dark metallic blue-green, the pro- and meso-notum green, the abdomen darker; legs concolorous, the flagellum brownish (including pedicel). Forewings with three black stripes, the middle longest, the first across from the base of the marginal vein, the second from the whole of the postmarginal vein, its proximal margin convexed, the third around the apex; of the two white stripes included between them, the first is longest. Head and thorax finely shagreened, the inci- sions of abdominal segments smooth. Length, about 2°50 mm.

Described from a single female from Port Lincoln and two others from Sydney.

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Hab.—South Australia: Port Lincoln; and New South Wales: Sydney (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1264, South Australian Museum. The above specimen ; a slide with head and posterior legs (and the same appendages of the following species).

ORMYROMORPHA TRIFASCIATA, new Sp.

Q. The same as the preceding species but stouter, more robust, and differing specifically: the stigmal and postmar- ginal veins are longer, the angle between them somewhat less ; the middle stripe is longer, its distal margin also convexed, while the third stripe is shorter, just around the distal edge, while the two white stripes are equal in length; the stigmal vein is a little longer than the postmarginal; the abdominal segments are longer and somewhat more distinctly reticulated ; the antennal joints differ in that they are all somewhat longer in the funicle and that the scape and pedicel are also brown; in the first species the second funicle-joint is longer than the first, but in trzfasciata the second is shorter than the first. The abdomen is convex ventrad. Length, 3 mm.

3g. Unknown.

From a female on a card.

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1265, South Australian Museum. The above specimen with the appendages on a slide as noted above.

SPHEGIGASTERINI. PARURIOS, new gen.

PARURIOS AUSTRALIANA, new sp.

@. Shining reddish-brown, the legs concolorous, also the scape and pedicel; first two funicle-joints and the club whitish, the intervening five joints black or nearly. Abdomen with a broad darker stripe across base, a narrower one across the middle and with the conical distal third of the same dark colour, but dorsad also washed with more or less metallic- green; a broad band of opaque black across the mesonotum at the base of the forewings, the band concaved at the meson. Wings very small, casually apparently absent but with a very long marginal vein, the stigmal and postmarginal veins short but subequal; the cephalic margin bearing long stout bristles, the disc of the wing with a large fuscous cloud from the distal third of the marginal vein, the whole blade light-brown, densely pubescent distad and nearly truncate at apex; pos- terior wings perfect. Parapsidal furrows nearly meeting caudad. Propodeum with a median carina, whose middle is

85

crossed by a semicircular carina and whose apex is divided or forked. Second segment of abdomen over a third the length of that region. Antenne 12-jointed, without a ring-joint, the first funicle-joint longest of the funicle, but not as long as the pedicel. Mesoscutum conical caudad, the light parapsidal furrows close together caudad and short, curving off laterad ; scutellum with a cross line of fovee at distal third; pro- podeal spiracle elliptical; no true lateral carina but several carine laterad of the spiracle along lateral margin and a short one caudo-mesad of the spiracle from caudad. Thorax with scattered, long, black bristles. Thorax alutaceous, with some punctures in the cross band of black, the propodeum not punctate. Abdominal petiole longitudinally striate. Other- wise like the type species of Urios, but the antennz are in- serted on a line with the ventral ends of the eyes, the scape very long. Mandibles with the third tooth obtuse, not broad and truncate. Length, 3°50 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from a female labelled “Rotting leaves.”’

Hab.—New South Wales: Ourimbah.

Type.—I. 1266, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a head plus a posterior leg in xylol-balsam, one slide.

Differing from the single North American species of Urios in lacking a ring-joint in the antennez, the propodeal median groove and sulci, the shape of the meso-thoracic sclerites, the lower antennal insertion, the infuscated wings, and ringed antennz, the slight and short parapsidal furrows. With a distinct lelapine habitus. Probably inhabiting the nest of ants.

ISOPLATINI.

ISOPLATOIDES, new gen.

QO. With the habitus of the Pteromaline but the median carina and spiracular sulci absent on the propodeum. Head normal, the antennze inserted below the middle of the face but slightly above an imaginary line drawn between the ventral ends of the eyes, 13-jointed, with two ring-joints, the first funicle-joint subquadrate, narrow, and smallest, the second the longest, as long as the pedicel, club short, ovate, slightly wider than the funicle. At least one mandible tridentate, the inner tooth broad. Parapsidal furrows com- plete but shallow; propodeum short. Wings fasciate, the marginal vein long, the postmarginal also long, three-fourths the length of the marginal and a fourth longer than the long and slender stigmal vein. Abdomen sessile, conic-ovate, flat above, convex beneath, about as long as the head and thorax

86 q

combined. Tibial spur single. Spiracle of propodeum round, |

the lateral carine present. i do. Not known. Type.—The following species (bifasciatus ).

ISOPLATOIDES BIFASCIATUS, new. sp.

Q. Dark metallic-green, the scape and tarsi fulvous, rest of legs and antenne black or nearly; knees and tips of tibie lighter; venation fuscous; forewings with two fuscous stripes across them, the first from the base of the marginal vein, the second from the postmarginal vein, the first length- ening caudad, its distal margin obliqued caudo-distad, the second extends nearly to the apex, but leaves the subhyaline apical margin. Head and thorax (including the propodeum) densely punctate. Funicle-joints third to sixth subquadrate, sixth slightly wider than long; basal club-joint long, equal to half the length of the club. Length, 2°25 mm.

Described from one female.

fHab.—South Australia: Port Lincoln (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1267, South Australian Museum. The above specimen minus abdomen and a slide bearing head and pos- terior tibia.

ISOPLATOIDES BIPUSTULATUS, new sp.

@. The same as the preceding species but the legs, excepting the tarsi, reddish-brown, the antennez suffused with brown; median carina of metathorax distinct, complete, also the lateral carinze; forewings with two fuscous dots, the first reniform and from the apex of the submarginal vein, the second rounded and much smaller, in the centre of the blade, caudo-proximad of the knob of the stigmal vein; the wings nearly subhyaline otherwise. Antennze with the first funicle- joint shorter, more like a ring-joint. Otherwise structurally like the preceding. Length, 2 mm.

Hab.—Tasmania: Mount Wellington (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1268, South Australian Museum. The above specimen plus a slide with head and posterior leg.

This species 1s probably not congeneric with bifasciatus, though it agrees structurally with the exception of the median carina of the propodeum; spiracular sulci are probably pre- sent also, though I could not be sure. Unfortunately, I could not make out the dentation of the mandibles either.

LELAPIN A. NEAPTEROLELAPS, new gen.

Q. Agreeing with the description of Apterolelaps, Ash- mead, but the antenne only 12-jointed, with one ring-joint, the mesonotal furrows absent, the posterior tibie armed with

87

two very long spurs, one of which is comparatively enormous, much larger than the other. Wings entirely absent. Abdomen with a very short, transverse petiole, but the propodeum pro- longed into a hoodlike neck to meet it; no median carina on propodeum. Mandibles bi- and tri-dentate, in the latter the middle tooth shortest.

3. Not known.

Type.—The species described forthwith.

NEAPTEROLELAPS LODGEI, new Sp.

Q. Ferrugineus, the pronotum darker, the mesoscutum, a stripe across the abdomen before tip and the coxe (nearly) black; tibiz nearly black except at tip; funicle black, the club yellowish-white, the pedicel and ring-joint dark-fuscous. Second abdominal segment somewhat over half the length of the body of the abdomen; one spur of posterior tibie as long as the first two tarsal joints united, the other a half shorter ; posterior coxa with a tooth above just before apex. Pedicel longer than first funicle-joint, which is longest of the funicle, the distal joint wider than long. Scape somewhat dilated toward tip. Funicle-joints two and three subquadrate. Thorax coriaceus, clothed with recumbent hairs, which are not dense ; posteriorly mesoscutum bevelled off and smooth to the scutellum. Proximal tarsal-joint of caudal leg black or dark. Length, 2°15 mm.

Described from a female labelled “Rotting leaves.”’

Hab.—Queensland: Mount Tambourine (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1269, South Australian Museum. The above specimen plus a slide bearing head and posterior leg.

Respectfully dedicated to Sir Oliver J. Lodge for his interest in and contributions to a difficult field of Psychology, one of the highest importance to mankind but of the least acknowledged.

LELAPSOMORPHA, new gen.

Q. Agreeing with the foregoing but the antenne only 11-jointed with one ring-joint, the club solid, the posterior tibial spurs stout and unequal but normal in length, the wings fully developed and infuscated, and the propodeum with a median and lateral carina. Otherwise the same, there being no parapsidal furrows. Stigmal and postmarginal veins long and subequal. Mandibles tridentate, at least on one side. Second abdominal segment only a fourth the length of the body of the abdomen. Funicle-joints transverse, all much shorter than the pedicel. Maxillary palpi 3-jointed, the labial 2-jointed.

3. Not known.

Type.—The following species.

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LELAPSOMORPHA MYERSI, new sp.

Q@. Ferrugineus, the proximal half of the abdomen yellowish with one or two cross stripes of fuscous, the other half blackish, the lateral carine of the propodeum darkened. Legs yellowish-brown, the caudal coxa dark with a distinct purplish tinge proximad exteriorly, the caudal tibie fuscous. Antenne dusky-yellowish, the club and distal two funicle- joints yellowish-white. Forewings with a straight-margined brown stripe across it at the submarginal vein just out from apex where the stripe itself is accented in the form of a deeper-coloured round spot by a roundish cluster of hooklet- like black spines; distad a very large subspherical brownish spot across the wing from the postmarginal vein, the middle of its proximal margin narrowly joining the middle of the proxi- mal stripe, so that when looking up the wing (apicad) the large spot looks not unlike the bag of a gas balloon attached to the basket below it. Thorax with polygonal reticulation (scali- ness), the scutum with obscure thimble punctures. First funicle-joint only about twice the length of the ring-joint, the funicle widening distad. Length, 2 mm.

From a single specimen.

Hab.—South Australia: Port Lincoln (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1270, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide bearing posterior legs and head.

Respectfully dedicated to Frederic W. H. Myers, the psychologist.

EUPELMINI. PAROODERELLA, new gen.

@. The same as Ooderella, Ashmead, but the antennze 13-jointed with one ring-joint, the club 3-jointed ; front femora beneath emarginate near apex but unarmed; intermediate tarsi armed with comblike teeth. Wings mere scales. Pos- terior tibize with one spur.

3. Not known.

Type.—The species described herewith.

PAROODERELLA APTERA, new Sp.

Q. Very dark metallic-green, nearly black, the base of the abdomen with a silvery-white stripe across it above, nar- rower mesad, broader beneath; distal four antennal joints white; tarsi and knees yellowish; scape brownish. First funicle-joint longest, longer than the pedicel, the second and third nearly as long as the first, subequal. Mesoscutum punctate. Length, 3°25 mm.

Described from two specimens.

is " ae

89

Hab.—Queensland: Cairns (A. M. Lea). Type.—I. 1271, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide bearing legs and antenna.

OoDERELLOIDES, new gen.

Q. The same as the preceding but with perfect wings, the antennal flagellum (excepting pedicel) wholly black. Marginal vein long and slender, the stigmal and postmarginal subequal, moderate; forewing infuscated distinctly but lightly. First funicle-joint long, subequal to the pedicel, the ring-joint longer than wide or subquadrate, narrow. Valves of ovipositor exserted for a short distance beyond apex of the abdomen. Somewhat like Paraguaya, but with the ring-joint and only one tibial spur on the posterior legs.

3. Unknown.

Type.—The following species (nigripurpurea).

OODERELLOIDES NIGRIPURPUREA, new Sp.

@. Bluish-black, the head and thorax deep-blue; tip of Ovipositor valves, scape, and tarsi whitish; trochanters and tips of tibiz also white. Forewings lightly stained from the base of the marginal vein to apex. Distal two funicle-joints wider than long. Length, 3°60 mm.

From one specimen.

Hab.—Queensland: Cairns (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1272, South Australian Museum. The above specimen, the legs and an antenna on a slide.

OODERELLOIDES PAX, new sp.

Q. like the type species, but differing in the following particulars: —The abdomen is more depressed and somewhat longer, the valves of the ovipositor exserted somewhat farther, the exserted portion wholly black, the scutellum is not declivous as in the type and the stigmal vein is slightly shorter, straighter, and stouter. Otherwise, I cannot dis- tinguish them. Scutellum narrow cephalad, broadening dis- tad, wedgeshaped. Length, 4:10 mm.

Described from one female on a card.

Hab.—Queensland: Mount Tambourine (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1273, South Australian Museum. The above specimen on a tag and a slide bearing the legs and antenne.

OoDERELLOIDES SPLENDIDUS, new sp.

@. Brilliant metallic blue-green with purplish reflec- tions, the abdomen and mesopleurum coppery, the scape

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metallic-blue, the antenne black, the legs concolorous, the tips of tibiz and the tarsi whitish; exserted portion of the valves of the ovipositor as long as in paz, black at tip, its proximal two-thirds whitish. Forewings with a distinct dusky blotch from the marginal and postmarginal veins and slightly beyond, the apex hyaline and also the rest of the wing; two- thirds the way across to the caudal margin the blotch dis- appears or nearly, so that it 1s rectangular, but irregularly so. Abdomen shaped as in par. Otherwise as in the preceding species, excepting that the venation and scutellum differ some- what in details. Length, 3 mm.

Described from a single female.

Hab.—New South Wales: Lawson (A. M. Lea).

Type.—1. 1274, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and a slide bearing an antenna and the legs.

PARASOLINDENIA, new gen.

@. Running to Solindenia, Cameron, but differing at once in the wings, which are vestigial, small but perfect, and banded with black; the head is not wider than the thorax, triangular from cephalic aspect ; antenne 13-jointed, one ring- joint, the club 3-jointed. The small wings with a long, rather broad, marginal vein, a very short stigmal with a knob, the postmarginal absent or nearly, the blade densely hispid except in places. Submarginal vein long, the costal cell wide.

3. Not known.

Type.—The following species.

PARASOLINDENIA HEMIPTERA, New Sp.

Q. Head and abdomen dark metallic-green, the thorax reddish, the legs concolorous with it ; a white band across base of abdomen ; proximal half of antenna yellowish-white (scape, pedicel, ring-joint, and first three funicle-joints, the third funicle-joint suffused with dusky), the rest black. Forewings fuscous and hispid from base of marginal vein to apex but interrupted more than half-way to the apex by a central, triangular naked and hyaline spot, which extends nearly to the margins from opposite sides. First funicle-joint longest but yet subequal to the third, the following shorten- ing, the club shorter than the scape. Head with a scaly sculpture, and also the thorax and abdomen, but less rough. Posterior wings hyaline. Length, 3°50 mm.

From one specimen on a card.

Hab.—Queensland: Cairns (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1275, South Australian Museum. The above specimen with a slide bearing legs, antenna, and forewing.

gi

CaLosoTerR, Walker. CALOSOTER COLEOPTERORUM, new sp.

Q. Metallic blue-black, the wings hyaline, the face with slight metallic-green; antenne and legs black, the tarsi brownish. Dimly, finely punctate. Antenne 13-jointed, the ring-joint longer than wide, the funicle-joints all shorter than the pedicel, joints two and three longest, joint one subquad- rate, slightly shorter than two; distal funicle-joint wider than long. Postmarginal and stigma] veins rather long, subequal, the stigmal curved, not half the length of the marginal. Pos- terior tibiz with two small spurs; intermediate tarsi with comblike teeth, the legs normal, but the cephalic femora some- what bent. Abdomen depressed, the ovipositor not exserted. Length, 4 mm.

3. Not known.

From one female on a card labelled ““Reared from wood.”

Hab.—Tasmania: Hobart (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1276, South Australian Museum. The above specimen, the legs and an antenna on a slide.

PTEROMALINI. Merraporus, Walker. MERAPORUS NIGRIVIRIDIS, new sp.

Q. Dark metallic-green, the head and thorax, excluding the propodeum, bronze; the abdomen shining-black; fore- wings with a rather obscure, round, stained spot against the submarginal vein just before its apex, otherwise hyaline. Legs, excepting coxz, deep-fuscous; antennz black, the scape and pedicel brownish. Marginal vein only slightly longer than the stigmal, the latter slightly longer than the postmarginal. Punctate. Propodeal spiracle long-elliptical, the lateral carinze complete, the median carina half complete from base, the propodeum with a distinct neck. Second abdominal seg- ment a third the length of the abdomen, the third segment a half smaller, the others much shorter. Parapsidal furrows shghtly more than half complete. Mandibles 4-dentate. Pedicel much longer than the first funicle-joint, which is longest of the funicle, cup-shaped, the next joint only slightly shorter, the distal joints becoming wider than long. Second ring-joint twice the size of the first; funicle-joints widening distad. Antenne 13-jointed, the club 3-jointed, not enlarged. Clypeus striate. Length, 2°25 mm.

g. Not known.

Hab.—King Island (A. M. Lea).

Type.—\. 1277, South Australian Museum. The above specimen with the head and posterior leg on a slide.

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EKUCHARID. NEOKAPALA, new gen. Type.—The following species.

NEOKAPALA FURCATELLA, new Sp.

Q. Dark metallic-green, the propodeum, abdomen, and head blue; legs fuscous, the antennz black with brownish club and scape, 1l-jointed, no ring-joint. Forewings infuscated distad of the distal end of the marginal vein (more proximad at caudal margin), the infuscation accented under the end of the margina] vein. Scutellum produced into a prong like the two arms of a tuning-fork, each prong about as long as the scutellum, brownish toward tip, flattened, the edges carinated ; scutellum longitudinally striate. Head shining; thorax umbilicately punctate. Abdominal petiole not as long as the arms of the scutellar process. Antenne with the funicle-joints produced from one side at apex, flattened, the club solid, ovate, the pedicel small and cupshaped, funicle-joints two and five longest, subequal, the first funicle-joint longer than the pedicel by far but cylindrical-oval, not produced. Length, 3°25 mm.

3. Unknown.

From one female on a card.

Hab.—Queensland: Cairns (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1278, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and an antenna on a slide.

Distinguished from Kapala, Cameron, by the scutellar processes, which are short, blunt at end, and forming a prong, which is high up over the base of the abdomen.

Genus, STILBULA, Spinola. STILBULA BIDENTATA, new Sp.

Q. Very dark metallic-green, the abdomen darker, the wings colourless, their veins very pale. Legs fuscous, the knees, posterior tibiz, and tarsi fulvous. Scutellum bidentate, the head circularly striate, the thorax roughly punctate in- cluding the propodeum, the rather long abdominal petiole pitted. Antenna 12-jointed, of the flagellum (excluding pedicel), the first joint longest, thrice the length of the short pedicel, the club-joint shortest; excluding the bulla, scape shorter than funicle one; antennze brownish toward tip; otherwise black; funicle-joints three and four subequal, each about somewhat over a half the length of joint one. Length, 3 mm.

3. Not known.

Described from one female on a card.

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Hab.—Queensland: Mount Tambourine (A. M. Lea). Type.—l. 1279, South Australian Museum: The above specimen and the antennz on a slide.

STILBULA AUSTRALIANA, new Sp.

Q. The same as the preceding but more greenish (dark- green), the scutellum similarly slightly produced but not bidentate and with a more or less obscure median grooved line, the axille divided by a more or less distinct foveate suture ; distal halves of femora, the tibize, and tarsi yellowish-brown. Abdomen as in Hucharis. In the antenne, the second, third, and fourth funicle-joints are subequal, somewhat longer than wide, the first joint longest, narrowing proximad. Length, 3°10 mm.

3. Unknown.

From one female.

Hab.—Queensland: Mount Tambourine (A. M. Lea).

Type.—l. 1280, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and an antenna on a Slide.

PsitLtocasterR, Blanchard. PSILOGASTER PULCHER, new sp.

3. Metallic zneous-green, the abdomen dark; scape and pedicel yellow, the wings slightly stained, the legs, except coxee, straw-yellow, the posterior femora washed with fuscous ; venation brown, the postmarginal vein long. Scutellum with a median grooved line, otherwise simple and normal. Rugu- losely punctate. Antennz 10-jointed, the joints long and cylindrical, the club shortest, the first funicle-joints longer than the scape; distal funicle-joint subequal to the club; pedicel cup-shaped, very short. Length, 4°5 mm.

2. Not known.

From one male on a card. Differs from Brullé’s pallipes, apparently, in having 10-jointed antenne, though it should be compared with that species.

Hab.—Tasmania: Mount Wellington (A. M. Lea).

Type.—I. 1281, South Australian Museum. The above specimen and an antenna on a slide.

(EucHaRIs) PsILoGasTER THEOCLES (Walker), Sydney, New South Wales.

This species must be placed here.

PSILOGASTEROIDES, new gen.

d. Agreeing with Psilogaster, Blanchard, but having 12-jointed antennez ; first funicle-joint long, the others short.

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2. Not known.

Type.—Lucharis fausta, Walker.

Hab.—-Tasmania: Hobart.

The following of Walker’s species: —Hucharis valgius, Sydney, New South Wales; Hucharis eribotes, Sydney, New South Wales.

CHALCURELLA, new gen.

d. The same as Chalcura, Kirby, but the antenne with paired branches, the funicle-joints distad of the third, bearing a pair of branches from the apex of each joint, opposite, and forming a prong like the two arms of a tuning-fork ; the second two joints of the funicle bearing but a single branch, the branches hairy ; first funicle-joint very long, widening distad ; the second, third, fourth, and fifth short; the sixth and follow- ing lengthening, slender, becoming as long as the first; scutellum with a median groove. Scape short. Stigmal vein quadrate, the wings hyaline. Abdomen as in Lucharis. Propodeum with a broad,