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THE
PROCEEDINGS
LiNNEAN Society
NEW SOUTH WALES.
FOR THE YE^R 1892.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED FOR THE SOCIETY
BY
F. CUNNINC4HAME & CO., 146 PITT STREET. SOLD BY THE SOCIETY.
isys
0^.'^^ (V
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CONTENTS OP VOL. YLL
(SECOISriD SERIES.)
PART I.
(Issried September 1st, 1S02.)
PAGE Contributions to a more exact Knowledge of the Geographical Distri- bution of Australian Batrachia. No. iii. By J. J. Fletcher ... 7
A Monograph of the Temnocephahoi. Part i. By Professor W. A.
Haswell. [Title.] 19
Notes on some specimens of Plants collected at King George's Sound
by Mr. H. Willis. By the Rev. W. Woolls, Ph.D., F.L.S. ... 25
On Panax Gum. By J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., &c 35
Studies in Australian Entomology. No. v. — Notes on the Sub-family Broscini (GarabidceJ, with Descriptions of new Species, By Thomas G. Sloane 45
Notes on Australian Coleoptera, with Descriptions of new Species.
Part XL By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B.A., Corr. Mem 65
Notes on Australian Cynipidm, with Descriptions of several new Species. By Walter W. Froggatt 152
Observations on the Charopidw. Part i. By C. Hedley, F.L.S.
(Plates L and II.) 157
A second undescribed Form of Womerah from Northern Australia, By R. Etheridge, Junr., Palaeontologist to the Australian Museum, and Geological Survey of N. S. Wales. (Plate iii.) ... 170
Elections and Announcements 1,21,42
Donations 1, 21, 42
Notes and Exhibits 20,40,174
27775
IV. CONTENTS.
PART II.
(Issued Xovember 22nd, 1803.)
PAGE
A viviparous Australian Peripatus (P. leuckartii, Sang.). By J. J.
Fletcher, M.A., B.Sc 179
Jottings from the Biological Laboratory of the Sydney University. By Professor W. A. Haswell, M.A., D.Sc.
No. 16. — Note on the Occurrence of a Flagellate Infusorian as an Inti'a-cellular Parasite .. 197
Catalogue of the Described Hymenoptera of Australia. Part II. By W. W. Froggatt 205
On twenty new Species of Australian Lepidoptei-a. By T. P. Lucas,
M.K.C.S.E., L.S.A., Lond., L.R.C.P.Ed 249
Further Notes on the Oviparity of the larger Victorian Peripatus,
generally known as P. hucl-artii. By Arthur Dendy, D.Sc. ... 267
List of twenty Species of Mosses collected at Lord Howe Island. By T. Whitelegge, F.R.M.S 277
Notes on Australian Coleoptera, with Descriptions of New Species.
Part XII. By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B.A., Corr. Mem. ... 2S3
Note on a new Decapodous Crustacean, Prosojpofi Ethefidgei, H. Woodw., from the Cretaceous of Queensland. By Henry Woodward, LL.D., F.R.S., of the British Museum, London (Plate iv.) ... 301
Note on Queensland Cretaceous Crustacea. By R. Etheridge, Junr. 305
On Leaia MitcheUi, Etheridge, fil., from the Upper Coal Measures of the Newcastle District. By R, Etheridge, Junr., Palaeontologist to the Australian Museum, and Geological Survey of N. S. Wales 307
On the Genus Perm?7a. By C. Hedley, F.L.S 311
Elections and Announcements 202
Donations > 175,202,279
Notes and Exhibits 200,277,
PART III.
(Issued March 16th, 1893.)
PAGE
Observations on the Poisonous Constituents of the Venom of the Australian Black Snake ( P'^eudtrhU ^Jorp/tyriixc^sJ. By C. J. Martin-, M.B., B.Sc 319
Gall-making Buprestiils. By Walter W. Froggatt 323
*0n the Pliocene Mollasca of New Zealand. By Professor F. W.
Hptton, F.R.S., Hon. Mem. L.S.N. S.W. [Title.^ 327
* Contributions to our Knowledge of Ceratodm. Part I. — The Blood
Vessels. By Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A. [Title.} ... 327
* Notes on an Undescribed Acacia from New South Wales. By Baron
von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. & Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S. [Title.]... 327
Some New South Wales Plants Illustrated. By R. T. Baker. No. ii.
Tarrietia argyrodendron, 'Benth. (Plate v.)... ... ... ... 333
The Range of Placostylns ; a Study in Ancient Geography. By C.
Hedley, F.L.S 335
Jottings from the Biological Laboratory of the Sydney University.
By Professor W. A. Haswell, M.A., D.Sc.
No. 17. — Three Zoological Novelties 340
* Observations upon the Anatomy of the Muzzle of Ornithorhynchus.
By Professor .J. T. Wilson, M.B., and C. J. Martin, M.B., B.Sc. [Title.] 343
*0n the ]3eculiar Rod-like Tactile Organs in the Integument and Mucous Membrane of the Muzzle of Oriiithorhyiichus. By Professor J. T. Wilson, M.B., and C. J. Martin, M.B., B.Sc. [Title.] 343
Note on the Occurrence of certain Fossils in previously unrecoi'ded localities in N.S.W., with Remarks on the Correlation of certain Beds in the Newcastle and Illawarra Districts. By John Mitchell 345
^Description of a new Hakea from Eastern New South Wales. By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. & Ph.D., F.R.S., and J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., F.C.S. [Title.] 352
Notes on the Family Brarhyscelidm, with some Account of their Para- sites, and Descriptions of new Species. Part i. By Walter W. Froggatt. (Plates vi.-vii.) 353
» Papers marked with an asterisk will be published in the Macleay Memorial Volume.
PART III. (continued).
PAGE
Note on the Fructification of (?fo.s.so/)^em-. By John Mitchell ... 377
Observations on certain Undescribecl Gall-making Goccidoi of the Sub-
FsLinily Brachyscelince. By A. Sidney Olliff. [Title.] 378
Some New South Wales Plants Illustrated. By R. T. Baker. No. iii.
Acacia 23UClioiiifo7'niis, \Yendl. (Plate viii.)... ... ... ... 379
On the supposed New Zealand Species of Lepto2')0)na. By O. F. von
MOELLENDORFF, Ph.D. ... 385
Schizoglosaa : a new Genus of Carnivorous Snails. By C. Hedley,
F.L.S. (Plates IX. -X.) 387
Note on Gastrodia sesavioides, R.Br. By the Rev. W. Woolls, Ph.D.,
F.L.S 393
Oological Notes. By Alfred J. North, F L.S.
i.^Notes on the Nesting-place and Eggs of Halcyon sordidus,
Gould .395
ii. — Notes on the Nesting-place and Eggs of Cyauorhamphiis
rayneri, G. R. Gray .. 397
Modifications of the Billetta or Gnalealing Wonierah. By R. Ethe-
RIUGE, Junr. (Plate XI.) 399
Description of a new Tree-frog from New South Wales. By G. A.
Boulenger. 403
*Observations on the Myology of PaUiianis Edwardaii. By Professor T. Jeffery Parker, D.Sc, F.R.S., and .Josephine Gordon Rich. [Title.] 410
*0n Parmarochlea Fischeri, Smith. By C. Hedley, F.L.S. [Title.] ... 410
*0n the Geographical Relations of the Floras of Norfolk and Lord Howe
Islands. By Professor Ralph Tate, F.L.S., F.G.S [Title.] ...410
Revision of the Australian Amarygmides. By the Rev. T. Blackburn,
B.A., Corr. Mem. Part i. The Genus Chalcoptervs 411
Elections and Announcements 315, 329, 348, 374, 381, 406
Donations 315,329,348,374,381,406
Notes and Exhibits 328,344,373,380,404
» Papers marked with an asterisk will be published in the Maclea}- Memorial Volume.
PART IV.
(Issued May 1st, 1S93.)
PAGE
Descriptions of some new AraneidcB of New South Wales. No. i.
By W. J. Rainbow. (Plate xii.) 471
Descriptions of Australian Micro-Lepidoptera. xvi. Tineidae. By E.
Meyrick, B.A., F.Z.S 477
Reference List of the Land and Fresh-Water MoUusca of New Zealand.
By C. Hedley and H. SuTER 613
Some New South Wales Plants Illustrated. No. iv. Acacia pruinosa,
Cunn. ByR. T.Baker. (Plate xiii.) 666
Notes and Exhibits 667
President's Address 668
Office-bearers and Council for 1893 690
Title-page, Contents, Index to Vol. vii. (2nd Ser.), List of Plates and Corrigenda.
LIST OF Pl.ATICS
VOL. YII.
(second series).
Plates I. -II. — Tasmania!! species of Gharo2ja (G. bischoffen-sis, Bedd., C.
antialbci, Bedd., C. gadensis, Bedd., and C. albaiiemis, Cox). Plate III. — Sword-like Womerah from Northern Australia. Plate IV. — Prosopon Etheridgei, Woodw. Plate V. — Tarrietia argyrodcndron, Benth. Plates VI. -VII. — Brachyscelid galls and coeciils. Plate VIII. — Acacia pugioniformis, Wendl. Plates IX. -X. — Schizoglossa novoseelandica, Pfr. (sp.). Plate XI. — Billetta or Gnalealing Womerah. Plate XII. — Australian Spiders (Slephano]^^ aspera, Rainb., and Gycloctentis
abyssinus, Urq.). Plate XIII. — Acacia pruinoAa, Cunn.
CORRIGENDA.
Page 104 — The number of this page was inadvertently omitted.
Page 243, last line but one — for Trigonia carbonaria read Trigona
carbonaria. Page 300, line 10 — before sat brevoribus insert quam 4"**. Page 333, line 19— for T. trifolialata read T trifoliolata. Page 346, line 25 — for G. ienreopteroides read G. tceniopteroide'-:. Page 405, line 9 —for Nfeggerathiopsis. read Noggerathiopsis. Pa"e 418, line 12 — for G. ttnthracinum read G. anthracinm. Page 452, line 32— for G. loginsculiis read G. lovgiusctdus.
IPI^OCEEIDinsrG-S
LINNEAN SOCIETY
2>TE'^v7;7- SOTJim ■^XT'-.a^XjES.
WEDNESDAY, 27th JANUARY, 1892.
The President, Professor Haswell, M.A., D.Sc, in the Chair.
Mr. "W. J. Rainbow was elected a Member, and Miss Sarah Hynes, B.A., an Associate Member of the Society.
Donations (since the Meeting in November, 1891).
"Department of Agriculture, Brisbane — Bulletin." Nos. 12 and 13 (November-and December, 1891). From the Secretary of Agriculture.
" Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society." Vol. v.. No. 3 (1890). From the Society.
" Transactions of the Entomological Society of London for the year 1891." Part 3 (October). From the Society.
Z DONATIONS.
" Zoologischer Aiizeiger." xiv. Jahrg., Nos. 359 and 375-379 (1891). From the Editor.
"Australian Museum — Report of the Trustees for 1890;" "Records." Vol. i., No. 10 (December, 1891). From the Trustees.
South Australia — " Reports on Coal-bearing Area in neighbour- hood of Leigh's Creek " (1891). By the Government Geologist. From the Author.
"Annals of the Queensland Museum." No. 1 (1891). From the Museum,.
" Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales." Vol. ii., Parts 10 and 11 (October and November, 1891). From the Director of Agriculture.
" Bulletin de la Soci6te Royale de Geographie d'Anveis." Tome xvi., 1'"® Fascicule (1891). From the Society.
"Gesellschaft fiir Erdkunde zu Berlin — Verhandlungen." Band xviii., Nos. 7 and 8 (1891); " Zeitschrift." Band xxvi., Nos. 4 and 5 (1891). From the Society.
Three Conchological Pamphlets. By Edgar A. Smith. From , the Author.
Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, 1891." Part 5 (October). From the Society.
" United States National Museum — Proceedings." Vol. xiv., Nos. 851, 857, 864, 865, 867-879 (1891). From the Museum.
" United States Department of Agriculture — Division of Ento- mology— Insect Life." Vol. iv., Nos. 1-4 (October and November, 1891). From the Secretary of Agriculture.
" Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College." Vol. xvi., No. 10 (September, 1891). Fi^om the Curator.
" The Pharmaceutical Journal of Australasia." Vol. iv., Nos. 11 and 12 (November and December, 1891). Froin the Editor.
DONATIONS. 3
" Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Archives." Vol. xii., Nos. 10 and 11 (October and November, 1891). From the Editor.
"The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society." Vol. xlvii., Part 4, No. 188 (November, 1891) ; " List of the Society" (November, 1891). From the Society.
" Reichenbachia — Orchids illustrated and described." By F. Sander. Second series, Vol. i.. Parts 7 and 8 ; " Berliner Euto- mologische Zeitschrift." Band xxxiv., Heft 1 (1891) ; "Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung." lii. Jahrg., Nos. 4-6 (1891). Fro7n the Eon. Sir William Macleay, M.L.C., F.L.S.
" Joui'nal of the College of Science. Imperial University of Japan." Vol. iv.. Part 2. From the Director.
" Iconography of Australian Salsolaceons Plants." Decade viii. By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.C, F.R.S. From the Premier of Victoria, through the Librarian, Public Library, Melbourne.
"The Victorian Naturalist." Vol. viii., Nos. 8 and 9 (Decem- ber, 1891, and January, 1892) From the Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria.
" The Perak Government Gazette." Vol. iv., Nos. 35-39 (November and December, 1891). From the Government Secretary.
" Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete der Naturwissenschaften herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein in Hamburg." Band xi., Heft 2 and 3 (1891). From the Society.
"Bulletin de la Societe d'Etudes Scientifiques d' Angers." n.s. T. xix. (1889). From the Society.
"Journal de Conchyliologie." 3™® S^rie, Tome xxx., Nos. 1-4 (1890). From tJie Society.
"Memoires de I'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de St. Peters- bourg." vii® Serie, Tome xxxviii., Nos. 2 and 3 (1891). From the Society.
4: DONATIONS.
"The Missouri Botanical Garden — Second Annual Report." From the Director.
" Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila- delphia, 1891." Part 1. From the Society.
"Annual Reports of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for the years 1888 and 1889." " The Forest Trees of North America." By Asa Gray (1891). From the Smithsonian Institution.
" Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society." Vol. vii., Parts 4 and 5 (1891). From the Society.
" Bulletin de la Societe Beige de Microscopie." xvii™" Annee, No. 10 ; xviii"^" Annee, No. 1 (October, 1891). From the Society.
" Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom." n.s. Vol. i., Nos. 1-3 (1889-90); Vol. ii., No. 2 (November, 1891). From, the Association.
" Zoological Society of London — -Transactions." Vol. xiii.. Part 3 (October, 1891); "Proceedings for the year 1891." Parts 2 and 3 (August and Octobei', 1891); "Abstracts," 3rd November, 1891, 17th November, and 1st December, 1891. From the Society.
" The Australasian Joux'nal of Pharmacy." Vol. vi., No. 72 (December, 1891). From the Editor.
Queensland — " Annual Progress Report of the Geological Survey for the year 1890." From R. L. Jack, Esqr., Government
" Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte." Ivii. Jahrg., Band i., Heft 2 (1891). From the Editor.
"Jahreshefte des Vereins fiir vaterlandische Naturkunde in Wiirttemberg." xl vii. Jahrg. (1891). From the Society.
"Horse Societatis Entomologicse Rossicse." T. xxv. (1890- 1891). From the Society,
DONATIONS. 0
" Abhandlungen heraiisge2;eben von der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft." Band xvi., Heft 3-4 (1891). From the Society.
" University of Melbourne — Calendar for 1892 ; Examination Papers," November, 1891 ("Matriculation"). From the Uni- versity.
"Journal of Comparative Neurology." Vol. i., Part 3 (October, 1891). From the Editor, Professor C. L. Herrich.
" The Canadian Record of Science." Vol. iv., Nos. 6 and 7 (1891). From the Society.
" Journal and Proceedings of the Hamilton Association." Pait vii. (1890-91). From the Association.
"Johns Hopkins University Circulars." Vol. xi., Nos. 92 and 93 (November, 1891). From the University.
" Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science — Inaugural Address." By Sir Robert G. C. Hamilton, K.C.B., President (Hobart), Fourth Meeting (1891). Fromthe Associa- tion.
"Transactions and Proceedings and Report of the Royal Society of South Australia." Vol. xiv.. Part 2 (December, 1891). From the Society.
" A Summary of the Darwinian Theory of the Origin of Species." By Francis P. Pascoe, F.L.S., &c. From the Author.
"Hooker's Icones Plantarum." Third Series. Vols, i.-xi.. Part 3 (1867-91). From the Bentham Trustees, Keiv Gardens.
" Memoires de la Societe des Naturalistes de la Nouvelles Russie, Odessa." Tome xvi, No. 1 (1891); "Memoires Mathe- matiques." T. xiii. (1891). From the Society.
"L' Academic Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux Arts de Belgique— Annuaire " (1890 and 1891). " Bulletins." Third Series. Tomes xviii-xxi. (1889-91). From the Society.
b DONATIONS.
" Mittlieilungen aus der Zoologischen Station zu Neapel." Band x., Heft 1 (1891). From the Society.
" Victoria — Reports and Statistics of the Mining Department, for the quarter ended 30th September, 1891." From the Secretary for Mines.
"List of Snakes in the Indian Museum." By W. L. Sclater, M.A,, F.Z.S. From the Trustees.
''Archives N6erlandaises des Sciences exactes et Naturelles." Tome XXV., 3""^ et 4"''= Livraisons (1891). From the Society.
" Western Australia — Annual General Report of the Govern- ment Geologist for the year 1890." From the Author.
PAPERS READ.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO A MORE EXACT KNOWLEDGE
OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF
AUSTRALIAN BATRACHIA. No. iii.
By J. J. Fletcher.
This third small contribution records the collections which have coine to hand since June last. The subject is not by any means exhausted ; but as there is no immediate prospect of further supplies of material, the results so far gained may presently be briefly reviewed ; and with this, for the time being, one must be coutent.
(ii.) The inland division of N.S. W. (West of the Dividing Range).
(r) From Lucknow, near Orange (collected by Mr. W. W. Froggatt).
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Hyperolia marmorata
dorsalis Pseudophryne bihronii
Hyla ewingii, vslv. B.
Only one species in this collection calls for comment, namely II. efvingii, var. B (eleven specimens), characterised, as to most of the specimens, by the presence of even more spots and markings on the flanks and elsewhere than in var. A (calliscelis) and than I have ever previously seen. This is the first time, too, that the species has occurred in any of the collections from the inland division, and it is probably to be regarded as a straggler from the coast. Further references to these specimens will be found below.
(s) From Wellington Caves (collected by Mr. W. W. Froggatt). Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Fsetidophryne bihronii
5 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF AUSTRALIAN BATRACHIA,
(t) From Yass (collected by Mr. W. W. Froggatt).
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Crinia signifera
dorsalis Pseudojjhryne hibronii
Hyla ewingii, var. B (one specimen).
Syla aurea was seen also, but specimens were not brought. As in the collection from Lucknow, H. ewingii var., is here associated with some of the widely distributed species which are to be met with in any tolerably complete inland collection.
One or more specimens of a single species from a single station have been received as follows : — Limnodynastes dorsalis, Cooma (Dr. Cobb), Cowra (Rev. A. Fletcher) ; L. tasmaniensis, Weut- worth, N.S.W. (Mr. A. Sidney OUiff) ; Cryptotis brevis, Gosford (Mr. C. T. Masson). A third instalment of frogs from Dandaloo yielded nothing not previously sent : a supplementary collection forwarded by Mr. Sloane from Emu Plains, Tirana,, contained specimens of Hyla peronii, not previously obtained. Quite recently on the Blue Mts. I have found both Limnodynastes tasmaniensis and Hyla dentata to occur.
Two collections from South Queensland — one from the coast, the other from inland — may here be recorded.
(a) From Pim]iama, S. of Brisbane (collected by Miss A. Harding).
Limnodynastes peronii Hyperolia marmorata
Cryptotis brevis Pseudophryne coriacea
Hyla lesueurii
This collection was obtained during a very unfavourable season, and does not at all satisfactorily represent the batrachian fauna of the district. No peculiar Queensland species are included ; otherwise, as far as it goes, it shows a fauna very similar to tliat of our northern river districts, as was to be expected .
BY J. J. FLETCHER. V
(I)) From Waroo, Inglewood, about 60 miles west of Stanthorpe (collected by Mr. A. J. Ewen).
Livmodynastes tasmaniensis Pseudophryne coriacea
Crinia signifera Hyla lesueurii
Hyperolia marmorata lato^mlmafa
Fifty-seven living specimens were kindly forwarded in an ingeniously contrived vivarium by Mr. A. J. Ewen, through the kind raerliation of Mr. R. Etheridge, junr., of the department of Mines. In this collection the burrowers are conspicuously absent ; and there are no peculiar Queensland species ; but it is noticeable how inland, as well as on the coast, in about this latitude, P. coriacea seems to have more or less completely replaced P. hibronii, so common further south (recorded by me from eight inland stations, besides Benalla and Ballarat in the .southern colony) : otherwise, as far as it goes, it is a fairly typical inland collection.
A somewhat more extended and definite knowledge of the geographical distribution of Australian Batrachians appearing to be desirable, the best way of making a beginning seemed to be to obtain from as many localities as possible, more particularly extra-coastal ones, as complete collections as could be got together, and then to record them. Thanks very largely to a number of friends, to whom I freely acknowledge my indebtedness, a start for IST.S W. has been made. Collections from seven coastal stations (in this case rather districts), and from seventeen inland stations — besides four others from which single specimens or specimens of a single species are recorded, circumstances not allowing of collections being made — have been got together, comprising several hundred individuals, and in some cases form- ing good series. Collections from stations on the South Coast, on the Northern Tablelands, and especially on the Darling, and still further west, are, however, still desiderata ; and I should be very gla.d indeed to receive such, or promises of co-operation in obtaining them.
10 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OP AUSTRALIAN BATRACHIA,
Every collection recorded, doulitless only more or less, and some- times even very, incompletely represents the batrachian fauna of the particular locality whence it came. More particularly was this the case when the collectors were unprepared for burrowers, and when the collecting was not continued over a sufficiently long- period, preferably over several seasons.
In an interesting paper on " The Distribution of Fresh-water Fishes''* in Anaeiioa, Professor Jordan says: "It is easy to ascertidn the more common inhabitants of any given stream. It is difficult, however, to obtain negative results which are really results. You cannot often say that a species does not live in a certain stream. You can only affirm that you have not yet found it there ; and you can rarely fish in a stream so long that you can find nothing that you have not taken before." If in this extract for the words " stream" and "fish," wherever such occur, we substitute the words "district" and "collect," we shall have the case not less admirably stated as regards Batrachians.
In spite of the difficulties in the way of getting even approxi- mately complete collections, and in acquiring negative evidence of value, and though many desirable localities are still untouched, already certain conclusions, which further knowledge may extend but cannot otherwise very materially alter, may at this stage quite legitimately be drawn.
It is quite evident that batrachians ai'e to be found in the interior wherever the conditions allow of their existing, not only near the rivers, but at a distance from these wherever there are lakes, lagoons, or swamps, even though these are not always absolutely proof against frequent or long continued droughts. A newspaper reporter quite recently accompanying a Minister of the Crown on a journey to the Bogan just after the breaking-up of a dry season thus describes what he saw between Warren and Coonamble, N.S. W. : "The scenery was of the monotonous order peculiar to the plain country. There were great bare patches of miles in extent without a living thing to be seen except a few
* Trans. American Fisheries Society, 1888, p. 4.
BY J. J. FLETCHER. 11
slieep here and there, kangaroos, emus, plain turkeys, bronze- winged pigeons, . . . various kinds of ducks and other game.
. . . The country is indented here and there with shallow- depressions in the earth, which are filled with water after the rains, and sometimes form chains of ponds across the country."
At Emu Plains, some eighteen miles from the Murrum'oidgee, Mr. Sloane has been good enough to collect for me ; in this locality there are swamps, but they dry up every year about December, or exceptionally a month or two later ; in fact there is no perma- nent water except in the station dams ; nevertheless frogs are not scarce ; and though my friend is a busy man, and natural history tastes in quite another direction occupy his leisure, yet just about the homestead he has been able to collect seven species — only one less than the number at present recorded from Tasmania (Hyla verreauxii not being regarded as a distinct species). Here, as elsewhere, provided only that the frogs can live out the more or less lengthy perinds of aestivation, in some years more trying than in others, the ponds after rain, wherever the soil is not too sandy, are at times sufficiently permanent and sufficiently numerous, forming chains of ponds across the country as quoted above, to affiDrd a means whereby batrachians may be enabled to migrate from places where they have become established, and so to gain new stations ; or to re-people the old haunts should excessively dry seasons prove utterly disastrous. The possibility of spawn being carried to distant localities on the feet of aquatic birds need not be left out of consideration ; but I imagine the means of dispersal mentioned to be of prime importance, and that the great river-system of the interior of the colony is the main source of distribution and replenishment.
Secondly, whenever anything at all like a fairly characteristic collection is obtained, it will be found to comprise representatives ■of all three dominant Australian families. This is exemplified over and over again in the larger collections recorded.
Out of about fiity-four known Australian species New South Wales may be credited with about thirty -four, of which four [Uyla jervisensis, II . dimolops, 11. nasuta, and Hylella bicolor\
12 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF AUSTRALIAN BATRACHIA,
all from the coastal division, are not represented in my collections, but as a set-ofF to this two species \Hyla gracilenta and Phanerotis] have been added to the coastal fauna, and one [H. rubella] to the inland fauna. Of the thirty species met with, twenty-five belong to the coastal division, and eighteen* (not including Limnodynastes Jletcheri, for reasons given below) to the inland division, fourteen species being common to both. The fauna of the coastal division, the conditions being very favourable, is rich for the relatively small area, and is tolerably well known, not many new species in all probability remaining to be discovei'ed : its members may be roughly divided into four groups : (1) the species frequenting the semi-ti'opical brushes of our northern river districts, or the seques- tered gullies of the Blue Mts., or the Illawarra Range, such as Ilixophyes, Phanerotis, Cryj)totis, Limnodynastes peronii, Hyla gracilenta, H. phyllochroa, and H. lesueurii : (2) the swamp and river frogs, such as most of the species of Lini7iodynastes, Crinia signifera, and Hyla aurea : (3) the largely terrestrial tree-frogs which at least have recourse to water for breeding purposes, such as H. ewingii, H. ccerulea, H. dentata, and H. peronii : and (4) the terrestrial batrachians par excellence, mostly toads, frequenting damp places, but avoiding water, such as the species of Pseudo- phryne, and probably also Hyperolia marmorata.
The restriction of some species to the coastal division is explicable on the ground there only are to be found the natural conditions under which they flourish ; on the other hand we find some species inhabiting both regions under conditions of humidity, kc, and amid surroundings widely different.
One of the most marked differences between the coastal and inland faunas arises from the absence from the latter of the brush and gully-haunting frogs ; the balance is made up of three elements : (1) cosmopolitan species, (2) several peculiar species, of which two \Notaden and GhirolejJtes platycephalus] seem to be characteristic of the plain country, for neither of them has occurred in collections
* Excluding also Pseudophryne coriacea, Waroo being just a little north of the northern border of N.S.W.
BY J. J. FLETCHER. 13
from the Tablelands, and Mr. J. D. Cox and Mr. A. G. Hamilton, who know the Mudgee District well, never met with either of them, and (3) a few stragglers, sometimes from the east, in collec tions from the Tablelands, as Limnodynastes peronii (one specimen) in the collection from Guutawang, close to the western slope of the Dividing Range, and Ilyla etvingii var. in the collections from Yass and Lucknovv ; sometimes, however, apparently from the north, as Limnodynastes ornatus at Guntawang, Hyla rubella at Dandaloo and Bearbong, and perhaps H. latopalmata, though this may be a widely distributed notthern inland species at about its southern limit. In any case, the distribution of some of our species cannot be satisfactorily dealt with until more is known of the distribution of Queensland species.
That the Dividing Range does not separate two move widely divergent faunas than, as far as present knowledge goes, have been met with, is not surprising when the faunas of the east and west coasts are contrasted, for it then appears that of fourteen species recorded in the B.M. Catalogue from W. Australia, seven, or 50 per cent., are members of our coastal fauna, and eight (iiichiding Helioporus albo-punctatus, recorded from the Murray) of our inland fauna. And it may be said generally of any and every colony, that its batrachiau fauna consists of an admixture of more or less cosmopolitan forms and of a small number of others characteristic of the region.
Hyla ewingii, Dum. & Bibr., was described in the Erpetologie Generale (T. viii. p. 597, published in 1841), the habitat being Tasmania; the description adds, " les parties superieures offrent un gris verdatre." It is figured in Voy. au Pole Sud, Batrc. pi. I. fig. 3, of which Dr. Giinther in the first edition of the B.M. Catalogue of Amphibia says, "figure not good." The localities given in the second edition of the same work are Tasmania, Hobart, Melbourne, and Australia, var. A {H. calliscelis) being recorded from King George's Sound. Dr. Giinther (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3), XX. (1867), p. 57) also records H. ewingii from N. E. Australia.
14 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF AUSTRALIAN BATRACHIA,
Mr. Krefft (P.Z.S. 1863, p. 389) includes H. ewingii among the Batrachians occurring in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and says : " This pretty little Hyla is rather a rare species, and I do not think that I ever found more than six or eight specimens of it gener-ally under stones during the cold season." In the same paper he says of H. verreauxii : " A rather rare frog, which I have occasionally taken from under the bark of the Tea-tree, and from under rocks in moist localities ; never taken during the summer. No specimens from other parts of Australia have as }'et come under my notice." Tn his paper on " Australian "Verte- brata, Recent and Fossil" (Industr. Prog. N.S.W. [1871], p. 747), we have a slightly different version : for it is there stated of E. ewingii that the Sydney " Museum is in possession of specimens from almost every part of Australia, the west coast excepted," while U. verreauxii is said to be "very common almost everywhere on the eastern border."
One of our commonest frogs in the County of Cumberland, equally common also in the three adjacent counties, though I have not seen it from any inland localities, until it occurred in two of Mr. Froggatt's collections noted above, is a little Hyla, of which Mr. Boulenger kindly named specimens for me as H. ewingii var. caUiscelis, Peters. It is the little frog whose shrill twee, twee, twee, repeated from half-a-dozen to a dozen times or more, may be heard in damp weather even during the winter months, as I have pointed out elsewhere. From its common occurrence Mr Krefft was no doubt familiar with this frog ; but as Peters' description was published only in 1874, Mr. Krefft could not have i-ef erred to it under this name in the papers quoted above.
E. de7itata. Kef erst., is a Sydney frog, and was described in Ai'chiv fiir Naturge.sch., for 1868, but it is not mentioned in the latest of Mr. Krefft's pa[)ers published in 1871. It seems to me therefore very probable that when Mr. Krefft referred to E. ewingii and E. verreauxii as species occurring in the neighbour- hood of Sydney and elsewhere on the east coast, he meant to denote the two frogs now known as E. evnngii var. caUiscelis, Peters, and E. dentata, Keferst.
BY J. J FLETCHER. 15
To Mr. W. W. Froggatt I am vpry much indebted for thirty-one specimens of the typical form of H. etvingii from the neighbour- hood of Ballarat, Victoria. I do not know this frog from any locality in N.S.W., though I have one specimen of a Hyla obtained by me under the bark of a tree in a gully on the Blue Mts., which I am inclined to refer to this species : it is larger (52 mm. from snout to vent) than any specimen of H. kreffti or II. etvingii I have seen, it has the fingers insufficiently webbed to be referred to the former, and is toq long in the legs, the tibio-tarsal joint of the adpressed limb reaching beyond the level of the tip of the snout, to quite satisfactorily be placed in IT. ewinyii, with which otherwise it has most in common ; if it may correctly be regarded as a very large and unusually long-legged individual of the typical form of H. ewingii, then it is the only specimen from N.S.W. known to me ; while if it should not strictly be referable to this species, then, as far as my experience goes, H. etvingii is repre- sented in N.S.W. only by var, calliscelis.
H. etvingii var. calliscelis from King George's Sound differs from the typical form " in having the hinder side of thighs with large pui'plish -black spots on yellowish ground ; a purplish-black spot in the groin " (B.M. Cat. 2nd ed. p. 407). In specimens from the County of Cumberland and from the three adjoining counties, the presence of spots seems quite constant either in the groin or on the flanks, frequently they are absent on the hinder surface of the thighs : the concealed surfaces of the legs in living specimens and in such as have not been long in spirits, are of a bright orange ; while the dark inguinal spots in the living animal appear on a background tinged with light yellow. Some of Mr. Froggatt's specimens from Lucknow are much more spotted and blotched even than Sydney examples, in six of them "the large well-defined dark spot commencing between the eyes and covering the middle of the back " of the descriptions being not merely a darker shade of the groundcolour "speckled all over with blackish," but partially edged or to some extent invaded by a dark tint like that of the ordinary inguinal spot* : none of them have spots on the hinder surface of the thighs, and some of them are not more blotched than Sydney specimens.
16 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OP AUSTRALIAN BATRACHIA,
The beautiful little Hyla brought me alive from Ballarat by Mr. Froggatt, referred to in my last paper (p. 254), has puzzled me not a little : with the general characters of H. ewingii, it presented when alive a broad bright green dorsal band edged by a dark narrow band, and with also a lateral linear dark band, in which respects it differs from the thirty-one (spirit) specimens of ff. ewingii from the same locality ; and makes some approach to the specimens from Lucknow, collected and given to me also by Mr. Froggatt, who likewise brought me one of these specimens alive ; (this specimen, like every other specimen of H. ewingii var. callis- celis which I have ever seen, was entirely devoid of any green tint). I do not know how to speak of it except as another variety of H. ewingii (var. C).
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis, Gthr., is a widely distributed and variable eastern species rein-esented in my collections, exclusive of Sydney specimen.s, by about 120 specimens, from fourteen inland and several coastal stations. In the original description (B.M. Cat. 1st ed. p. 33) the toes are said to be "slightly webbed at the base, slightly fringed"; in the second edition of the B.M. Catalogue, Mr. Boulenger says, "toes moderate, slightly fringed." The typical form may be described as having usually no crimson or reddish spots on the upper eyelids, though in young specimens these may occasionally be present and more frequently a vertebral red stripe ; three metacarpal tubercles, two metatarsal tubercles, tarso-metatarsal joint of adpressed limb reaching the eye, or between the eye and the nostril ; fingers and toes not pointed, toes slightly fringed, slightly webbed at the base (the basal webl)ing appears to me merely the continuity of the fringe of two contiguous toes, and when the fringe is very slight the webbing is correspondingly slight, and the toes may be said to be almost free) ; throat of male dusky, tinged with yellow, concealed surfaces of both sexes tinged with yellow, especially in the breeding season, in some of my collections, as from Wentworth, Urana (togetlier with the typical form), Mudgee (together with the typical form, and L. Jletcheri), and Waroo,
BY J. J. FLETCHER. 17
however, there are specimens of what I can regard as only a well-marked variety of this species, with or without recognisable crimson or reddish spots on the upper eyelids, a little longer in the legs (the tarso-metatarsal joint of the adpressed limb reaching the level of the tip of the snout, or not quite so far, or even further), with two or with three metacarpal tubercles, with two or with one metatarsal tubercle (the outer one being either absent or at least not distinguishable), with very often a very distinct basal webbing of the toes, and without pointed fingers and toes. In other words, but that the head is not much depressed and the snout not shorter than usual, some of these specimens might be referred to L. platycephalus ; while if the fingers and toes were but pointed, some of them might very well be referred to L. Jletcheri. Of four specimens from Wentworth three have crimson spots, all have a distinct basal webbing, but in two of them the tai'so-metatarsal joint of the adpressed limb does not reach beyond the level of the nostiil ; they have three metacarpal tubercles, but in none of them is there a recognisable outer metatarsal tubercle. From Tirana Mr. Sloane, whom I had asked to look out for specimens with crimson palpebral spots, kindly sent me two specimens alive, of which he wrote, " I send you a couple of remarkably robust specimens of L. tasnianiensis ; I have seen several specimens with i^eddish markings on the upper eyelids, but the two sent do not show it so strongly marked " ; one of these, 60 mm. from snout to vent, is the largest specimen of the species I have seen ; they agree substantially with the specimens from Wentworth, but are both a little duskier on the throat and sides of chest ; and more spotted on the undersurface of the calf and foot. Of eighteen specimens from Waroo, some have crimson palpebral spots, some have two metatarsal tubercles, while others appear to have but one, and some appear to have but two meta- carpal tubercles, some of them are much spotted on the throat, sides of chest and even of the abdomen, and on the undersurface of legs ; one specimen is of quite the typical form. From Gunta- wang, with specimens of the typical form, together with specimens of what might be called L. Jletcheri if the fingers and toes were
18 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OP AUSTRALIAN BATRACHIA,
pointed, I have two specimens of the same batch as the two type specimens of the latter sent to Mr. Boulenger ; these have the fingers and toes pointed as Mr. Boulenger describes, but I cannot help thinking that there is something abnormal about them — possibly they may, when collected, have been put into too strong spirit, — and that they are of the same species as the speci- mens without pointed fingers and toes, and that both are simply a variety of L. tasmaniensis.
Mixophyes fasciolatus, Gthr., the type speciuiens of which came from the Clarence River (two specimens appearing to be in the Collection at the time the second edition of the Catalogue was published), is said to have the tibio-tarsal articulation reaching to the tip of the snout, and the " toes two-thirds webbed, so that the three outer phalanges of the fourth toe remain free." I have before me a fine series of seven large specimens, of which five were obtained for me by Mr. Helms on the Richmond Rivei', and two others subsequently a little further to the north on the Tweed : in all these the tibio-tarsal articulation of the ad pressed limb reaches well beyond the level of the snout (say from ;j to 1 inch), while as to the webbing, several may be said to agree with the description, others have a little more webbing, it is thicker, and intensely pigmented, the maximum being reached in a very tine specimen from the Tweed : the difference in size between the type, of which measurements are given by Dr. GUnther, and this specimen is very well indicated by the following : in Dr. Giinther's specimen length of body (from snout to vent) 33 lines, length of hind limb 54 lines : in my specimen the corresponding measure- ments are 3^ inches, and 8 inches (to the tip of the fourth toe along the straightened leg) : now in this specimen every toe, even the fourth, is webbed to almost the very tip on at least one side (of the toe), but the toes cannot be said to be fully webbed, because toes 2-4 are not equally webbed on both sides (of the toe). There is in the Macleay Museum from the Richmond River a still larger and finer example than mine, — the largest Australian frog I have yet seen — which is more or less similar
BY J. J. FLETCHER, 19
in regard to the more than usually copious webbing ; it is not accessible at present, and I cannot give further particulars about it, but it is the frog exhibited by Mr. Masters at the meeting of this Society in March, 1886 [Proceedings (2), I. p, 238]. Specimens of this species from the Blue Mts. are normally webbed, but are longer in the legs than the type, like my northern river specimens.
In endeavouring to find a place in our systematic lists for such specimens as the above, one has choice of two alternatives ; either to consider that they are representatives of new species and to deal with them accordingly, or, as I think the more desirable course, to treat them as varietal forms, and to note them as such. With the advantages which residence in the country naturally gives in the way of acquiring some knowledge of certain species in their natural haunts, and of obtaining with greater facility perhaps larger series of specimens of other species than naturalists abroad can very often have at their disposal, it has ceased to cause me surprise that I sometimes meet with individuals whose characters refuse to come perfectly and exactly into the line as laid down in the text-books ; or that characters which seem to be of more or less considerable specific importance when only a few specimens have been available, should sometimes turn out to be variable when larger series of specimens are examined.
A MONOGRAPH OF THE TEMFOCEPHALE.E. Part i. Bt Professor W. A. Haswell, M.A., D.Sc.
[This paper will be published in the forthcoming Macleay Memorial Volume. 1
20
NOTES AND EXHIBITS.
Dr. Cox exhibited a specimen of Purpura textilosa, a common marine shell on the South Australian coast, brought to him from Brewarrina on the Darling ; and he said that at first he was extremely puzzled to account for the means of transport to such a distance from the coast. The true explanation of the matter probably was to be found in the fact that as, instead of carrying lime so great a distance — Brewarrina being fully 1000 miles by river from the sea — it was usual to take up shells from the coast by the river steamers and burn them where required, the specimen exhibited had formed part of such an importation.
Mr. Palmer exhibited a snake {Eoplocephalus nigrescens, Gthr.) and a lizard (Tiliqua gigas, Sch.) caught yesterday on the Blue Mountains, as they came to drink at a little runnel of water very shortly after it had been caused to flow from a pool higher up by one of his companions, the weather being very hot and dry until the heavy rain accompanying the heavy thunderstorm later on in the afternoon.
Eev. J. M. Curran exhibited some excellent lithographs of rock-sections which had just been executed in Sydney under his supervision.
In reply to an enquiry on the part of Mr. A. Sidney Olliff as to the exact habitat of the splendid Lucanid beetle, Phalacrog- nathus Muelleri, described by Sir William Macleay in 1885 (P.L.S.N.S.W., Vol. X., pp. 135 and 474) from two specimens about which the only information then available was that they came from North Australia, Mr. F. A. Skuse said that specimens had recently been received by the Australian Museum from Russell Scrub, Boar Pocket, near Cairns, Queensland.
21
WEDNESDAY, 24th FEBRUARY, 1892
Dr. J. C. Cox, F.L.S., Vice-President, in the Chair.
Mr. L, Osborn Beal, Dunedin, N.Z., was introduced as a visitor.
Professor J. T. Wilson, M.B., Ch.M., Sydney University, was elected a member of the Society.
DONATIONS.
"The Perak Government Gazette." Vol. v., No. 1 (January, 1892). From the Government Secretary.
"The Australasian Journal of Pharmacy." Vol. vii., Nos. 73 and 74 (January and February, 1892). From the Editor.
" The Pharmaceutical Journal of Australasia." Vol. v., No. 1 (January, 1892). From the Editor.
" Zoologischer Anzeiger." xiv. Jahrg., Nos. 380-381 (December, 1891, January, 1892). From the Editor.
■ " Catalogue of Books added to the Radcliffe Library, Oxford Museum, during the year 1890." From the Trustees.
"Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, 1891." Part 6 (December), No. 85. From the Society.
22 DONATIONS.
"Archiv fur Naturgeschichte." Iv. Jahrg. (1889), ii. Band, 1 Heft. (1891) ; Ivii. Jahrg. (1891), i. Band, 3 Heft. From the Editor.
"Journal of the Linnean Society of London— Botany." No. 175 (Voh xxvi.), Nos. 183-188 (Vol. xxvii.), and Nos. 189-193 (Vol. xxviii.); "Zoology." Nos. 124-125 (Vol. xx.) and Nos. 145-147 (Vol. xxiii.) ; « List of the Society, 1890-91." From the Society.
" Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W." Vol. ii., Part 12 (December, 1891). From the Director of Agriculture.
"Royal Society of Edinburgh — Proceedings." Vol. xvii. (1889-90); "Transactions." Vol. xxxiv. (1890); Vol. xxxvi., Part 1, Nos. 1-8 (1889-90). From the Society.
"Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada — Contribu- tions to Micro-Palaeontology." Part 3. From the Director.
"United States National Museum — Proceedings." Vol. xiv., Nos. 859-860 (1891), From the Museum.
" Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College." Vol. xxii., No. 1 (December, 1891) ; "Annual Report, 1890-91." From the Curator.
"American Naturalist." Vol. xxv., Nos. 298-299 (October and November, 1891). From the Editor.
"Johns Hopkins University Circulars." Vol. xi.. No. 94 (December, 1891). From the University.
"Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Archives." Vol. xii.. No. 12 (December, 1891). From the Editor.
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"Department of Agriculture, Brisbane — Bulletin." No. 14 (December, 1891). From the Secretary for Agricidture.
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" Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science — Address by the President of Section A." (Hobart, 1892.) From the Association.
" Supplementary Appendix to Travels amongst the Great Andes of the Equator." By Edward Whymper ; " Coleoptera." By A. Sidney Olliff. From the Author.
" Memoirs of the Geological Survey of N.S.W. — Palaeontology." No. viii., Part 2. "Contributions to a Catalogue of Works, &c., of the Australian and Tasmanian Aborigines." By R. Etheridge, Junr. From the Hon. the Minister for Mines.
"Journal of Conchology." Vol. vi., No. 12 (October, 1891). From the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
" Transactions of the Entomological Society of London for the year 1891." Part 4 (December). From the Society.
" Societe Botanique de Lyon — Bulletin Trimestriel." No. 1, Janvier-Mars, 1891. From the Society.
" Academie Roy ale Danoise des Science et des Lettres, Copen- hague— Bulletin pour 1891." No. 2 (Mars-Mai). From the Society.
" Verhandlungen des Naturhistorischen Vereines der preussis- chen Rheinlande Westfalens und des Reg.-Bezirks Osnabriick." xlvii. Jahrg., Zweite Halfte. From the Society.
"Societe Zoologique de France — Bulletin pour I'Annee 1891." Tome xvi., No. 8 ; " Memoires." Tome iv., Nos. 3 et 4. From the Society.
" Zoological Society of London — Abstract." January 5, 1892. From the Society.
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" Bericht iiber die Verwaltung und Veimehrung der koniglichen Sammlungen fiir Kunst und Wissenschaft zu Dresden in den Jahren 1888 und 1889." From Professor A. B. Meyer.
" Technical Education Series, No. 8 — Report on a Beetle destroying boots and shoes in Sydney." By W. W. Froggatt. From the Curator., Technological Museum, Sydney.
25
PAPERS READ.
NOTES ON SOME SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KINO GEORGE'S SOUND BY Mr. H. WILLIS.
By The Rev. W. Woolls. Ph.D., F.L.S.
Some time since I forwarded to the Linnean Society, with Notes, 38 specimens of plants collected at King George's Sound by the Rev. R. Collie, F.L.S., and in so doing I endeavoured to explain, by the assistance of my late friend Mr. C. S. Wilkinson, F.G.S., the probable reason why the flora of Western Australia ditFers so much from that of the eastern portion of the continent. That eminent geologist was of opinion that, during the Miocene period, the condition of Australia was very different from what it now is, as probably the ocean occupied all that low country between Spencer's Gulf and Western Australia ; whilst during the Cretacean period about two-thirds of Australia must have been under the ocean. Supposing, therefore, that Eastern and Western Australia at some very remote period were separated by water, and that, in the course of many generations, the conditions of soil and climate have been considerably modified in both regions, it may be presumed that the western or purely Australian plants became very much localised, whilst the eastern flora, in addition to the few species which have immigrated to it from the west, has been mixed with plants of an Asiatic or Polynesian type. An examination of 35 species, which have recently been collected at King George's Sound, will show how few have travelled eastwards : —
(1) DlLLENIACE^.
1. Rihbertia fxirjuracea, Benth.
(2) POLYGALE^.
2. Comesperma confertimi, Labill.
26 SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEOPtGE's SOUND,
(3) TREMANDREyE.
3. Tetratheca setigera, Lindl.
(4) RUTACE^.
4. Boronia crenulata, Sm.
5. B. heterophylla, F.v.M.
(5) Gbraniace^.
6. Pelargonium Rodneyanum, Lindl.
(6) Sterculiace^.
7. Thomasia quercifolia, J. Gay.
(7) Thymele^.
8. Pimelea rosea, R.Br.
9. P. imbricata, R.Br.
(8) Leguminos^.
10. Isotropis striata, Benth.
11. Oxylobium callistachys, Benth.
12. Chorizema angustifolium, Benth.
13. Burtonia scabra, R.Br.
14. Daviesia Jiexuosa, Benth.
15. Eutaxia myrtifolia, R.Br.
16. E. virgata, Benth.
17. Vicia angustifolia, Roth, (introduced).
18. Acacia hastulata, Sm.
(9) Myrtace^.
19. Melaleuca thymoides, Labill.
20. Agonis linearifolia, Schau.
(10) UMBELLIFER.E.
21. Xanthosia rotundifolia, DC.
BY THE REV. W. WOOLLS.
27
(11) Proteace^.
22. Adenanthos obovata, Labill.
23. A. harhigera, Lindl.
i\2) Composite.
24. HelijJterum Manglesii, F.v.M.
25. Helichrysum bracteatum, Willd.
(13) GOODENIACE^.
26. Dampiera alata, Lindl.
27. D. leptoclada, Benth.
(14) SOLANACE^.
28. Anthocercis viscosa, R.Br.
(15) Epacride^,
29. Andersonia sprengelioides, R.Br.
30. Astroloma compactum, R.Br.
31. Lysinema Jiiyibr latum, F.v.M.
32. LeuGopogon carinatus, R.Br.
33. Dracophyllum capitaturn, R.Br.
(16) H^modorace^.
34. Conostylis setigera, R.Br.
(17) JUNCACEiE.
35. Xerotes micrayitha, Endl.
(1) The genus Hibbertia, according to Baron Mueller's census, contains 87 species, and of these one half are purely western plants, and have never emigrated from that Colony. Only one, H. stricta, R.Br., is common to the Australian Colonies and Tasmania. H. furfuracea, Benth., or Pleurandra furfuracea, R.Br., is strictly a western species, and not nearly allied to any of the eastern species. Though the flowers resemble those of H. diffusa, R.Br., the two plants are very distinct in habit, the one
28 SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGe's SOUND,
being an erect shrub of several feet in height, and the other being a small prostrate plant, whilst the position of the stamens and the number of the carpels differ matex'ially.
(2) Gomesperma conferturn, Labill., is peculiar to W. Australia, though in appearance it resembles G. ericinum, DC, which is common to the eastern Colonies and Tasmania, and has the keel- petal horned and the sepals not obtuse. Of the 24 species of the genus 16 occur in W. Australia, II being peculiar to that Colony, and the other 5 extending to S. Australia, Victoria, N. S. Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. C. scoparium, Steetz, G. voluhile, Labill., and G. calymega, Labill., are the only species which have travelled from the west to N. S. Wales.
(3) Tetratheca setigera, Endl., belongs to a genus almost exclu- sively W. Australian, only two species, T. ericifolia, Sui., and T. juncea, Sm., being known in E. Australia, and these so different in character from the majority of the species as to suggest a long series of ages for their differentiation, that is to say, presuming that the genus which is strictly Australian had its origin in the western part of the continent. Of the small order Tremandrese, the genera Platyiheca and Tremandra are unknown in the east, as well as any species of Tetratheca which have the ovules solitary in each cell, and seeds glabrous and shining.
(4) Of the genus Boronia, which is known to have about 60 species in Australia (Census, F.v.M.), more than half (33) are limited to the west. B. serrulata, Sm., is peculiar to N. S. Wales, but it is nearly allied to B. crenulata, Sm., differing chiefly in its larger and more numerous flowers, the structure of its style, and the hairiness of its filaments. B. heterophylla, F.v.M., belongs to a section of the genus exclusively w^estern, and is characterised by having the sepaline anthers different from the petaline ones. The well known B. meffastigina, Nees, is of the same section. Whilst the species of Boronia are almost equally divided between the west and east, N. S. Wales has a much larger share of the species of Eriostemon and Phebalium, and it is remarkable that only one species, £. difformis, Cunn., is common to the Australian
BY THE REV. W. WOOLLS. 29
colonies. Some genera of the Rutacese are endemic in the east, and others are common to that part of Australia, tropical Asia, and the isles of the Pacific.
(5) Pelargonium Rodneyanum, Lindl., is not peculiar to W. Australia, as it occurs in Victoria, N". S. Wales, and S. Australia. In Mitchell's Expeditions, vol. ii. p. 144, it is stated that near the Murray he discovered " a beautiful new species of the Cape Pelar- gonium, which would be an acquisition to our gardens." This be named "/*. Rodneyanum in honour of Mrs. Riddell, of Sydney, granddaughter of the famous Rodney." Baron Mueller has figured this species amongst his Victorian plants. Perhaps it may be regarded as one of those plants which had their origin in Africa (a region famous for its Pelargoniums), as Mr. Bentham considered it nearly allied to P. reniforme, Curt., from the southern part of that continent.
(6) Thomasia quercifolia, J. Gay, with 19 species of the genus is of western origin, and only one species, T. petalocalyx, F.v.M., and that nearly approaching T. angustifolia, Steud., has travelled to S. Australia and Victoria. Of the Sterculiacese, numbering 126 species, more than half {^Q) are endemic in W. Australia (Census, F.v.M.), but the following genera are not represented in that region, viz : Sterculia, Tarrietia, Heritiera, Ungeria, Helicteres, Methorium, Melhania, Melochia, Dicaiyidium and Abroma.
7) Pimelea rosea, R.Br., and P. imbricata, R.Br., with 21 other species of the genus, are limited to W. Australia. According to Mr. Bentham, Pimelea occurs only in Australasia; one species, P. longifolia, Banks and Sol., being common to Australia and New Zealand, and 9 others peculiar to the latter. Draj)etes, Wickstroemia and Phaleria do not occur in W. Australia ; but Prapetes is represented in Tasmania and Victoria as well as in New Zealand, whilst the others have species in the Oriental Archipelago, the isles of the Pacific and E. Australia.
(8) Of the great order Leguminos* comprising 1065 species (Census, F.v.M.) more than a third are endemic in W. Australia,
30 SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGE's SOUND,
and the following genera do not extend to any of the other colonies, viz : Jansonia, Latrobea, Euchilopsis and Labichea.
(a) Isotrojns striata, Benth. This species and 4 others are limited to W. Australia. Only one extends to S. Aus- tralia and N. S. Wales.
(6) Oxylobium callistachys, Benth., formerly Callistachys lanceo- lata, Vent., is an ornamental plant, and differs in appear- ance from the species generally. Of the genus, 17 are peculiar to W. Australia, and 7 occur in N. S. Wales.
(c) Clwrizema angusti/oUum, Benth., with 13 species of the genus, is limited to W. Australia. 0. parviflorum, Benth., is the only one which extends to the east.
{d) Burtonia scahra, R.Br., belongs to a genus principally western.
(e) Daviesia Jlexuosa, Benth., is one of a large genus, 41 species of which are limited to the west, and 13 occur in N. S. Wales.
(/) Eutaxia myrtifolia, R.Br., and E. virgata, Benth., are western species. E. em'petrifolia, Schl., is common to W. and S. Australia, Victoria, and IST. S. Wales.
{g) Vicia ahgustifolia, Roth., is an introduced plant.
{h) Acacia hastulata, Sm., is a small shrub known only from King George's Sound.
(9) Melaleuca thymoides, Labill. The genus Melaleuca has in a'll Australia 101 species, about 70 of which ax'e westei'n and 18 occur in N. S. Wales. Agonis linearifolia, Schau., resembles a Leiytospermum. When the Flora Australiensis was published, Agonis was regarded as peculiarly western ; but Mr. P. M. Bailey discovered one in Queensland (1888) A. lysicephala,¥.v.'M. ; and A. Scortechiniana is found to be common to N. S. Wales and Queensland (1881).
(10) Xanthosia rotundifolia, DC, differs very much from the species near Sydney, as it is nearly glabrous. The genus is con- fined to Australia, 13 being western and 5 eastern species. Three extend to Tasmania.
BY THE REV. W. WOOLLS. 31
(11) Aclenanthos obovata, LabilL, and A. barbigera, Lindl., are Proteaceous shrubs. With two exceptions the species (14) are limited to W. Australia. The genus is remarkable for its peculiar style, and is not closely allied to any other.
(12) Helichrysum bracteatum, Willd., is a composite found in all the Australian colonies, and with Helipterum Manglesii, F.v.M. {Rhodanthe Manglesii, Lindl.), is often seen in gardens.
(13) Dam.piera alata, Lindl., and D. leptoclada, Benth., belong to a genus comprising 38 species, of which 27 are limited to W. Australia. Only seven occur in N. S. Wales and one in Tasmania.
(14) Anthocercis viscosa, E.Br., with eight other species, is limited to W. Australia, and has the reputation of being poisonous. Four species are found in N. S. Wales and one in Tasmania. The genus Anthocercis is nearly allied to Duboisia, of which D. Hop- woodii, F.v.M. , is the famous " Pitury" of the blacks. According to Mr. F. M. Bailey, F.L.S., they chew the leaves of it as white men do tobacco.
(15) (a) The genus Andersonia is limited to W. Australia and has 20 species. A. sprengelioides, B.Br., is very common at King George's Sound.
(b) Astroloma compactum, R.Br, (referred by Baron Mueller to
Styphelia), is nearly allied to A. humi/usum, R.Br., a species found in most of the Australian colonies. Accord- ing to the Flora, there are 18 species of the genus, three only extending to the East.
(c) Lysinema fimbriatum, F.v.M., is remarkable with the other
four species of this western genus for having its filaments free from the base.
(d) Leucopogon carinafus, R.Br., belongs to the section
"Striatte" of the genus. The Baron joins Xewcopo^on with Styphelia, but according to the Flora it reckons 120 species, of which 78 are western. It is worthy of remark that L. Richei, R.Br., a species growing near the coast, is common to five of the Australian colonies and Tasmania.
32 SPECIMENS OP PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGE's SOUND,
(e) Dracophyllum capitatum, R.Br., occurs only in W. Aus- tralia, to which may be added D. aquarrosum, R.Br., D. Drummondii, Benth., D. phlogiflorum, F.v.M., D. gracUe, R.Br., and D. parvijlorum, F.v.M. Two species are indigenous in Tasmania, one in Queensland, and one [D. Fitzgeraldi, F.v.M.) in Lord Howe's Island.
(16) Conostylis setigera, R.Br., belongs to a genus having 32 species, all peculiar to W. Australia. It is worthy of notice that the only species of Hsemodoracese in N. S. Wales are H(em,odorum planifolium, R.Br., and H. teretifolium, R.Br.
(17) Xerotes micrantha, Endl., is a species found in S. and W. Australia, Victoria, and N. S. Wales. The genus comprises 32 species, of which 19 aie limited to W. Australia and 11 occur in N. S. Wales. The only Xerotes found out of Australia is one in New Caledonia.
It is remarkable, on looking over a few specimens gathered promiscuously at King George's Sound, that Pelargonium Rodney- anum, Vicia angustifolia, Helichrysum, bracteatuni, and Xerotes micrantha are the only species found on the eastera part of the continent, and of these one is probably of African and the other of European origin. The rest of the species stand, as it were, isolated, and illustrate the I'emark of Sir J. D. Hooker that, in reference to the flora of Australia, " there is a greater specific difference between two quarters of Australia (South-eastern and South-western) than between Australia and the rest of the globe ; and that the most marked characteristics of the flora are concen- trated at that point which is geographically most remote from any other region of the globe." Western Australia is rich in the number of its species. Baion Mueller reckons 3560, and of these the great majority are "purely Australian, without any admixture of any other element," whilst in the eastern colonies the number of such plants is proportionately less. It appears, therefore, that in Western Ausfcralia the flora of the continent had its origin, and that whilst certain species have migrated to the east, they have become associated with those from other parts. Why so few
BY THE REV. W. WOOLLS. 33
species, comparatively speaking, have left their original source is a problem not yet solved, and it is doubtless the result of causes which remain to be explained in reference to geological periods long past. Whatever may be the cause, it is a fact that in the great orders Leguminosse, Myrtacese and Proteacese, many of the western genera are either wholly unrepresented or only partially represented in the east. For instance, the large genera Gastro- lobium and Jacksonia have very few species out of Western Australia, whilst at least four genera are not represented in any other part of Australia. In the Myrtaceje, also, a similar unequal distribution appears. The large genus Verticordia, with the exception of one species in Queensland and Northern Australia, is exclusively western ; and Calycothrix, with its numerous species, has only two representatives in N. S. Wales. Actinodium, P'de- anthus, Wehlia, Astartea, Hypocalymma, Balaustion, Conothamnus, Regelia, Phymatoc'wpns, Calothamnus, Lamarchea and EremcBa are limited to the west ; and in Eucalyptus not more than six or seven species are common to both regions. Again, in the Proteacese, Simsia, Synaphea, FranUandia, and the large genus Dryandra, no species have migrated eastward ; whilst in Petropldla, Isopogon, and Banksia, the eastern species are few. In the large order of the Compositfe, 206 occur in the west and 296 in N. 8. Wales. Only three genera, with one species each, viz., Pithocarpa, Decazesia and Trichocline, are peculiar to W. Australia. It must be remarked in reference to this order that the species are more widely dis- tributed than any other, being easily conveyed by the nature of their seeds, and being in many instances mere weeds suited to all climates. Notwithstanding these considerations, however, many of the western, species are truly local, whilst the number of the eastern composites has been augmented by plants from Asia, Australasia and Polynesia. In the Epacridese, Oligarrhena, Needhaniia, Conostephium, Coleanthera, Lysinema, Cosmelia, Sphenotoma and the large genus Andersonia, nine of the species occur in the East ; whilst amongst Monocotyledonous plants, all the species of the Hsemodoracese, with the exception of very few, are strictly limited to the west. It would be easy to pursue the
34 SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGe's SOtlND.
subject further, and to show from Baron von Mueller's valuable " Census of Australian Plants " (to which I am so much indebted for the numbers and distribution of species) how correctly Sir J. D. Hooker concluded, more than thirty years ago, that Western Australia is the centrum and cradle of plants purely Australian, and that in Eastern Australia the flora is not so rich in endemic species, or so free from an admixture of such as may be regarded as of foreign origin. At the present time it is impossible to explain these phenomena, but it is probable that the progress of geological science may hereafter bear testimony to the causes whicli have led to fche differentiation of the Australian flora.
Note. — Since these remarks were written, I have received from the same locality Banksia coccinea, R.Br., £. attenuata, R.Br., B. Uicifolia, R.Br., Callistemon speciosus, DC, and Sccevola attenuata, R.Br., none of which species extend to Eastern Austi^alia.
35
ON PANAX GUM. By J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., &c.
Panax is a geaus of the Araliaceae, several species of which order are more or less acrid or aromatic. But the recorded instances of gum or resin being found in any of them are extremely few. and in no case, so far as I am aware, has the composition of the exudation been dealt with, much less an analysis given.
In the common English ivy ( Hedera helix), there is stated to be contained "the gum-resin called Hederine, used by varnish- makers, and said to be depilatory and emmenagogiie." (Lindley, Medical and (Economical Botany.)
"An aromatic gum-resin comes from A^'alia racemosa, spinosa, and hispida. (Lindley, Vegetable Kingdom.)
Meryta Sinclairii, Seem., of New Zealand, "is charged with a peculiar resin in all its parts." (Kirk's Forest Flora of Neio Zealand.)*
All the above quotations refer to resins or gum-resins.
We now come to guins in the Araliaceae, and the two references I give are all I can find of gums in this natural order, and they both refer to Panax, the genus to which all the gums I have been able to obtain up to the present also belong.
" Panax Golensoi exudes a gum very similar to gum arabic, and occasionally used for adhesive purposes. " ( Report Neiv Zealand Exhibition, 1865.)
* Since the above was written I have received from Mr. W. W. Froggatt a quantity of a gum-resin from Astrotriche jloccosa, DC, belonging to this natural order. -It has a very pleasant perfume, and appears to be an interesting substance. It exuded from sickly shrubs whose stems had been wounded by a small GurcuUo,
36 ON PANAX GUM,
" Panax sainhucifolms in Novam Angliam extendit. Truncus cum ramis gummifluus." (Mueller, Fragm. vii., 95.)
It would appear, therefore, that the Araliaceae exude both gums and resins. It is a fact not generally known that the same natural order, the same genus, and even the same species may exude both a gum and a resin, and some writers have even doubted the exactness of their own observations when they have found both a gum and a resin in closely related plants. I hope to show in another place, chiefly by citing Australian instances which have come under my own notice, that the occurrence of both a resin and a gum in the same genus and even species, is by no means uncommon.
Returning to P. samhucifolius, I have not yet obtained gum from the normal species, but from a variety, viz., P. aambucifolius, var. angit,sta, or, according to Baron von Mueller's nomenclature, P. dendroides, var. angusta.
This plant is found on the banks of the Snowy River, amongst boulders of rock, attaining a height of about 8 feet, with a diameter of two inches when grown in tree shape ; mostly, however, the plant is shrubby, with a number of thin stems.
The gum was obtained from old sickly plants. When obtained fresh it has a peculiar sweetish odour, and when placed in the mouth it has a pleasant flavour, reminding one strongly of a rose jujube. It dissolves wholly in the mouth in a few minutes, and except for the perfume already alluded to, it might readily be taken for one of the readily soluble Wattle gums.
Nevertheless when I first received it I was informed that in a local family it had the reputation of being injurious, and even poisonous. The gum is credited with having caused vomiting and serious symptoms which lasted three or four days in a young man Vho had eaten the gum as freely as one would Wattle gum.
Nothing in my analysis shows any poisonous substance in the gum, and as this is the only instance which has come under my notice of alleged poisoning by Panax gum, the sufierer may have been under a misapprehension. At the same time, it must be
BY J. H. MAIDEN. 37
boi'ne in mind that vegetable substances of an injurious nature {e.g., the poisonous principle in Macrozaviia seeds) are sometimes not capable of detection by ordinary chemical processes.
My sample has the appearance of an inferior gum arable ; it breaks with a dull couchoidal fracture ; the colour varies from amber to colourless.
After 24 hours in cold water a portion of the gum remained undissolved, and had swollen a good deal. After separating the solution, this insoluble substance was treated with very dilute potash ; it readily dissolved, and on acidifying with acetic acid and adding alcohol, arabin was precipitated, showing the insoluble portion to have been metarabin. The gum soluble in cold water was proved to be arabin. The composition of this sample of gum is :—
Arabin 68-8
Metarabin... ... ... ... 16"1 (by difference)
Ash 2-0
Water 13-1
100 0 I have I'eceived (also from Mr. William Bauerlen, collector for the Technological Museum) a sample of gum from Panax murrayi, obtained from Lindendale, Lismore, where it is known locally as " Pencil Cedar," and where it attains a height of 40-60 feet, and a stem-diameter of 9 to 24 inches. It was collected in January, 1892, and was analysed a month later.
This gum is brittle, like that of P. sambtocifolius, var. angusta, and not viscous like that of P. elegans. Its taste is not pleasant ; it has not much odour, not resembling P. elegans in this respect. It is fairly light in colour, although portions are as dark as ordinary glue.
In cold water it wholly dissolves to a clear transparent liquid, not opalescent like that of P. sambucifolius, var. The aqueous solution has an odour different from that of the others, and not so pleasant. It is difficult to describe.
38 ON PANAX GUM,
On the addition of alcohol of specific gravity -834, the gum is precipitated as an opaque white substance, and is arabin. The composition of the gum is : —
Arabin ... ... ... ... 85*1
Ash 2-3
Water 12-6
100-0 Two specimens of gum from Panax elegans may now be described separately.
1. Found at Lismore. Diam., 1 foot. Height, 50-60 feet. Gum gathered April, 1891, and analysed the following February.
Both gums are rather dark in colour, and resemble Wattle gum. They are in irregular lumps of about half an inch in thickness. Both are plastic after months of keeping. Both are mainly soluble in water, the insoluble portion largely swelling up in that liquid. The odour of the a(?|ueous solution of No. 1 sample of P. elegans resembles that of carrots in a remarkable degree. This is noteworthy, and reminds one of the close afiinity of the Araliaceje and Umbelliferse.
2. Panax elegans. Sample from Ballina, N.S.W.
This specimen has been partly described under No. 1. In aqueous solution it has an aroma which reminds one of hops.
The following analysis gives a good idea of the composition of both gums of P. elegans.
Arabin 70*2
Metarabin 9-8 (by difference)
Ash 3-3
Water 16-7
lOO'O
Co7iclusio7is.
Panax gums closely resemble Acacia gums in composition. They both contain gums wholly soluble in cold water, and con- sisting entirely of arabin, and gums partially soluble in water,
BY J. H. MAIDEN. 39
though containing varying proportions of metarabin, which sub- stance causes them to swell in cold water. The gum of P. murrayi would form a valuable substitute for gum arable, and it would be a valuable minor industry for this country if it were procurable in large quantities.
All the gums possess some odour, obtained from the barks, and isolation of the odoriferous bodies could be best carried out by analysis of tlie bark. This odoriferous principle in the Araliacere, and reminding one of the Umbelliferse, has long been known. "Most of the species have a very strong smell of aniseed and celery, — hence the name of 'Celery-tree' is given to Panax (Notliopanax) elegans by the Queensland colonists." (Seemann, Flora vitiensis, 114).
The ash of Panax gums principally consists (in my samples) of lime, magnesium, and potassium, with a trace of iron, and although the bases were present principally as carbonates, both sulphuric and phosphoric acids were found. Quantitative deter- minations of the different constituents of the ash were not made, with the exception of phosphorous pentoxide, the percentage of Pj O5 in the ash of P. elegans being 'GGQ,
The gums may therefore be considered as principally the calcium, magnesium and potassium salts of arable acid.
40
NOTES AND EXHIBITS
L»r. Wool Is sent for exhibition the plants from King George's Sound referred to in his paper, and flowering specimens of Capparis Mitchelli, Lindl., and C. lasiantha, R.Br., both from the Namoi, with the kindly intimation that they might after- wards be added to the Society's herbarium.
Mr. Fletcher exhibited a collection of interesting plants from the Blue Mountains, which Dr. Woolls had kindly determined. Also living adult and young specimens of Feripatus — the former part of a collection of about one hundred specimens obtained last month on the Blue Mountains, the later part of their progeny, amounting to at least two hundred specimens, subsequently born in captivity ; also the prematurely born young of an accidentally injured femalOj advanced embryos extruded during the drowning of the mothers, and dissected females showing the oviducts crammed with embryos. In view of this fresh evidence, therefore, he again emphatically protested against the sweeping generaliza- tion of Dr. Dendy, to which extensive publicity has been given, and which has appeared in at least four scientific journals, tliat Feripatus leuckartii, Sang.,— in the wide sense in which Dr. Dendy uses that teim, namely, to include the N.S.W. Feripatus — " is really oviparous," as well as against Dr. Dendy's infeiences and conclusions with regard to certain young specimens exhibited at a Meeting of this Society in October, 1888.
Mr. Froggatt exhibited (1) a series of specimens illustrating the life-history of the butterfly lalmenus evagoras, Don., the larvse of which he had recently obtained at Maitland ou the foliage of Acacia decurrens, and had noticed that they were visited by numberless ants, attracted by a sugary excretion : (2) a large arboreal spiny grasshopper recently obtained by Mr. Bauerlen, botanical collector of the Technological Museum, at Ballina, Rich- mond River, much resembling in appearance the rough and thorny creeper upon which it is found : and {'?>) a small collection of rare
NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 41
beetles obtained either by Mr. Bauerlen at Ballina or by the exhibitor at Allalong, near Maitland, and including Monohammus sp., Hehecerus crocogaster, Boisd., StenofJerus ostricilla, Newm., Phaolus Madeayi, Pasc, Xylonyclius sp., Amphirhoe decora, Newm., Penthea solida, Pasc, Projjhanus cupreus, Gray, and Brenthis sp.
Dr. Cox exhibited a noteworthy collection of starfishes, i emark- al)le sponges, and fine specimens of Gorgonias brought up by ])earling divers from considerable depths off the extreme north- west coast of Australia, for the opportunity of exhibiting which he was indebted to Mr. Gibbins, who had taken much trouble to bring specimens.* Also specimens {^ and Q) of the prawn Palctimon ornatus, Olivier, which has recently and suddenly appeared in great numbers in the Hunter River, and is now coming into the market for edible purposes, though in his experience such had never been previously the case. Also good photographs of angler-fishes, and of a " siamese-twin " shark (Acanthias antarctica) from New Zealand.
Mr. A. G. Hamilton sent for exhibition a specimen of a large hairy caterpillar infested with several hundreds of parasitic mites, found by him at lUawarra.
Mr. Maiden exhibited a series of specimens of Capjmris nobilis, the " Wild Lemon," of the Richmond River ; also specimens of Phehalium Billardieri taken from a tree of the unusual dimensions of 35 feet high and 8 inches in diameter of trunk ; also a twig of Notelcua longifolia with a leaf of the unusual length of 10^ inches from tip to articulation, and illustrating the specific name ; also the Panax gums referred to in bis paper.
* Mr. Whitelegge subsequently kuidly furnished the subjoined hst of these specimens : — AsTEROiDEA — fLinckia 7niliaris, M. & T. ; "^ Pentaceros nodidoswi, Perrier ; t Goniodiscus pleyadella, M. & T. ; t Nardoa novce- ccdedonice, Perrier; •]■ Anthenea tuberculosa, Gray; Echinaster purpurens. Gray : Gorgonacea — Ctenocella pectinata. Pall. ; Juncella f/emmacea, M. Ed. & H. ; + Iciligorgia orientalis, Ridley ; t Callipodium australiense, Ridley : Porifera — lantheUa fiahelliformis. Gray (very large, 28 inches high and 30 wide) ; Thrinacophora sp.
t Ijiicomnion.
42
WEDNESDAY, 30th MARCH, 1892.
The President, Professor Haswell, M.A., D.Sc, in the Chair.
Mr. G. A. McKay was introduced as a visitor.
The President announced that the Council had under considera- tion the question of the proposed Macleay Memorial Volume, and that a committee had been appointed to make the necessary preliminary arrangements.
DONATIONS.
" Archives Neerlandaises des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles publiees par la Societe Hollandaise des Sciences a Harlem." Tomes i.-xix. ; xx,, Parts I and 2 ; xxiv.. Parts 4 and 5 ; xxv., Part 2 (1866-91). From the Society.
" Tijdschrift voor Entomologie uitgegeven door de Neder- landsche Entomologische Vereeniging." xxxiii. Dl. (1889-90), Afl. 3-4 ; xxxiv. Dl. (1890-91), Afl. 1-2. From the Society.
" Tijdschrift der Nederlansche Dierkundige Vereeniging." 2'^'= Serie, Dl. i.-iii., Afl. 1-2 (1886-91). Froin the Society.
" Zoologischer Anzeiger." xv. Jahrg., Nos. 382-384 (Jan.-Feb., 1892). From the Editor.
" Bulletin de la Societe Beige de Microscopie." xviii™^ Annee (1891-92), No. 2. From the Society.
" Perak Grovernment Gazette." Vol. v., Nos. 2-4 (Jan.-Feb., 1892). From the Government Secretary.
DONATIONS. 43
" Bolletino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata della R. Universita di Torino." Vol. vi., Nos. 104-111 (1891). From the Museum.
Australian Museum — " Records ; Contents and Index, Vol. i."; "Catalogue of Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania." Part 1 (1892). By J. Brazier, F.L.S. ; "List of Cephalopoda in the Collection of the Australian Museum." By J. Brazier, F.L.S. From the Trustees.
New South Wales : Public Instruction — "Report of Curator of Technological Museum for 1890." From the Cttrator.
"Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria." Vol. ii , Part 2 (1891). From the Society.
" Smithsonian Institution — United States National Museum — Annual Report, 1888-89." pp. 1-277, 447-589, 609-728, and Appendix, pp. 1-50. From the Museum.
" Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College — Bulle- tin." Vol. xxii., Nos. 2-3 (1891-92). From the Curator.
"United States Department of Agriculture — Division of Ento- mology." Vol. iv., Nos. 5-6. From the Secretary of Agriculture.
"Bulletin of the American Geographical Society." Vol. xxiii., No. 4, Part I (1891). From the Society.
"Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Archives." Vol. xiii., No. 1 (Jan., 1892). From the Editors.
" Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft fiir Erdkunde zu Berlin." Band xviii. (1891), Nos. 9-10. From the Society.
" Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society." Vol. xlviii.. Part 1, No. 189 (Feb., 1892). From the Society.
" Annales de la Societe G^ologique de Belgique." Tome xviii., 2"^ Livn. ; Tome xix., P« Livn. (1891-92). From the Society.
"Victorian Naturalist." Vol. viii., No. 11 (March, 1892). From the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria.
Western Australia. — "Report on the Goldfields of the Kimber- ley District" (1891). From the Author, the Government Geologist.
44 DONATIONS.
" Cambridge Philosophical Society — Proceedings." Vol. vii., Part 0 (1892) ; "Transactions " Vol. xv., Part 2 (1891). From the Society.
" Iconography of Australian Salsolaceous Plants." Decade ix. (1891). By Baron von Mueller, K.G.M.G., F.R.S. From the Premier of Victoria, through the Librarian, Public Library, Mel- bourne.
"Zoological Society, London — Abstract of Proceedings " 2nd Feb., 1892. From the Society.
"Pharmaceutical Journal of Australasia." Vol. v., No. 3 (March, 1892). From the Editor.
" Agricultural Gazette of New South "Wales." Vol. iii.. Parts 1 (Jan.) and 2 (Feb. 1892). From the Director of Agriculture.
"Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada — Anuual Report." New Series, Vol. iv. (1888-89). From the Director.
" Societe des Sciences de Finland — Acta " Tome xvii. (1891) ; "Oefversigt af Forhandlingar." Vol. xxxii. (1889-90); " Bidrag till Kannedom till Finlands Natur och Folk." H. xlix.-l. (1890- 1891). From the Society.
"Kaiserliche Leopoldino-Carolinische deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher — Leopoldino." xxvi. Heft (1890) ; " Nova Acta." Band liv., Nr. 5 ; Iv., Nr. 3 ; Ivi., Nr. 2 u. 3 (1890-91). From the Society.
"Transactions of the Entomological Society of London for the year 1891." Part 5 (Feb., 1892).^ From the Society.
"Entomologisk Tidskrift utgifven af Entomologiska Foreningen i Stockholm." Arg. xii. (1891). From the Society.
" Revista de Sciencias Naturaes e Sociaes Orgao da Sociedade Carlos Ribeiro." Volume Segundo, No. 7. From the Society.
" Bulletin de la Societe Royale Linneenne de Bruxelles " Nos. 1-4 (Nov., 1891,-Feb., 1892j. From the Society.
Sydney Free Public Library — "Report from Trustees for 1891." From the Trustees.
45
PAPERS READ.
STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY.
No. v.— NOTES ON THE SUBFAMILY BROSCINI (CARABID.i-:), WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.
By Thomas G. Sloane.
In a former paper (P.L.S.N.S.W., 1890 (2), v. p. 189) I divided the Australian Broscini into two main divisions, viz. : —
i. With temporal ridge very indistinct.
ii. With temporal ridge distinct.
Further consideration and study of the subfamily induces me to think this grouping misleading. To arrange the genera of any subfamily into natural groups one requires a knowledge of at least all the important genera constituting such subfamily found in all parts of the world. I have only a knowledge of the Australian genera. These genera have very different values from a classificatory point of view, a circumstance which occurs in all branches of Entomology ; this is a difficulty in the way of drawing up tables of genera, especially partial ones, because the genera must theoretically be considered as of equal value, though practically they may not be so. Taking the Australian Broscini, we find three distinct types, represented by the genera Promeco- (lerus, Eurylychnus, and Percosoma respectively. The genera of the first group, or type, have been arranged by me (I.e. p. 190) in a table that may be taken as useful as far as it goes. These genera, with Eurylychnus, are differentiated from the others by the presence of a setigerous puncture in the scrobe of the mandibles. The Percosoma group (Percosoma, Lychnus and
46 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY,
Percolestus) are without a puncture in the scrobe of the mandibles.* This feature also appears to be wanting in the New Zealand forms.
In the present paper I take the genus Promecoderus first, because I have already treated of it ; the other genera I take in what seems to me the order of their affinity as leading from Promecoderus.
Promecoderus castelnaui, n.sp.
(J. Shining black (sometimes with a bronzy tint on elytra), legs black, antennae and palpi piceous black. Head large, smooth ; frontal impressions broad, shallow ; clypeal suture hardly marked ; vertex lightly transversely impressed behind ; eyes not very prominent, inclosed behind ; post-ocular prominences small. PrO' thorax cordate, about as broad as long (4 x 4mm.), convex, very slightly declivous behind ; sides rounded, not dilatate, shortly narrowed behind ; marginal border narrow, hardly sinuate on the sides before the base, not crossing the middle of the base; basal angles sharply defined, but hardly right angles ; median line distinct. Elytra oval (8 x 4|mm.), convex, lightly rounded on sides, declivous to peduncle behind the scutellum, striate ; the dosal strife distinct, none on the sides, first four distinct, but only the 1st reaching the apex. Last four ventral segments with a round fovea on each side. In ^ the four basal joints of anterior tarsi dilatate and spongiose below, and with two basal joints of middle tarsi spongiose below ; last joint of tarsi narrow, not flattened.
Length, (J 14, 9 16 ; breadth, $ 4^, 9 5 mm.
* I would note that the form of the anterior margin of the prosternum may prove of value in dividing the Australian Bkoscini. It is edged with a continuous border in Promecoderus (all species), Cerotalis (all species), Adotela (4 species which I have examined), and Gnathoxys (I have only been able to examine a single example of Gn. tessellatus, Mael.). In Eurylychnus the border is entire in E. oUiffi, Bates, while E. hlagravii, (]asteln., and E. victorke, SI., have only obsolete ti-aces of it at each side. There is no border to the anterior margin of the prosternum in Percosoma, Lychims, and Percolestus.
BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 47
[Jah. — New South Wales; Narrabri (Musson), Warialda District (Sloane).
I received both $ and $ from Mr. Musson, who took them at Narrabri, and formerly I had a ^ taken by myself in the Waiialda district. I believe this to be the insect to which de Castelnau refers when he says, under the name P. striato-punctatus, he has a specimen from the Darling River* ; however, apart from the inappropriateness of the name striato-jninctatus, I hardly think this species will be found to extend to Victoria. I have already expressed the belief that P. striato-punctatus, Casteln., = P. 7iigrico7'7iis, Casteln. f This species is allied to P. comes, SI., from which it differs in its narrower form, in the prothorax being proportionately broader in comparison with the elytra, in its larger head, blacker colour, and in the marginal border of the elytra not being entire on the base, &c.
Promecoderus concolor, Germ.
When reviewing the genus Promecoderus two years ago I followed de Castelnau, who had been followed with doubt by M. Putzeys in his Revision des Broscides de I'Australie, and main- tained P. Jioioitti, Casteln., as a species distinct from P. coricolor, Germ. Since then I have obtained a larger series of specimens from different localities, which convinces me that they must be regarded as one species, and that P. anthracinus, Macl., and P. politus, SI., must also be placed as synonyms of P. concolor. I further sink P. lucidicollis, Casteln., to the rank of a variety, and regard P. ohlongus, Casteln., as a synonym of P. lucidicollis. M. Putzeys gives the dimensions of P. oblongus, Casteln., as 12x4-^ mm.
The synonymy will, therefore, be: — P. concolor, Germ., = P. suturalis, Casteln.; P. lucidus, Putz., (these agree with the typical form of P. concolor); P. howitti, Casteln.; P. anthracinus, Macl.; P. politus, SI. (the last three are identical, but do not seem to me
* Trans. Roy. Soc. Victoria, 1868, viii. p. 168. t P.L.S.N.S.W. 1890, (2), v. p. 210.
48 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY,
to warrant being regarded as even a variety); var. /'. lucidicollis, Casteln., = P. ohlongus, Casteln.
I have specimens of a small Promecoderus, from the Namoi River, which is so closely allied to P. lucidicollis, Casteln., that I cannot find characters to separate them. Had I been able to maintain P. lucidicollis as a good species, I should still have regarded the Namoi form as entitled to rank as a variety ; I now have to include it under P. concolor, and propose for it the name var. namoyensis ; the following is a description : —
P. namoyensis, $. bronzed black, shining, undersurface black with a metallic tinge, legs piceoas black, tarsi, palpi and 1st joint of antennae piceous. Head smooth, with a broad shallow im- pressioQ across vertex behind the eyes ; eyes prominent, inclosed buhind ; post-ocular prominences weak. Prothorax smooth, sub- convex, a little flattened on the disc, about as long as broad (3|-x3^ mm), truncate in front and behind; sides I'ounded, somewhat dilatate in middle, narrowed behind ; marginal border narrow, not crossing middle of base ; median line lightly im- pressed. Elytra oval (6-|^ x 4 mm.), subconvex, a little flattened on the disc, smooth, with the stria next the suture lightly marked-
o. More parallel ; the prothorax and elytra more convex ; the elytral striae more distinctly marked.
Length 11|, breadth 4 mm.
Hah. — 'New South Wales ; Narrabri (Musson), Gunnedah (Sloane).
The ^ diff'ers from P. lucidicollis, Casteln., in having the pro- thorax and elytra more depressed ; the $ has, however, almost exactly the same facies. Both sexes are duller coloured, and have the elytral striae more noticeable than P. hccidicollis ; the marginal border does not cross the middle of the base as it does, with rare exceptions, in that species ; the transverse impression behind the eyes is a noticeable feature in the present variety, but is wanting in P. lucidicollis. The tarsi and the fovere of the ventral segments are similar in both.
BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 49
Promecoderus ambiguus, n.sp.
Lfevigate, form comparatively short, elytra much broader than prothorax.
Shining, upper-surface bronzed-black, with a greenish tinge, undersurface rather piceous, legs piceous black, tarsi and . palpi blown. Head large, without impression across vertex behind the eyes ; clypeus slightly rugulose ; clypeal suture distinct, ending in a short foveiform impression on each side ; the lateral channel from above eye to base of mandible straight, not oblique ; eyes round, prominent, inclosed behind ; post-ocular prominences rather inconspicuous, about half the length of eyes ; mentum with strong median tooth. Prothorax convex, almost as long as broad (3^- x 3| mm.), truncate in front and behind, widest about the middle ; sides dilatate in middle, shortly narrowed behind ; marginal bonier narrow, not sinuate before basal angles, stronger and entire on base ; a broad lightly marked trarisverse impression a little in front of the base ; median line fine, very lightly impressed. Elytra rather convex, short, oval (8 x 5-^ mm.), rounded on the sides, broadest a little behind the middle ; shoulders rounded ; suture lightly impressed ; lateral border narrow ; marginal punctures as usual. Ventral segments smooth, four last with a broad shallow round fovea on each side. Posterior trochanters long and pointed at apex.
Length 13, breadth 5^ mm.
Hah. — Northern Territory of South Australia.
A single specimen in my collection received from the Rev. Thos. Blackburn of Adelaide. The last ventral segment has one puncture on each side of the anus (therefore I believe it to be the (J), and the anterior tibiae are without spongiose tissue below. In these respects, and in the form of the posterior trochanters it resembles P. distinctus, SI., which is its nearest ally among previously described species. I have not been able to compare them, but would note the more metallic colour of the undersurface in P. distinctus. 4
50 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN EMTOMOLOGY,
In the following notes I Lave not attempted to give a complete diagnosis of the previously desciibed genera, but the short note on each will be sufficient for their determination.
Genus Eurylychnus, Bates.
This genus has been formed by Mr. H. W. Bates [Ent. Mo. Mag. 1891 (2), II. p. 285], whose lamented death has been reported since these notes were written, for the reception of a small insect belonging to the Broscini from Mt. Kosciusko, which he has named E. olliffi.
The leading characters of the genus, as I regard it, are the following : —
Head with strong frontal impressions ; a strong transverse impression behind the eyes ; eyes round and prominent, a single supra-orbital puncture above each. Mandibles stout, sharply hooked at apex, a setigerous puncture in the scrobe. Antennae raoniliform. Palpi thick, apical joint truncate. Elytra striate. Anterior thighs short, dilated, but without dentiform projection below in ^ ; anterior tarsi with three basal joints obliquely produced externally, and in the ^ either clothed below with spongiose tissue or not.
I know of three species belonging to this genus which may be divided as follows : — a. Elytra with scutellar stride : size large E. blagravii, Casteln. aa. Elytra without scutellar striole : size small.
Prothorax subcordate, gently narrowed behind. Prosternum without a border along anterior
margin E. victorice, Sloane.
Prothorax orbiculate, very shortly narrowed behind. Prosternum with a complete border along anterior margin E. olliffi, Bates.
BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 51
EURYLTCHNUS BLAGRAVII, Casteln.
Mecodema hlagravii, Casteln., Trans. Roy. See. Victoria, 1868, VIII. p. 161 ; Percosoma blagravii, Putz., Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 323 ; Bates, Ent. Mo. Mag. 1891 (2), ii. p. 286.
In his note on this species, Mr. Bates says : — " If the male prove to have the soles of the dilated joints of the anterior tarsi furnished with a hair-pad, the species will belong to Eurylychnus, from which it differs only in the elytra having a scutellar striole." I took a number of specimens of both sexes under logs in the brushes at Burrawang in Nov., 1890, and am able to state with certainty that the male has no " hair-pad " on the lower side of the joints of anterior tarsi. The tarsi are so much alike in both sexes that I cannot determine the sex by their means ; neverthe- less, I do not consider a new genus necessary for its reception. So-called genera which rest on a single character of doubtful value, appertaining to only one sex, seem to me too artificial for practical workers in zoology ; though, no doubt, rigid cabinet specialists may find them indispensable.
This species has been very carefully described by M. Putzeys, but to complete my notice of the genus Eurylychnus, I append the following description founded on specimens from Burrawang.
Form robust, convex. Black, legs reddish. Head large, with strong transverse impression behind eyes ; frontal impressions strong, curved, diverging backwards, widening internally at clypeal suture, — this well marked, — a raised space between frontal impressions and lateral channel on each side ; eyes round, promi- nent. Labial palpi subsecuriform (broader in ^ than in 9). Prothorax lightly convex, almost as long as broad (5 x 5|mm.), very slightly emarginate in front, — the anterior angles being broadly rounded and a very little advanced ; sides almost parallel on anterior part to behind the middle, lightly rounded to anterior angles, shortly narrowed behind ; lateral border narrow, reflexed, shortly sinuate before base, thickened at the rather prominent basal angles ; base sinuate ; median line lightly marked ; a short strongly marked longitudinal fovea in front of each basal angle ;
52 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY,
a single marginal puncture on each side, placed just before where the sides begin to narrow behind. Elytra convex, oval (11 x 6^ mm.); strongly and regularly striate; interstices convex; scutellar striole very short ; lateral border narrow, reflexed, interrupted near the peduncle on each side ; about six punctures along each margin, those of the middle part widely placed, round, and foveiform. Presternum not bordered along anterior margin. Ventral segments impunctate— excepting last with a single seti- gerous puncture on each side of anus in both sexes.
Length 21, breadth 6^ mm.
Hab. — N. S. Wales ; Mt. Kosciusko (Helms), Burrawang : Vic- toria ; Marysville, Otway Ranges (Sloane) ; Harrietville District (Blackburn).
EURYLYCHNUS VICTORIA, n.Sp.
Form light. Black, legs and mouth parts reddish. Head large ; a strong transverse impression behind the eyes ; frontal impressions strongly marked, rugulose ; a narrow groove with I'aised external edge extending from above each eye to base of mandibles ; space between this groove and frontal impressions raised ; eyes prominent, inclosed behind ; post-ocular prominences weak. Prothorax not convex, subcordate, nearly as long as broad (3| x 3| mm.), truncate in front, lightly sinuate behind ; sides lightly rounded on anterior half, lightly narrowed behind ; lateral border narrow, sinuate before the base, thickened and forming a small protuberance at the basal angles ; median line strongly marked ; one marginal puncture on each side, placed slightly before the middle. Elytra lightly convex, oval (7 x 4|mm.), truncate at base, sti'iate ; striae entire and well marked ; interstices equal, not convex; no scutellar striole; lateral border narrow, reaching from peduncle to apex ; a few widely placed punctures along margin. Presternum with anterior margin not bordered. Joints of anterior tarsi a little obliquely produced externally.
Length 14, breadth 4 J mm.
Hab. — Victoria.
This species I received from Mr. W. Kershaw, as coming from near Melbourne.
BY THOMAS G. SLOANE, 53
I do not know the sex of tbe specimen described, but its affinity seems more to E. blagravii, Casteln., than to E. olliffi, Bates, therefore I think it likely the anterior tarsi are similar in both sexes.
Its smaller size, less dilatate prothorax, and less strongly striate elytra at once distinguish it from E. blagravii, while from E. olliffi its more elongate form, and less globose prothorax, separate it readily.
EuRYLYCHNUS OLLIFFI, Bates.
E. olliffi, Bates, Ent. Mo. Mag. 1891 (2), ii. p. 286.
A single specimen is in my collection, taken at Burrawang on 10th Nov., 1890, on which the following description is founded : —
(J. Form short, robust, head small. Black, legs and parts of mouth reddish. Head small, smooth ; a strong transversal impression behind eyes ; frontal impressions strong, diverging behind ; clypeal suture strongly impressed ; a narrow lateral groove with raised external edge, extending from back of each eye to base of mandibles, space between this groove and frontal impression raised ; eyes round, prominent, without post-ocular prominences. Prothorax short (3 x 3-|mm), rather depressed on disc, declivous on sides, broadest about middle, lightly emarginate in front, — the anterior angles being broadly rounded, margined, and slightly advanced ; sides lightly rounded on anterior half and a little narrowed to the front, shortly and decidedly rounded behind ; lateral border narrow, reflexed ; a small protuberance extending vertically downwards in the form of a ridge on each side, just before the basal angles, — these obtusely rounded ; median line very strongly impressed, not reaching either margin ; the marginal channel widening inwards on each side a little before the basal angles, thus causing the posterior part of the prothorax to appear sinuate ; three setigerous marginal punctures on each side, the 1st just behind the anterior angles, 2nd about middle, 3rd just after the prothorax begins to narrow behind. Elytra shortly oval (6| x 4^ mm.), rather depressed on disc, declivous on sides and behind, striate ; strise strongly marked on disc, very
54 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY.
indistinct on declivous part of sides ; obsolete towards apex ; no scutellar striole ; lateral border broad, reflexed^ widened and flattened on each side near the peduncle ; about six widely placed setigerous punctures along each margin. Prosternum with an entire border along anterior margin. Ventral segments strongly divided, last segment with a single puncture on each side of anus. Anterior tarsi broad, three basal joints obliquely produced on external side and clothed below with spongiose tissue.
Length 12, breadth 4-^ mm.
Hnh. — New South Wales; Mount Kosciusko (Helms), Burra- wang (Sloane).
The three remaining genera form a natural group characterised by having the mandibles without a setigerous puncture in the scrobe, and the prosternum not bordered along its anterior margin.
The following is a brief summary of the features that may be used to separate them from one another : —
Form short ; prothorax subquadrate, hardly at all narrowed behind. Head without a transverse impression behind eyes. Antennae moniliform, short, thick Percolestus.
Head with a transverse impression behind eyes, and deep frontal grooves. Antennae moniliform Lychrius.
Form elongate ; prothorax subcordate, greatly narrowed behind. Head without transverse impression behind eyes or deep frontal grooves. Antennae subfiliform, not thick Percosoma.
Percolestus, n.g.
Head moderate, lightly impressed on each side behind the eyes ; eyes spherical, prominent ; temporal ridge obsolete ; one supra-orbital puncture on each side.
Mandibles short, broad, arcuate, obtusely hooked at apex ; inner edge not dentate ; scrobe without setigerous puncture.
Alaxillce short, not projecting beyond labrum, hooked at apex.
Labrum short, sexsetose, truncate, anterior angles rounded.
BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 55
Mentum short, deeply emarginate ; lobes broadly rounded in front ; median tooth strong, bifid at apex.
Palpi : labial thick, penultimate joint bisetose, last joint elongate, longer than penultimate, cylindrical, truncate ; maxillary with penultimate joint short, conical, last elongate, thick, truncate.
Antennce short, moniliform, 1st and 3rd joints about equal in length, 1st thick, cylindrical, 3rd with apical half globose, then suddenly constricted, the basal half narrow, cylindrical, 2nd joint short, conical.
Prothorax short, the angles rounded ; one marginal puncture on each side, about middle.
Elytra short, broad.
Legs : $. Anterior femora short, thick, without a dentiform projection below ; anterior tibiae short, strongly excavate below, outer edge finely serrate near apex ; anterior tarsi short, the joints short, broad, a little obliquely produced externally, without any spongiose tissue below.
Percolestus blackburni, n.sp.
Form short, robust. Black, shining ; undersurface more polished ; palpi piceous. Head short, broad, convex, smooth, not constricted behind eyes, lightly and broadly impressed on each side behind the eyes, the impressions becoming obsolete on vertex; a light impression on each side of the clypeus, hardly reaching behind clypeal suture ; clypeus subtruncate ; eyes globular, prominent, not inclosed in prominences behind ; prothorax sub- convex, subquadrate (4^x5 mm.), a little narrower behind than in front, truncate in front and behind ; sides shortly rounded to anterior angles, — these not advanced, — more gently rounded to basal angles, — these not marked, — lateral border narrow, reaching the base ; median line very fine, not reaching either margin ; a single marginal puncture on each side, placed a little behind the middle. Elytra convex, shortly oval (9x6 mm.), lightly striate; striae very fine, those near the suture more distinct;
56 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY,
interstices flat, no scutellar stride ; lateral border narrow, reach- ing from peduncle to apex ; a few punctures along the margin, sparingly placed on anterior half and becoming closer towards apex. Prosternum with anterior margin not bordered. Ventral segments smooth, without punctures, except a single one on each side of the anus.
Hab. — Victoria (taken by Rev. Thos. Blackburn in the moun- tains above Harrietville, Upper Ovens River).
This species may be separated at a glance from all the other Australian Broscini by its short, broad prothorax, which is broadly rounded, but hardly at all narrowed beliind.
Genus Lychnus, Putzeys.
This genus, founded by M. Putzeys (Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 324) for the reception of a Tasmanian species which he named Lychnus ater, is closely allied to Percosoma ; so closely, indeed, as to suggest that it might be regarded with advantage as a section of that genus. However, I have not sufiicient material at my command to justify me in uniting it with Percosoma, and in deference to pi'evious vvorkers who have considered Lychnus a good genus, I still maintain it distinct. The species as yet recorded belong to Tasmania, but their affinity is rather to the Victorian species of Percosoma than to those from Tasmania.
Its distinguishing characters are : — Antenn;e moniliforra; head with strong frontal impressions, and a strong transverse impression across the vertex at the back of the eyes. In the $ the anterior thighs are dilatate in the middle, with the lower side forming a strong obtuse projection.
In 1878 Mr. Bates described two species, L. strangulatus and L. striatulus, as new. He expresses himself as being doubtful if L. ater, Putz., could have had the transverse impression across the head that is so conspicuous a feature in his two species, because M. Putzeys does not allude to it either in Lis diagnosis of the genus or in his description of L. ater. This
BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 57
doubt seems to have been one reason for his thinking neither of his species could be L. ater, Putz. It appeal's to me that M. Putzeys thinking this genus thoroughly specialised by the moniliform antennae, and the form of the anterior thighs in the (J, must have regarded this feature of small importance, and so omitted to mention it. I have a specimen from the north of Tasmania which seems undoubtedly to be L. strangulatus, Bates ; it agrees thoroughly with M. Putzeys' description of L. ater (apart from the transverse impression at back of head). I therefore think the names synonymous, and in this belief have united them. The puncturation of the elytral striae mentioned by M. Putzeys in his description of L. ater, and referred to by Mr. Bates in his remarks, is to my mind of no value, being, in all probability, caused by long immersion in spirits of wine.
Lychnus ater, Putzeys.
L. ater, Putz., Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 325 ; L. strangulatus, Bates, Cist. Ent. ii, 1878, p. 317.
(J. Form elongate, not convex. Black. Head not large ; a strong transverse impression behind eyes ; frontal impressions sti-ong, curved, diverging backwards ; a narrow lateral groove from above each eye to base of mandible ; eyes rather prominent ; post-ocular prominences strong, almost equalling eyes in size. Prothorax depressed on disc, cordate, a little wider than long (4| X 5mm), truncate in front and behind ; sides almost parallel on anterior part from behind anterior angles to posterior marginal puncture, decidedly narrowed, but not sinuate, to base ; lateral border narrow, extending from anterior angles to slightly behind basal angles, — these obtuse — ; median line lightly marked ; a marginal puncture on each side about the middle, three other seti- gerous punctures on the margin just behind each anterior angle. Elytra not convex, oval (9| x 6 mm.), striate ; strise shallow, lightly impressed ; interstices not convex ; shoulders rounded ; base declivous to peduncle ; lateral border narrow, slightly reflexed, extending from peduncle to apex ; a row of setigerous
58 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY,
punctures along margin, very thinly placed on anterior part, much more closely on apical third. Anterior thighs short, dilatate in middle, lower side strongly and obtusely produced.
Length 18, breadth 6 mm.
Hah. — Tasmania.
Lychnus striatulus, Bates.
L. striatulus, Bates, I.e. p. 318.
To render my notes complete I append Mr. Bates's description of this species, which is unknown to me.
"L.strangulato simillimo,differt tantum statura minori elytrisque distinctius striatis interstitiis convexis. Niger, minus nitidus ; elytris oblongo-ovatis, paullo angustioribus et supra minus planatis. Long. 17 mm. (J."
" Differs from L. strangulatus only in being smaller, propor- tionately narrower, and in the elytra being more distinctly striated, or rather the feebly or not at all incised stride are separated by convex interstices. The strise have no traces of puncturation. In its narrower, more oblong and convex form it resembles the 9 of L. strangulatus more than the $ ; but both the specimens before me are clearly males, having the broad, subdentiform dilatation of the undersurface of the anterior tibiae [query femora ?]."
"Central Tasmania (Simson). Coll. A. Fry and H. W, Bates. Mr. Janson has a third example."
Genus Percosoma, Schaum.
The type is P. carenoides, White, a well-known Tasmanian species. The species I associate in this genus fall naturally into two groups, the Australian and the Tasmanian ; the former differ greatly from the latter, though not sufficiently, I think, to warrant the formation of a genus for their reception. Of the two Australian species as yet recorded, I only know both sexes of P. montanum, Casteln., and in this species the $ has the anterior thighs with a strong dentiform projection on the lower side as in Lychnus.
BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 59
The following is a table of the species. a. Lateral border of prothorax not inter- rupted posteriorly, reaching basal , angles. A single setigerous punc- ture above each eye Australian species.
Sides of prothorax gently nar- i-owed behind, not emarginate
before basal angles P. montoriMm, Casteln.
Sides of prothorax sharply nar- rowed behind, emarginate before
basal angles P. conco^or, Sloane.
aa. Lateral border of prothorax interrupted posteriorly, not reaching basal angles. Several setigerous punctures above each eye, placed in an elongate fovea, one or more punctures on
vertex outside this fovea Tasmanian species.
Elytra very finely striate, inter- stices flat P. carenoides, White.
Elytra strongly striate, interstices
convex near sides P. sulcipenne, Bates.
The two Tasmanian species, P. carenoides, White, and P. siclci- penne, Bates, resemble each other in the very large head with long jaws, and in the shape of the prothorax, which is broadest towards the front and greatly constricted near the base, with broad lateral margins interrupted before the base. In all these points they diiFer from the two Victorian species, P. montanum, Casteln., and P. concolor, SI., which have the head moderate in size, the jaws not very elongate, and the prothorax more gradually narrowed behind, with the lateral margins narrow and not interrupted before the base.
The Tasmanian species are said to be without the strong triangular projection on the lower side of the tibiae in the ^ ; but in P. montanum, Casteln., (the only species of which I am sure I know both sexes), we find this feature more prominent than even in the described species of Lychnus, to which genus it was sup-
60 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY,
posed to be confined. In all the species the anterior tarsi are nearly similar in both sexes, and without spongiose tissue on the lower side.
Percosoma montanum, Casteln.
Meocdema montanum, Casteln., I.e. p. 163.
Percosoma montanum, Putz., Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. 1873, iv. p. 316.
Form narrow, elongate. Black, shining. Head not large, smooth ; a broad transverse impression behind the eyes, hardly at all marked across the vertex ; frontal impressions light, short ; eyes prominent, inclosed behind, projecting beyond post-ocular prominences, — these not strong. Antennae subfiliform, not taper- ing. Prothorax not convex, narrow, cordate, about as long as broad (5x5;^ mm.), truncate in front and behind; sides lightly rounded on anterior half, gently narrowed, but not sinuate, towards base, lateral border narrow, extending from anterior to basal angles, — thesu slightly obtuse ; median line lightly marked ; a single marginal puncture on each side, placed at about half the length, just before the sides begin to narrow. Elytra convex, oval, narrow (11 J x 6^ mm.), very lightly striate (the striae hardly visible to the naked eye) ; shoulders rounded ; base declivous to peduncle, apex broadly rounded ; lateral border narrow, reaching from peduncle to apex ; a row of round punctures a little within the margins, these more closely placed towards apex. A single puncture on each side of anus in both sexes.
Length 21, breadth 6^ mm.
jj. — With anterior thighs not canaliculate below, dilatate in middle, with strong obtusely pointed triangular projection on lower side.
g. — With anterior thighs lightly canaliculate below, dilatate in middle, the outer edge of the channel on lower side slightly produced.
Hah. — Victoria ; Yarragon, Gippsland (Sloane), Dandenong Ranges (French).
I have no doubt this is P. montanum, Casteln. M. Putzeys in his remarks on de Castelnau's specimens of this species says of
BY THOMAS Q. SLOANE. 61
the eyes, " ntioius grand que les tuLercules post-oculaires," and further on says, "Corselet un peu plus long que large." Neither of these remarks is applicable to my specimens, in which the eyes are larger than the prominences inclosing them behind, these being weakly developed, and the prothorax slightly broader than long. The dentiform projection on the lower side of the anterior thighs in the ^ is not mentioned either by de Castelnau or M. Putzeys.
Percosoma concolor, n.sp.
Form elongate. Black, shining. Head not large ; a broad transverse impression behind eyes, lightly marked across vertex ; frontal impressions feeble, broad, short ; eyes rather prominent, inclosed behind ; post-ocular prominences not large or protube- rant ; antennae subfiliform. Prothorax not convex, cordate, nearly as long as broad (5x5^ mm.), truncate in front, lightly sinuate behind ; sides lightly rounded on anterior half, obliquely narrowed behind, lightly sinuate towards base ; lateral border narrow, extending from anterior to basal angle, a little thickened at basal angles, these rather obtuse ; median line lightly marked ; a transverse impression on each side a little in front of the base ; several setigerous punctures along anterior half of niai-gin, the posterior one placed just behind where the sides begin to narrow. Elytra lightly convex, oval, wider than prothorax (12 x 7mm.), finely striate ; the interstices flat ; shoulders rounded ; base truncate, lightly declivous to peduncle ; apex broadly rounded ; lateral border narrow, reaching from peduncle to apex ; a few sparsely placed punctures a little within the margin. Ventral segments lightly rugose towards sides, last with one puncture on each side of anus.
Length 22, breadth 7 mm.
Hab. — Victoria; Marysville District (Track to Yarra Falls, Best).
A single specimen in my collection received from Mi'. D. Best, of Melbourne. I have not ascertained the sex of ray example, but judging from the fact that the anterior thighs are as in the 9 of P. montamim, I believe it to be a c^. Its broader form and the shape of the prothorax at once distinguish it from P. montanum.
62 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY,
Percosoma carenoides, White.
Broscus carenoides, White, Voy. Ereb. and Terr. p. 5, pi. 1, fig. 8.
Mecodema percoides, Casteln., I.e. p. 163.
P. carenoides, Putz., Stett. Ent. Zeit, 1868, p. 321.
This is a well known species ; the following description will enable it to be identified : —
Black, shining, thighs and mouth parts reddish. Head very large, smooth ; jaws long, greatly hooked at apex ; clypeus usually with three setigerous punctures on each side ; eyes not very prominent, inclosed behind ; post-ocular prominences small ; several setigerous punctures, placed longitudinally in an elongate fovea, above each eye, and, just outside this fovea, a single large |)uncture on each side of vertex. Prothorax cordate (6 x 7jmm.), lightly rounded on anterior part of sides, broadest a little behind anterior angles, sharply constricted and transversely impressed a little before the base, — ^the sides being straightened to meet the base ; lateral margins broad, interrupted at basal constriction ; a row of punctures along each lateral margin from anterior angle to basal constriction ; median line lightly impressed. Elytra not convex, oval (14x8;|mm.), very finely striate; the interstices flat ; the 5th stria with about a dozen punctures along its course, these more closely placed near base and apex, smaller towards apex.
Length 26-28, breadth 81 mm.
Hab. — Tasmania.
Percosoma sulcipenne. Bates.
P. sulcipenne. Bates, Cist. Ent. ii. 1878, p. 317.
I have a single specimen of this tine species which is found in the N. W. parts of Tasmania. The following is a brief description.
Form elongate, robust. Black, opaque, head very large, not narrowed or transversely impressed behind, rugulose in front ; jaws long and hooked at apex ; eyes round ; a rounded promi- nence behind each eye about as large as the eye and equally prominent ; several setigerous punctures, placed in an elongate foveiform depression, above each eye, and three large punc-
BY THOMAS O. SLOANE. 63
tuies, placed in a transverse row, on each side of the vertex about level with post-ocular prominences. Prothorax cordate, very little broader than long (8 x 9 mm.), broadest just behind anterior angles, gradually narrowed to near the base, then constricted, the sides being straightened to meet the base ; lateral margins broad, not reflexed, extending from anterior angle to posterior constriction, then oksolete ; a row of setigerous punctures along their length ; anterior margin longitudinally striolate ; median line distinct ; disc transversely striolate ; basal part rugulose. Elytra oval (17 x 10| mm.), rather convex, declivous towards apex, striate ; striee fine near the suture, the interstices not convex, those towards the sides strong, the interstices convex, 5th stria with three strong punctures on basal third. Posterior tiochanters long, acute.
Length 35, breadth 10|mm. (Mr. Bates's measurements are 26-30 mm. ; so my specimen seems an unusually lai-ge one.)
A brief epitome of the facts relating to the distribution of the Australian Broscini may prove of interest, though I can make no attempt to draw any conclusions from these facts.
The subfamily Broscini is represented in the Australian fauna (excluding Nesv Zealand) by 80 species, divided among 9 genera as follow : —
Promecoderus (36 species) has its metropolis in the dividing ranges of South-eastern Australia.* Twenty-two of the species are from that part of Australia lying south of a line drawn from Brisbane to Port Lincoln ; of these only P. concolor (from South-western N. S. Wales, Victoria, and South Australia) and P. hlackburni [from South Australia, Port Lincoln, and York Peninsula] are found far removed from the mountain ranges. Three species, of normal form, are from Tasmania and the islands in Bass Strait. Four species, of normal form, from West Australia (of these P. clivinoides, P. dyschirioiJes, and P. scauroides are very " close " species). Four other species constitute a group (the P. bruymicornis group*) peculiar to Tasmania ; two species {P. distinctus and/*.
* For a table grouping the species, see P.L.S.N.S.W. 1890 (2), v. pp. 193, 195.
64 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY.
ambiguus) are of a very distinct type confined to West and North Australia ; the remaining species, P. gracilis, is an isolated species ranging from Bathurst, N. S. Wales, to South Australia.
Cerotalis (5 species), two are from south-western Australia, of one the exact habitat is unknown ; one is said to be from Victoria ; the last is from the Dawson River, Queensland, and is very distinct from the others.
Adotela (14 species) seems to be found over most of the Australian continent, except the south-east. On the eastern side of the continent, Gayndah in Queensland is the furthest south that the genus is known to extend ; inland a species is found on the Darling River ; on the south coast Wallaroo, S.A., is the most easterly point from which a species is recorded.
Gnathoxys (14 species) has no species recorded from Queensland or Victoria. In N. S. Wales two species are found (G. tessellatus is found about Sydney) ; South Australia has four species recorded from it. The other eight species are distributed between King George's Sound, Swan River, and Port Essington.
Brithysternum calcaratum, the only species of the genus, is from Peak Downs, Queensland.
Eurylychnus (3 species) is peculiar to the mountains of south- east Australia, its range extending from the Shoalhaven River, N. S. Wales, to the Otway Ranges, Victoria.
Percolestus blackburni, the only species of the genus, is an isolated form from the mountains at the source of the Ovens River, Victoria.
Percosoma (4 species) has two species in Victoria and two in Tasmania. The species from the mainland are closely related and differ greatly from those of Tasmania, the latter also being nearly related to each other.
Lychnus (2 species) is peculiar to Tasmania.
It may be noted that the last three genera are more nearly related to the New Zealand types of Broscini than to the other Australian genera. All the species of Broscini found in Australia are apterous.
65
NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.
By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B.A., Core. Mem.
Part XI.
C A R A B I D .E. Lebiides.
Trigonothops longiplaga, Chaud.
I have recently received from various localities examples scarcely separable from this species, and an examination of these and of specimens from Tasmania of T, pacifica, Er., appears to me to point strongly to the conclusion that T. longiplaga, Chaud., cannot be considered other than a variety of T. pacifica. De Chaudoir distinguishes it by the following characters — (a) head less narrowed behind the eyes, (b) prothorax less short and a little less rounded laterally, (c) elytra more elongate and less strongly striated, with flatter interstices, (d) spots on the elytra more yellowish, the anterior one sending out a narrow prolongation to the base.
Of my Victorian examples, — which I know were taken in com- pany and are certainly conspecific irUer se, — only one presents all the characters attributed to longiplaga ; they all agree in having the anterior elytral spot prolonged to the base, but two of them have the prothorax distinctly shorter than the other, and of these one has the elytra distinctly wider than the other. The elytra are striated a little less strongly than in one of my Tasnianian examples of T. pacifica, but I have another Tasmanian example which is striated quite as strongly as the Victorian specimensj but presents no other character distinctive of longiplaga.
63 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
From S. Australia I have three examples, all taken near Port Lincoln. In these the anterior elytral spot is prolonged forward still more widely and conspicuously than in the Victorian form, one of them even having nearly the whole basal margin filled by it. These S. Australian specimens, moreover, have the front margin of the prothorax more or less distinctly straighter than in the Tasmanian and Victorian forms, in consequence of which the front angles of the prothorax are more defined, being obtuse but not altogether rounded oif. This form might perhaps be conveniently named, thus : —
T. pacifica, Er., var. lindensis; prothoracis angulis anticis minus rotundatis ; elytrorum plaga anterior! antrorsuni usque ad basin late producta.
From W. Australia 1 possess a single specimen which may possibly represent a separate species, though I fail to detect any good distinction except in respect of characters that in the forms alluded to above certainly appear to be liable to slight variation. Compared with T. pacifica this insect has a slightly shorter pro- thorax, but I can find no other structural difference. The anterior elytral spot is quite as in pacifica, but the hinder spot is as in T. flavofasciata, Chaud., i.e., is a fascia occupying the entire apex of the elytra and is of even width, but zigzagged on its anterior margin. I think it must be regarded with hesitation as a var. of T. pacifica. It may be thus characterised : —
T. pacifica, Er., var, (?) occidentalis ; differt prothorace paullo breviori, elytrorum macula postica fasciam formanti apicem totam complenti, antice dentata.
I may add that the variations mentioned above are undoubtedly not sexual characters ; nevertheless, as I have not seen both sexes of all the forms alluded to, there remains a possibility that an examination of these might reveal specific characters.
Of the other described species of the genus T. lineata, Dej., is very different from all the above mentioned forms ; T. dimidiata, Chaud., I have not seen, but it is evidently a very distinct form • T. plagiata, Germ., is identical with lineata, Dej.; T. fiavofasciata.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 67
Chaud., is extremely like some vars. of T. pacifica, Er., and in my opinion is of doubtful validity j T. nigricollis, Macl., is probably a good species ; there is nothing in the description of T. paUicli- collis, Macl., to distinguish it from T. jjacifica ; Sir W. Macleay's three species from N. W. Australia are said to have the posterior elytral spot " near " the apex, which seems to distinguish them from all the forms of Trigonothops known to me, the posterior elytral spot in all these being at the apex.
I may add that the description of Dromius tridens, Newm., points to the probability of its being a Trigonothops, and that there is nothing in the brief description inconsistent with its being founded on the same species as T. pacifica, Er., in which case Newman's name would have priority.
Demetrias tweedensis, sp.nov.
Elongatus ; rufo-piceus, subtus dilutior ; prothorace capiti longitudine latitudineque sequali, longitudinaliter profunda sulcato, transversim subrugato, latitudine longitudini aequali, antice leviter emarginato postice subbisinuato, antice quam postice manifesto angustiori, angulis anticis baud productis, latitudine majori sat longe ante medium posita, lateribus leviter arcuatis ante basin sinuatis, angulis posticis extrorsum directis parum acutis ; elytris sat fortiter punctulato- striatis, ad apicem emarginato-truncatis, truncaturse angulo externo obtuso interno sat acuto, interstitiis convexis sparsim subtiliter punctulatis, interstitio 3° postice punctura singula instructo. [Long. 5, lat. If lines.
This seems to be a genuine Demetrias, though on a casual glance it has much the appearance of a Xanthophoia, but the form of its palpi and other characters connect it with the former genus. It is very like a species from the Richmond River (N.S.W.) which seems likely to be D. rufescens, Macl., but is much larger and diflfers in the form of the prothorax, which is by measurement fully as long as wide (to a casual glance it looks longer), and evidently narrower across the front margin than across the base,
68 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
its widest part being evidently further fi'om the front and its sides at this point being snbangulate. The anterior narrowing of the prothorax as compared with the width at the base will at once separate the present species from J), hrachinoderus, Chaud.
N. S. "Wales ; Tweed River ; given to me by Mr. Olliff.
HOMETHES ANGULATUS, Sp.nOV.
Oblongus; niger, antennis (basi testacea excepta) palpisque fuscis, pedibus (geniculis et ad apicem sunimum tibiis tarsorumque articulis infuscatis exceptis) mandibulisque testaceis ; prothorace transversO; latitudine majori longe ante medium posita, lateribus fortiter angulatis lineis binis fere rectis formatis ; elytris sericeo-tesselatis, leviter striatis, ad basin late rotundatim (quam H. sericei, Er., multo minus fortiter) productis. [Long. 31, lat. \\ lines.
Much like H. sericeics, Er. (which is said, probably correctly, to be identical with I/, elegans, Newm.). Compared with it, the present species is narrower and more parallel ; its prothorax distinctly moi-e transverse, the greatest width nearer to the front, the lateral margin formed by two nearly straight lines which meet in an angle evidently more defined than the lateral angulation in H. sericeus; the elytra very much less strongly produced forward at the base.
From H. guttifer, Germ., and marginipennis, Macl., the absence of a pale elytral margin inter alia distinguishes this insect ; H. emarginatus, Chaud., has joints 6-9 of the antennse white; ff. micans, Germ., and velutinns, Macl., have the prothorax at its widest at (or close to) the middle. Apart from colour, this species is very near H. guttifer, Germ., but the prothorax is at its widest a little nearer to the front, and has a more marked angle at its widest point ; also the projected front of each elytron is sub- angular, not evenly rounded. The colour difference has nothing to do with sex.
S. Australia ; Port Lincoln district.
BY THE REV. T, BLACKBURN. 0^
HOMETHES GRACILIS, Sp.nOV.
Elongato-oblongus ; niger, antennis (articulo basali fere iiigro, articulis 4-6 et 9-11 infuscatis, exceptis) palpis mandibuHs pedibusque (horum geniculis et ad apicem summum tibiis tarsorumque articulis infuscatis exceptis) testaceis ; pro- thoracis latitudine longitudini aequali, latitudine majori paullo ante medium posita, lateribus ab angulis anticis fere ad medium leviter divergentibus hie vix angulatis liinc ad basin arcuatim convergentibus ; elytris sericeo-subtesselatis, leviter striatis, ad basin anguste modice productis, interstitio 3° guttulis obscure rufis seriatim ornato.
[Long. 4, lat. l^g lines. A very elongate graceful species, probably in general facies resembling H. emarginatus, Chaud. ; but that species inter alia is described as having joints 6-8 of the antennae white, and does not appear to have the 3rd interstice of the elytra marked with pale spots. , Its narrow form will, I think, separate this insect from all others of the genus hitherto described, as also will the basal joint of the antennae black in strong contrast to the next following joints. H. velutimis, Macl., is only slightly described, but it is not said to be a particularly narrow species ; moreover, the description of the antennae does not make them agree with the species before me, and it is implied that the legs are entirely of a testaceous colour.
S. Australia ; McDonnell Ranges.
HoMETHES PARVICOLLIS, Sp.nOV.
Ovalis ; niger, antennis fusco-piceis (articulo basali 3° que subtus testaceis exceptis), mandibulis apice rufescentibus, pedibus (geniculis sat late et ad apicem summum tibiis tarsorumque articulis infuscatis exceptis) pallide flavis ', prothorace parvo quam latiori fere longiori, latitudine majori longe ante medium posita, lateribus fortiter angulatis lineis binis fere rectis formatis ; elytris sericeo-tesselatis, leviter striatis, ad basin leviter latissime rotunda to-productis.
[Long. 4^, lat. 1| lines.
70 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
Remarkable for the great amplitude of its elytra as compared with the prothorax. The latter is Vjy measurement just barely longer than wide, and is not at all wider than the head j its lateral angles though very obtuse are extremely well marked, not in the least rounded off. The elytra become gradually and slightly wider hindward from the base to near the apex ; the front margin of each elytron is gently and very widely rounded forward, a character which will at once separate this species from all its named allies, unless it be one or two in whose descriptions the shape of this part is not mentioned, but they are very different in respect of other characters. From H. emarginatus, Chaud., the colour of the antennse will inter alia separate it, from H. velutinus, Macl., the nearness of the widest part of the prothorax to the front of that segment. The dark antennae and palpi are a noticeable character.
N. S. Wales ; near Sydney.
HOMBTHES ROTUNDATUS, sp.nOV.
Late ovalis ; niger, antennis palpis mandibulis pedibusque totis testaceis ; prothorace quam longiori sat latiori, quam caput multo latiori, fere hexagonali, latitudine majori paullo ante medium posita ; elytris late rotundato-ovalibus, quam con- junctim latioribus vix sesquilongioribus, sericeo-tesselatis^ leviter striatis, ad basin modice sat anguste productis.
[Long. 3f, lat. If lines (vix).
Remarkable for the strongly rounded sides and great width of its elytra, which are by measurement scarcely half again as long as they are together wide, — at a glance they appear even wider, or something near circular. Apart from this character the entirely testaceous antennse (joints 5 and 6 scarcely infuscate), palpi, mandibles and legs will, I think, separate this species from all previously named in the genus.
N. S. Wales ; Blue Mountains.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 71
Dromius YARRiE, sp.nov.
Oblongo-ovatus; nitidus; piceo-niger, elytris caeruleo-cupreoque-
subiridescens, antennis palpis mandibulis pedibusque
sordide testaceis, femoribus coxis et metasterno medio
fere albidis ; capite prothoraceque alutaceis haud
manifeste punctulatis ; illo fere sequali antice obscure trans-
versiru impresso ; prothorace sat transverso, antice posticeque
subtruncato, canaliculato, lateribus ab angulis anticis (his sat
rotundatis) retrorsum ad basin leviter arcuatim angustatis,
angulis posticis obtusis ; elytris obsolete striatis, interstitiis
planis, interstitio 4° foveis nonnullis magnis fere obsoletis
notato. [Long. 1|-, lat. f line.
This species is very like a Metabletus in general appearance, but
its mentum appears to be toothed, although it is difficult to be
quite certain without dissection in the case of so minute a species,
and I have seen only a single example. It is certainly congeneric,
I think, with Dromiios humeralis, Macl., from which it differs
(apart from colour) by its elytra less elongate, less parallel, and
at their widest behind the middle, as well as by the much more
obtuse hind angles of the prothorax.
Victoria ; Upper Yarra ; sent by C. French, Esq.
Sarothrocrepis posticalis, Guer.
I am confident that this is only a var. of ^S'. corticalis, Fab. ; I have taken it frequently in company with typical examples of that insect, and 1 can find no character whatever to distinguish it except the absence of a forward prolongation of the elytral fascia, and even in respect of that character there are intermediate forms. In both forms the prothorax is very similar in shape, being much narrower across the front margin than at the base, with the sides diverging considerably from the front to (or nearly to) the middle and thence converging slightly with a fairly strong sinuation to the base, which is widely and distinctly (but not very strongly) lobed hindward in the middle, the hind angles being very sharp and with a slight outward direction. I am not sure that the
72 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
prothorax of S: posticalis is not a little more narrowed in front than that of typical S. corticalis, but the character is certainly too slight to be regarded as specific. The prothorax of the male in both forms is a little less transverse than of the female and seems to be at its widest slightly nearer to the front ; and the male has a slight excision at the end of the apical ventral segment. The above remarks are founded on the examination of a fairly long series from S. Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania.
Sarothbocrepis (Lebia) calida, Newm, I believe this species to be identical with S. corticalis, Fab.
ECTROMA OBSOLETUM, Sp.nov.
Oblongum, postice latius ; testaceum, elytvis a basi retrorsum indeterminate fusco-3-vittatis, vittis postice ad fasciam sub- obsoletam subapicalem fuscam attingentibus, corpore subtus fusco-adumbrato ; antennarum articulo basali 3° longitudine ajquali ; prothorace sat transverso, antice subtruncato quam postice parum angustiori, lateribus parum arcuatis postice vix sinuatis, angulis posticis fere rectis (apice summo subro- tundato) ; elytris striatis, striis obscure punctulatis.
[Long. 3, lat. l^Sj- lines. I have no doubt this species is congeneric with E. civicum, Newm., but as my example is a female there remains a possibility that the discovery of the male might prove it to be a Sarothrocrepis. In colour and markings it is not unlike a washed-out specimen of Sarathrocrepis corticalis, Fab., but is smaller than any example I have seen of that species, has the basal joint of the antennse longer, the prothorax of quite a different shape, &c., while its general form is much more elongate, with the elytra gently wider from the base nearly to the apex and with their lateral margins nearly straight. In respect of most of the above mentioned characters it agrees with the insect mentioned below, which I take to be E. (Lebia) henejicum, Newm., but differs from it by its more robust form, longer and stouter legs, less strongly transverse
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 73
prothorax, and by the absence of the dark patch or spot which in the latter species seems to be invariably present on either side of the scutellum.
N.S. Wales ; Blue Mountains.
ECTROMA BENEFICUM, Newm.
I do not know any species to which the very brief description of this insect applies quite satisfactorily. De Chaudoir states that it is a congener of E. ( Lehia) civicum, Newm., and also that Lebia duponti, Putz., is conspecific with it. There appears to me to be probably a clerical or printer's error in the description of the latter, which states that a pale vitta runs from the shoulder towards the suture of the elytra, and then turns and runs up the elytra again " versus marginem," and also that independently of this the margin is entirely testaceous. It is difficult to understand how there can be room for all this marking outside the shoulder. If " versus marginem " were " versus suturam," the description would apply very satisfactorily to one of the varieties of an extremely variable species which is clearly, I think, congeneric with Lebia civica, Newm., and is very widely distributed in Australia. I believe that Lebia benefica, J^'ewm., and Cymindis inquinata, Er., are both varieties of this species. Also I believe Sarothrocrepis liturata, Macl., to be another variety of the same. I fear it is impossible, however, to arrive at any certainty regarding Newman's and Erichson's species mentioned above.
The species before me, and of which I take the above mentioned to be varieties, is inconstant in size and markings. It varies from long. 2^, lat. 1 line to long. 3, lat. Ig lines. A darkly coloured exam- ple (such as Lebia daponti might have been founded on) has the head, prothorax and the antennae rufo-testaceous (the prothorax, however, having a somewhat semicircular blackish mark on the middle portion of its front). The elytra may be regarded as blackish, — in which case the lateral margins (narrowly), the apex (widely) and two vittse which unite on the base and also on the ■disc at about half the length of the elytra (enclosing an oblong
74 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
black space) are testaceous ; or the elytra of this variety may be regarded as testaceous, having a short blackish vitta (not quite touching the base) on either side of the scntellum, and also a large common black blotch (not quite touching the lateral margins nor extending into the hinder fifth part of the elytra, convex and also dentate hindward and being in the front half of its length divided into three branches, which narrow forward to the front margin of the elytra, — one on the suture and one close to the lateral margin on either side) which occupies the greater part of the surface.
An example coloured as above, but in which the juxta-scutellar vitta should connect at its hind apex with the sutural extension of the large black blotch (I have not seen an example in which it quite connects) would agree with the description of Lehia benefica, Newm.
Through a long series of specimens before me the dark colouring of the elytra gradually fails, the difficulty being to find two examples quite identical. First the sutural extension of the large blotch is much narrower and then disappears, then the juxta-scute]lar vitta dwindles to a small spot, then the lateral extensions of the large blotch become more slender and then are abbreviated in front, then the solid part of the dark blotch begins to fade out both in front and behind till it becomes quite a narrow fascia sending out three short extensions in front and with its hind margin convex and dentate hindward, then this fascia be- comes broken into a number of short disconnected longtitudinal lines (placed however so as to be evidently fragments of the same fascia), and finally these lines dwindle down to a single small spot placed at the point which in a full-coloured example is the centre of the solid part of the dark blotch. In this last named variety the elytra are entirely testaceous except a small dark spot on either side of the scutellum and another on tiie suture a little in front of the apex. Cymindis inquinata, Er., is probably one of these latter varieties in which the solid part of the dark blotch has become much reduced, and traces of its lateral extensions remain as short isolated lines.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 75
The undersurface is testaceous, with the sides and apex of the abdomen more or less widely black. The legs are entirely testaceous.
The description of Dromius tridens, Newm., is so meagre and vague that several widely separated species (including this) would come very near fitting it. I have not, however, seen any example of this species so large as D. tridens, and this, together with Newman's calling it a Dromius, points strongly to D. tridens being a Trigonothops (in spite of De Chaudoir's saying that it is congeneric with Lehia henefica, Newm.), — probably T. pacificay Er.
I have examined the type of Sarothrocrepis liturata, Macl. (from N. W. Australia), and cannot distinguish it from examples of this species taken on the south coast of Australia.
In all the numerous varieties I have seen of this insect there is a conspicuous isolated dark spot or blotch on either side of the scutellum and at least some trace of a more or less semicircular dark mark on the front of the prothorax.
The prothorax is very strongly transverse in the female and considerably less so in the male, its sides moderately (female) or but little (male) rounded, its greatest width at (female) or just in front of (male) the middle, its front margin very little narrower than its base, its hind angles obtuse.
The specimens before me are from Port Lincoln, Adelaide, Melbourne, the Victorian Alps, Central Australia, and N. W. Australia.
COPTODERIDES.
Philophlceus monticola, sp.nov.
Sat depress us ; pubescens ; ferrugineus ; elytris fusco-piceis, lateribus (sat anguste) apice (ol)scure angustissime) et vittis singulis dorsalibus latis ferrugineis 3 his in quinta parte apicali deficientibus ; prothorace quam longiori minus quam duplo latiori, antice fortiter emarginato, postice sat fortiter lobato, ad latera utrinque 5-setoso, lateribus mox ante medium
76 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
sabangulatis, hinc ad basin vix sinuatis, angulis posticis baud plane rotundatis fex'e subprominulis (fere ut P. distinguendi, Cliaud.) ; elytris confertim subtiliter (quam P. australis uiulto minus fortitei-) punctulatis, obsolete striatis, humeris modice prominulis. [Long. 4^, lat. 2^ lines.
Maris tarsorum intermedioruni articulis basalibus 3 subtus
squamuloso-papillosis. Very like P. australis, Dej., but differing from it by the very much finer puncturation of the elytra, the more uniformly ferruginous antennae, the prothorax scarcely darker on the disc than on the margins, the i'ront of the prothorax more strongly emarginate making the front angles more prominent and con- spicuous, &c., &c.
Compared with P. distinguendus, Chaud., the prothorax is markedly narrower, the elytra much more finely punctured, &c., &c. ; P. g7'andicej}s, Chaud., is (as its name implies) notable for its large head (a character not observable in the present species) and appears to be punctured as P. australis.
P. intermedius, Chaud., inter alia multa, has the lateral margins of the prothorax only bisetose.
P. australasice, Chaud., inter alia has the siitural apex of the elytra furnished with a small tooth.
P. immacidatits, Chaud., and occidentalis, Blackb., have uni- colorous elytra.
P. Froggatti, Macl., is only about half the size of this species and probably does not belong to this section of the genus. The other described species have different male characters. Victoria ; Alpine district.
Philophlceus sydneyensis, sp.nov.
Sat depressus ; pubescens ; ferrugineus ; elytris late f usco- trivittatis (vitta communi suturali postice abbreviata, alteris submarginalibus apicem vix attingentibus) ; prothorace antice bisinuatim minus fortiter emarginato, postice minixs fortiter
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 77
lobato, ad latera utrinque 2-setoso, angulis posticis obtusis vix distinctis, elytris confertim subtiliter punctulatis, obsolete striatis, humeris parurn prominulis.
[Long. 3|-, lat. 1| lines.
The above characters will distinguish this species from all of the genus previously described. The others having only two setose punctures on the lateral margins of the prothorax are intermedius, Chaud., ohtusus,Q\\».nA.^ angulatus, Chaud., hiculentus, Newm., rectangulus, Chaud., and perhaps mollis, Newni. The last three of these are entirely different in their style of markings and other characters. From obtusus and angidatus the present species differs inter alia by the sutural vitta being abbreviated at about f the length of the suture, — or (if the dark colour be regarded as the ground) by the two pale vittse uniting behind and filling up the apex. This species is very near P. iritermedius, its markings and colour being identical ; but differs from it by its head almost smooth, its prothorax much less narrowed behind, less emarginate in front and scarcely lobed behind, its elytra much more finely punctulate and having the shoulders much less promi- nent, and its considerably smaller size.
I believe this is the first Philophlceus reported from N. S. Wales. I have not seen the male, but have no doubt its sexual characters are like those of P. intermedins.
N. S. Wales ; Blue Mountains ; under bark of Eucalyptus.
Philophlceus laticollis, sp.nov.
Sat depressus ; pubescens ; ferrugineus, elytris fusco-piceis, lateribus (sat late) et vittis singulis dorsalibus latis ferrugi- neis ; his in quinta parte apicali deficientibus ; prothorace (maris vix feminse plane) quum longiori latiori, antice sub- bisiuuatim leviter emarginato, postice lobato, ad latera utrinque 5-setoso, lateribus rotundatis postice vix subsinuatis, angulis posticis rotundato-obtusis ; elytris fere ut P. australis sculpturatis, humeris minus prominulis.
[Long. 5i-6, lat. 2|-2| lines.
Maris tarsorum intermediorum articnlo 3° subtus simplici.
78 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
In the section of PhiloiMceus having the third joint of the intermediate tarsi simple in the male this species may be at once distinguished from all previously described except P. eucalypti, Germ., by the following characters in combination: — Prothorax 5-setose on either side, elytra not unicolorous on the disc and punctured not more finely than those of P. australis, Dej. It is remarkable for its extremely transverse prothorax (which is by measurement twice as wide as long in the female, and scarcely less wide in the male) which distinguishes it from P. eucalypti, Germ., and is one of the largest species of the genus.
Victoria ; Alpine district.
Philophlceus EUCALYPTI, Germ. (var. 1 Tasmania;). The only PhilojMoeus that I have seen from Tasmania is scarcely to be distinguished from this S. Australian species. I notice, however, that the antennse (except the basal joints) and the palpi are much darker than those of typical P. eucalypti, and there is a slightly more decided indication of hind angles to the prothorax. The tarsi of the male, the prothoracic setse, the elytral puncturation, and the colour and markings seem to be quite identical. I take it to be a local var.
Philophlceus opaciceps, Blackb.
I have received this species from Western Australia (York district).
Philophlceus conpertus, sp.nov.
Sat depressus ; pubescens ; ferruginous ; elytvis fusco-piceis, lateribus et vittis singulis dorsalibus minus latis ferrugineis ; his in sexta parte apicali deficientibus ; prothorace quam longiori fere duplo latiori, antice leviter emarginato, postice parum lobato, ad latera utrinque 2-setoso, lateribus ab angulis anticis retrorsum leviter arcuatis paullo ante medium angu- latis hinc ad basin nullo modo sinuatis, angulis posticis valde obtusis vix rotundatis ; elytris confertim subtilissime punctu- latis, leviter striatis, interstitiis leviter convexis.
[Long. 4, lat. 1|^ lines.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 79
My example of this species is a female, but there can hardly be a doubt of its belonging to the same section (the 2nd) of the genus as P. angulatus, Chaud., to which it is closely allied, though very distinct. Compared with that species the prothorax is wider and not quite so sharply angulated at the sides, which behind the angulation are not in the least sinuate, the hind angles, however, being more obtuse. The juxta-sutural elytral vitta continuous to near the apex and much narrowed behind distinguishes this species from all of the section (angulatus included) except eucalypti (in which, however, the said vitta is much wider in its front part), which inter alia has 5 setse on either side of the prothorax and much more strongly punctured elytra. The bisetose sides of the prothorax, in combination with very finely punctured elytra, which are not unicolorous but bear a narrow dorsal vitta abbre- viated behind and not turned inward towards the suture, will distinguish this insect from all others of the genus independently of sexual characters. I believe it is the first species of Philophloeus with a pattern on the elytra recorded from Western Australia.
W. Australia ; Yilgarn ; sent to me by C. French, Esq.
Agonocheila.
The difficulty of this genus and of Philophloeus is greatly increased by the existence of several descriptions of the most unsatisfactory character, of which all that can be said is that they are very likely to have been founded on a Philophloeus or an Agonocheila, as the case may be, — but it is quite hopeless to refer them to any one in particular unless one could accomplish an examination of the original type, which is quite out of the ques- tion for Australian workers. I see nothing for it but to treat these as non-existent and to accept the risk of redescribing them. In my opinion the author of a sufficient description is perfectly justified in publishing it on the one condition that he do not create a synonym for a species already recognisable by descriptio7i. I fully admit that if an eventual examination of an original type can enable its identity to be satisfactorily proved, its name must have priority against all others whatsoever, — but I hold the author of
80 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
the first recognisable description perfectly free from blame even though the name he used have to become a synonym through the subsequent investigation of the specimen on which some unin- telligible description was founded.
Lehia irrita, Newm., is an example in point. De Chaudoir seems to think it likely to be a Philophloeus. I incline to believe that it is an Agonocheila, and it is quite possible that it may be the species described below. But it could not be identified except by inspecting the original type (which if still existent is, I suppose in the British Museum), and therefore I disregai'd it.
Agonocheila fenestrata, sp.nov.
Sat depressus ; pubescens ; f usco-ferrugineus vel obscure rufo- testaceus, exemplortim plurimorum capite abdominis lateribus apiceque et elytris obscurioribus (his macula brevi anguste oblonga longitudinali discoidali antice posita, et exemplis nonnullis altera communi transversa subobsoleta pone medium posita, ornatis) ; prothorace quam longiori fere duplo latiori, antice leviter emarginato, postice lobato, quam caput parum latiori, ad latera utrinque 2-setoso, latitudine majori longe ante medium posita, lateribus paullo pone angulos anticos angulatis hinc ad basin letter fere recte convergentibus, angulis posticis rectis, basi quam margo anticus paiillo latiori; elytris modice (quam A. curtulce, Er., paullo minus fortiter) punctulatis, obsolete striatis, interstitiis vix planis.
[Long. l|-2, lat. %-t line. This species seems very easily recognisable by its diminutive size and its brown elytra bearing a short line-like testaceous mark on the disc a little in front of the middle ; very rarely this mark is a little dilated laterally so as to be not much longer than wide, and almost equally rarely there is a short transverse testaceous mark crossing the suture a little behind the middle ; in some examples the external margins of the elytra are narrowly (and more or less faintly) pallid ; I have not seen an example in which the front pallid mark on the elytra is wanting except one probably immature,
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 81
in which the whole elytra are pallid. The species is remarkable also for the angulation of the sides of the prothorax (where the anterior of the two lateral setae is placed) being very near to the front margin — much nearer, e.g., than in A. curtula, Er., (^corti- calis, Chaud.). Compared with A. biguttata, Chaud., the present insect is much smaller, with different markings, very much more transverse prothorax, ifec.
S. Australia; W. Australia; Victoria; common.
SCARITIDES.
EURYSCAPHUS SULCICOLLIS, Sp.noV.
Minus latus; niger; nitidus; capite minus transverso, supra oculos utrinque bipunctulato, inter oculos vix rugato, sulcis fron- talibus modicis antice minus fortiter divergentibus, postice linea curvata conjunctis ; prothorace quam longiori fere duabus partibus latiori, marginato, transversim leviter rugato, leviter canaliculate, intra margines laterales utrinque late longitudinaliter sulcato, lateribus postice vix sinuatis, margine antico manifeste bisinuato, angulis anticis leviter productis, mavginibus utrinque bipunctatis; elytris modice convexis, fere Ifevibus, quam conjunctim latioribus sat lon- gioribus, ad basin leviter emarginatis, humeris reflexis, disco postice utrinque punctura sat magna instructo.
[Long. 16, lat. 6? lines. The most striking character of this species is the wide shallow sulcus on either side of the prothorax considerably within the lateral margin running from the front hindward, and gradually becoming fainter as it approaches the base (there is an approach to this sculpture in E. bijninctatus, Macl.). The large puncture on the hinder part of the disc of each elytron distinguishes the present insect from ail the previously described Uiiryscaphi except bipunctatus, Macl., obesiis, Macl., tatei, Blackb., and ebeninus, Sloaue ; the elytra are distinctly longer in proportion to their width (as 19 to 16) than in any of the last named except tatei, Blackb., to which this species is rather close, differing, however
82 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
(apart from the absence of elytial sculpture, which may be an unimportant character), by the presence of the prothoracic sulci already mentioned, by its less transverse head on which the frontal sulci are gently curved -outward and forward in front with less approach to an angle than in the other Euryscaphi known to me, and by the non-sinuate hinder portion of the lateral margins of tlie prothorax. The legs do not appear to differ materially from those of E. ohesus, Macl. The elytra are not much wider than the prothorax (as 16 to 14i), and their sides are but little rounded.
S. Australia; basin of Lake Eyre.
EURYSCAPHUS CHAUDOIRI, Sp.nOV.
Minus latus ; nitidissimus ; aterrimus ; capite valde transverso, supi'a oculos utrinque bipunctulato, inter oculos sat fortiter ragato, sulcis frontalibus modicis antice fortiter extrorsum directis, postice linea curvata conjunctis ; prothorace quam longiori tribus partibus latiori, marginato, transversim obsolete rugato, canaliculato, lateribus posfcice manifesto sinuatis, margine antico vix bisinuato, angulis anticis leviter productis, marginibus utrinque bipunctatis ; elytris convexis sub- tilissiine vix striatis, quam conjunctim latioribus sat lon- giorihus, ad basin leviter emarginatis, humeris reflexis, disco postice utrinque punctura sat magna instructo.
[Long. 15, lat. 6 lines (vix). The elytra distinctly longer than usual in proportion to their width (as 17^ to 15) together with the presence of a large puncture on the hinder part of the disc of each elytron will separate this species from all others described except tatei, Blackb., and sulcicollis, Blackb. It differs from the former by its consideiably more transverse prothorax (| again as wide as long), somewhat more elongate elytra (which are differently sculptured), &c., and from the latter by the frontal sulci much more angulated, differently sculptured prothorax, with sides sinuate behind, &c. S. Australia, near Morgan,
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 83
Clivina iEQUALis, Blackb.
In describing this species (P.L.S.N.S.W., 1889, p. 718) I find I omitted to mention an important character, viz., that it has a perfectly well defined abbreviated punctulate stria on either side of the scutellum on the basal part of the juxta-sutural interstice. Owing to the presence of this additional stria, it should be noted, the stria that is bent outwards at the base to meet one of the external striae is the 5th counted along the base, but the 4th (as stated in my description) if the count be taken a little behind the base.
ANISODACTYLIUES. Hypharpax (Harpalus) australis, Dej.
I have recently taken near Sydney two male examples which I have no doubt are referable to this species, of which I had previously seen only females. A study of these males shows them to be perfectly distinct from Harpalus inornatus, Germ., although so like it that apart from the sexual characters there might be room for doubt whether the differences are really specific. The hind femora of these examples are devoid of the tooth that is found in the males of so many species of Hypharioax, and which is very strongly developed in inornatus, and the hind tibise are nearly straight, the same in inornatus being strongly bent inward near the apex. Apart from these sexual characters the hind tarsi of these examples are not quite so short as those of inornatus but I cannot specify any other reliable distinction, unless it be that their prothorax is a trifle more strongly transverse, and with hind angles a little better defined than the same in H. inornatus. According to the Baron de Chaudoir's diagnosis of Hypharpax (Ann. Mus. Gen., 1878, p. 496) its essential distinction from Diaphoromerus consists in the dentate hind femora of the male, but it was pointed out by Mr. Bates in the same year (Cist. Ent., II., 320) that this is not a constant character, and in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. A. (1887, p. 182) I expressed the opinion that the true character of the genus consists in the short hind tarsi — a character
84 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
which is well marked in the Sydney specimens before me, their hind tarsi being very much shorter than those of any BiajjJwro- merus that I have seen, and with the basal joint not longer than the second. The female differs from Ef. inornatus by its straighter hind tibiae and slightly longer hind tarsi.
Hypharpax obsolktus, sp.nov.
Brunneus, aeneo- vel subviride-micans, labro mandibulis palpis antennis pedibus scutello et (nonnullis exemplis) marginibus lateralibus flavis ; prothorace fortiter transverso postice quam antice vix latiori, postice utrinque foveolato, foveolis sat perspicue punctulatis, lateribus modice rotundatis, angulis posticis sat rotundatis, latitudine majori mox ante medium posita ; elytris subtiliter striatis, interstitiis planis (postice angustioribus convexis), 3° longe ante apicem (nonnullis exemplis) punctura setifera instructo.
[Long. 3-3i, lat. l|-li lines.
Maris tarsis anterioribus 4 minus fortiter dilatatis ; femoribus posticis simplicibus ; tibiis posticis vix arcuatis.
This species seems very distinct from all previously described. Count Castlenau unfortunately gives no information as to the sexual characters of the numerous Anisodactylides which he described under the name Harpalus, and de Chaudoir has certainly, I think, mixed up Diaphorovierus and Hypharpax in the utmost confusion, so that it is a difficult matter to arrive at absolute certainty, but at any rate there is no species from W. Australia described by either of those authors which seems at all near the present one. Of described species H. Deyrollei, Cast., comes perhaps nearest to it, but in that the hind angles of the prothorax are entirely rounded off (non-existent in fact), whereas in this insect though somewhat rounded at the apex they are quite well-marked, much as in H. inornatus, Germ.
W. Australia ; Yilgarn ; sent to me by C. French, Esq.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 85
AMBLYTELIDES [tribus (sensu Lacordairei) nova].
Amblytelus.
Amhlytehts is (as M. Lacordaire says) a very difficult genus to place, but I cannot satisfy myself that the great French author has done well in placing it in the Trigonotomides, inasmuch as its mentum is not particularly feebly emarginate. I have a consider- able number of species before me (including one from Tasmania which is evidently the typical species), and in all these, and also in Erichson's figure, the meotum is not much different from that of many Feronides, but is totally distinct from that of typical Trigonotomides {e.g., Lesticus or Abacetus).
I think there is no doubt tiiat this genus and some other genera hitherto undescribed allied to it ought to be regarded as repre- senting a distinct " tribe " (as Lacordaire understood the term), i.e., a group of equal value with that of the Feroniides, Trigono- tomides, &c. This group will be characterised among the Carahidoi as follows : — intermediate coxal cavities closed, head furnished above with two supra-orbital setigerous punctures and not grooved beneath to receive the antennae, mandibles with a setigerous puncture in the groove, basal 3 joints of antennae glabrous (4th pubescent, at least near the apex), margin of the elytra interrupted at posterior 3rd and having a distinct internal plica, terminal joint of maxillary palpi not springing obliquely from the preceding joint. I believe the following character will also prove to be constant : — 8th interstice of elytra strongly plicate-carinate near the apex.
Besides Amblytelus I think there can hardly be a doubt that Dyscolus austrcdis, Er., and D. dilatatus, Er., will find a place in this tribe, indeed Mr. Sloane has shown me a specimen said to be of the latter (alleged to have been named by Mr, Bates and agree- ing with the description) which certainly is an Amblytelus or (more probably) of a new genus very near Amblytelus ; it unfortu- nately was badly broken in transmission, and is now hardly fit to be dealt with.
Mr. T. G. Sloane has sent me a number of interesting species allied to Amblytelus (together with some valuable notes), and my
86 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
own collection contains several moi'e also allied to Amhlytelus. On these I find it necessary to form two new genera characterised below. The following tabulation will show how these genera are related : — A. Penultimate joint of tarsi bilobed.
B. Prothorax with two marginal punctures on
either side Amhlytelus.
B. Prothorax with only one marginal puncture
on either side Dystrichothorax.
A A. Penultimate joint of tarsi not bilobed Epelyx.
Amblytelus.
The following is a tabulation of the described species of Amhlytelus. I have placed A. vittatus, Motsch., merely from the description, as I have not seen any insect agreeing with it. It appea rs to be a very small species resembling A . curtus, Fab., in style of markings but with the testaceous margin of the elytra extremely narrow.
A. Each elytron (separately) bearing a pale discal vitta. B. The pale vittfe widely confluent in the front part of the elytra. C. Prothorax much narrower at base than
at front margin sinuatus, s)).nov.
CO. Prothorax very little narrower at
base than at front margin brevis, sp.nov.
BB The pale vittae not confluent in front i . ' ^l ,
{ vittatics, Motsch.
AA. Elytral markings consisting of a large
common pale blotch discoidalis, Black b.
AAA. Pale elytral markings narrowly limited
to the suture and lateral margins... mornatm, Blackb.
AAAA. Elytra without distinct markings
(size very small) minutus, Macl.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 87
Amblytelus brevis, sp.nov.
Quam A . curtus, Er., minus elongatus ; pallide rnfo-testaceus, elytris vittis 3 nigris (mediana communi nullo modo, lateralibus vix, basin attingentibus) postice conjunctis ornatis ; prothorace fortiter transverse, angulis posticis rotundato-obtusis. [Long. 4-4|, lat. If-lf lines.
Smaller than A. curtus, Er., and a shorter and wider insect ; the prothorax is more strongly transverse and less narrowed behind and is without any trace of dark spots ; the general colour is decidedly more yellow {i.e., less ferruginous) and the elytra are differently marked ; regarding the pale colour of the elytra as the ground tint the markings consist of three dark vittse (the middle one on the suture where it commences considerably behind the scutellura, the others occupying about the 6th and 7th interstices of each elytron, and commencing close behind the base) which unite behind and fill up the whole apical quarter of the elytra with the exception of the margins, which remain of the ground colour. The other described species resembling this in style of markings is vittatus, Motsch., (which inter alia is described as an oblong insect, with the di^sc of the prothorax inf uscate and the yellow lateral margin of the elytra very narrow, — in the present s^iecies it occupies the whole of the lateral two interstices). I have seen many examples of this insect and do not observe any variability.
S. Australia and Victoria.
Amblytelus sinuatus, sp.nov.
Ab A. brevi vix differt nisi capite paullo majori et prothorace
aliter formato; hoc minus transverso postice quam antice
manifesto angustiori, lateribus postice manifesto sinuatis,
basi tota sinuatim rotundata (nullo modo in medio lobata).
[Long. 4^, lat. 2 lines (vix).
This insect is extremely close to the S. Australian species
described above, but the differences seem to be constant. The
head in A. sinuatus is (independently of sex) distinctly broader
and more massive, partly owing to the eyes being evidently larger
eO NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTER*,
and more prominent. The prothorax is distinctly less strongly (though nevertheless strongly) transverse, and is very evidently more narrowed behind ; its sides are distinctly though slightly (in brevis not at all) sinuate immediately in front of the base ; and the base itself differs as follows : — In sinuatics it runs as a continuous curved (nevertheless sinuous) line from one hind angle to the other (the convexity of the curve directed hindward), and there is nothing at all like a median lobe distinguished from the rest of the base, while in brevis the middle part of the base forms a very wide and quite well defined lobe.
N. S. Wales ; taken in the Blue Mountains by Mr. T. G. Sloane.
Dystrichothorax, gen.nov.
Ab Amblytelo differt prothorace utrinque i)unctura setigera singula solum instructo, hoc ad angulum posticum posito.
All the species that I have seen of this genus differ from all that I have seen of Amblytelus in their prothorax being much wider behind. The subapical intra-marginal carina of the elytra is as in Amblytelus. In the male the front tarsi are but little dilated, the basal 3 joints having scale-like papillfe beneath. Amblytelus amplijjennis, Macl., belongs to this genus.
D. BicoLOR, sp.nov.
Oblongus ; nitidus ; testaceus, elytris utrinque vitta discoidali nigricanti a basi retrorsum gradatim dilatata, abdomine medio infuscato; prothorace leviter transversO; antice quam postice sat angustiori, canaliculato, transversim rugato, utrinque ad basin late longitudinaliter sulcato, antice linea arcuata trans- versa fortiter impresso, margine antico rotundatim subpro- ducto, lateribus subdiaphanis ab angulis anticis (his rotun- datis) ad medium rotundatim divergentibus hinc ad basin trisinuatam (vix sinuatim) leviter convergentibus, angulis posticis rectis ; elytris ad basin quam prothoracis basis vix latioribus, a basi retrorsum cito dilatatis (latitudine majori pone medium posita), puuctulato-striatis, interstitiis fere
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 89
plauis (3° puncturis setiferis obscuris notato, 8° apicem versus plicato-elevato), angulis humeralibus acutis.
[Long. 3-|-4, lat. 1-i lines. The subdiaphanous lateral margins of the prothorax are margined within by a fine interrupted black line, which is pro- bably liable to be wanting. The setiferous punctures of the 3rd elytral interstice are very inconspicuous and difficult to discern, except by their setpe. This species bears a reaiarkable superficial resemblance to the Cistelid, Apellatus nodicornis, Blackb. N.S.W,, Blue Mountains.
Dystrichothorax sloanei, sp.nov.
PrfBcedenti affinis ; minor ; totus rufo-ferrugineus (elytrorum singulorum disco toto plus minusve infuscato excepto) ; prothoracis lateribus ab angulis anticis usque ad basin rotun- datim nee sinuatim divergentibus ; elytrorum interstitiis paullo magis convexis. [Long. 3-3|, lat. li lines (vix).
Of very different superficial appearance from the preceding owing to its different colouring, but otherwise scarcely differing ■except in the few character.s specified above. The principal difference lies in the absence of sinuation in the sides of the pro- thorax behind the middle, which makes the segment appear of a bell-shape (its base being its widest part, whereas in D. biculor the prothorax is distinctly wider about the middle than across the base) ; in both species the subdiaphanous lateral margins become gradually wider hindward, but more strongly in sloanei than in bicolor.
N. S. Wales; Richmond R.; sent to me by Mr. T. G. Sloane.
Dystrichothorax bipunctatus, sp.nov.
Oblongus ; nitidus ; ferrugineus, capita obscuriori ; prothorace quam longiori circiter quarta parte latiori, postice quam antice paullo latiori, canaliculato, trans versim rugato, utrin- que ad basin fovea magna profunda (antice linea arcuata transversa fortiter) impresso, margine antico rotundatira subproducto, lateribus leviter arcuatis postice vix sinuatis,
90 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
angulis jiosticis subrectis ; elytris subtiliter (latera versus vix manifeste) punctulato-striatis, ad basin qiiam prothoracis basis vix latioribus, a basi retroisum cite dilatatis, angulis humeralibus acutis, interstitiis plauis (3° puncturis setiferis 2 notato, 8° apicem versus plicato-elevato).
[Long. 3|, lat. 1^ lines. Australia ; exact habitat uncertain ; taken by Mr. T. G. Sloane.
Dystrichothorax lividus, sp.nov.
Oblongo-ovatus ; nitidus ; livide-brunneus, nonnullis exemplis ad latera dilutioribus ; capitis sulcis frontalibus elongatis profundis ; prothorace quam longiori fere tertia parte latiori, postice quam antice sat latiori, canaliculato, transversim rugate, utrinque ad basin fovea magna sat profunda (antice linea arcuata transversa leviter) impresso, margine antico leviter prominulo, lateribus leviter arcuatis postice vix sinnatis, angulis posticis subrectis ; elytris ad basin quam prothoracis basis vix latioribus, a basi retrorsum cito fortiter dilatatis (latitudine majori pone medium posita), subtiliter (latera versus vix perspicue, postice magis fortiter) punctulato- striatis, interstitiis planis (3° puncturis magnis subobsoletis 2 notatis, 8° apicem versus plicato elevato), angulis humerali- bus acutis. [Long. 3i, lat. 1^ lines.
N. S. Wales; Richmond R.; Mr. T. G. Sloane.
Dystrichothorax vicinus, Sloane (MS.). Nitidus ; siibtus testaceus, prothorace capiteque testaceis, elytris nigris ad basin testaceis et utrinque vitta testacea sat brevi ornatis (vittis ad basin conjunctis) et ad latera late testaceo- marginatis, prothorace subquadrato antice quam postice fere angustiori, lateribus postice vix subsinuatis, angulis posticis fere rectis subdentifoimibus, basi in medio late leviter lobata; elytris subovalibus sat convexis, striatis, striis subtilissime punctulatis (1* 2* que ad basin confluentibus), interstitiis sat planis (3° apicem versus puncturis 2 impressis, 8° apicem versus plicato-elevato). [Long. 5|, lat. 2^ lines.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 91
A very distinct species ; the discal vittse of the elytra are narrow, scarcely extend into the apical ^ of the elytra, and are much narrowed behind. The insect has the general appearance of an Amhlytelus. The base of the prothorax is very charac- teristic ; immediately within the hind angle on either side it is emarginate and the inner apex of the emargination joins the middle piece of the base in a distinct angle.
Victoria ; Princetown ; taken by Mr. T. G. Sloane. N.B. — Mr. Sloane's collection contains an example, also from Victoria (Yarragon), which I hesitate to regard as a species distinct from D. vicinus, although it differs in several respects from the type ; it is larger (long. 6 lines), the base of the elytra is not testaceous except where the vittse and lateral margins meet it, the vittjB are longer, reaching nearly to the apex, the reflexed margin of the prothorax seems a little wider, and the elytra are a little more strongly punctulate-striate.
The following tabulation will assist in identifying the species of this genus.
A. Elytra devoid of well defined pale discal markings. B. Small species — long. 4 lines or less. C. Prothorax evidently wider at the baFe than in the middle. D. Frontal sulci of head very elon- gate and deep lividus, ap.nov.
DD. Frontal sulci of head normal ... sloanei, sp.nov. CC. Prothorax not wider at the base
than in the middle , hipunctatus, sp.nov.
BE. Of large size — long. 5 lines or more amplipennis, Macl. AA. Elytra with well defined pale discal markings. B Middle of base of prothorax reaching hindward much further than the
hind angles vicinus, Sloane.
BB. Base of prothorax very little promi- nent hindward in the middle bicolor, sp.nov.
l NOTES 0\ AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA
Epelyx, gen.nov.
Ab AmUytelo differt tarsorum articulo 4° baud bilobo.
Maris tarsis anticis leviter dilatatis subtus sparsim squamuloso- papillatis.
Epelyx lindensis, sp.nov.
Sat breviter ovalis ; nitidus ; supra obscure ferrugineus, prothorace piceo-umbrato, elytris (margiuibus lateralibus et spatio communi indeterminato pone vel circa scutellum exceptis) piceis, antennis palpis pedibus et corpore subtus (hoc plus minus piceo-umbrato) testaceis ; prothorace quam longiori dimidia parte latiori, antice quam postice vix angustiori, canaliculato, leviter transversini rugato, margine antico emarginato-truncato, lateribus raodice sat sequaliter arcuatis, angulis (anticis sat rotundatis hand productis) posticis rotundato-obtusis, basi media late vix lobata ; elytris ad basin quam prothoracis basis parum latioribus, conjunctim sat jequaliter ovalibus, subtiliter striatis, striis distincte punctulatis, interstitiis planis (3° 5° 7° que puncturis setiferis seriatim ornatis, 8° apicem versus plicato-elevato).
[Long. 3, lat. 1| lines,
S. xlustralia ; near Port Lincoln.
Epelyx latus, sp.nov.
Breviter late ovalis ; sab nitidus ; totus ferrugineus, corpore subtus pedibusque dilutioribus, elytris plus minusve piceo- umbratis ; prothorace quam longiori vix dimidia parte latiori, antice quam postice vix angustiori, canaliculato, leviter transversim rugato, margine antico sinuato-truncato, lateribus modice sat sequaliter arcuatis, angulis (anticis sat rotundatis) posticis rotundatim valde obtusis, basi utrinque obliqua; elytris prothorace plus quam duplo latioribus, leviter (postice magis fortiter) striato-punctulatis, interstitiis sat planis, V puncturis sat magnis 3 (7° puncturis circiter 7) impresso, 8° apicem versus jilicato-elevato.
[Long. 2|, lat. \\ lines.
BY THE REV. T, BLACKBURN. 93
A short wide insect with the prothorax very small in comparison of the elytra. Less darkly coloured than the preceding, and also smaller, with the prothorax not so strongly transverse and differently shaped in the hinder part. In latus the base on either side runs from the hind angle obliquely (and a little sinuately) hindward and inward, the oblique lines thus formed meeting the median piece of the base almost subangularly ; thus the hind angles of the prothorax not only are a good deal rounded off, but are formed by lines inclined to each other at a very obtuse angle ; in lindensis the base on either side runs from the hind angle directly inward and not (or scarcely) at all hindward until it is slightly deflected hindward to form a very feeble median lobe ; the hind angles thus being formed by lines inclined to each other at a much less obtuse angle. In both sjjecies the actual junction of the base and sides is a good deal rounded off.
N. S. Wales ; Blue Mountains ; taken by T. G. Sloane, Esq. FERONIIDES.
Ehytisternus splendens, sp.nov.
Subdepressus ; sat parallelus, niger elytris Isete caeruleo iridescentibus, antennis palpis tarsisque ferrugineis ; protho- race vix transverso, antice quam postice vix angustiori, antice sat fortiter emarginato, subobsolete canaliculato, subtiliter transversim rugato, ad basin utrinque foveato et bisulcato (sulco interiori profundo elongate, exterior! brevi obscuro), latitudine majori ante medium posita, lateribus postice baud sinuatis, angulis posticis valde obtusis vix rotundatis ; elytris fortiter striatis, striis postice baud minus profundis, 5 in medio minus profunda, 6* 7* que antice subobsoletis ; prosterno ad latera fortiter rugato; tarsis posticis externe sulcatis. [Long. 6, lat. 2J lines.
The decidedly bright blue iridescence of the elytra seems to be a good character for this insect. R. cyathodera, Chaud., is said to be " subiridescent " only, and besides it is a considerably larger
■94 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
insect, and is stated to have its elytra striated as R. liopleura, whereas the elytra of the present species are striated very differently, the enfeeblement of the striae 5-7 being limited to the anterior part, so that in more than the apical ^ part of the elytra the striation is nearly regular and even. Ji. sulcatipes, Blackb., has the slightest suspicion of iridescence, but it also differs inter alia in much larger size and in the very much more extensive enfeeblement of the 5th-7th elytral striae. I notice that in this species the strigosity of the prosternal episterna is exceptionally strong, and is even extended a little on the middle part of the prosternum. Victoria.
Rhytisternus cardwellensis, sp.nov.
Subdepressus ; minus parallelus ; nitidus ; niger, vix iridescens antennis palpis tibiis ad basin summam tarsisque rufescentibus; prothorace leviter transverso, postice quam antice multo angustiori, antice parum emarginato, canaliculato, trans- versim subobsolete rugate, ad basin utrinque foveato et bisulcato (sulco interiori modice elongato exteriori brevi obscuro), latitudine majori paullo ante medium posita, lateribus antice fortiter rotundatis postice fortiter sinuatis, angulis posticis valde obtusis nullo modo rotundatis ; elytris fortiter striatis, striis postice baud minus profundis, ^^ leviter nee obsolete impressa, 6" subobsoleta, 7* vix impressa, omnibus postice sat fortiter impressis ; prosterno ad latera minus fortiter rngato ; tarsis posticis externe vix manifesto sulcatis. [Long. 6|^, lat. 2| lines.
This species is distinguished from nearly all its described ■congeners by its prothorax being much narrower across the base than across its front margin, and the sides of the same being quite strongly sinuate in their hinder part. It is perhaps nearest to R. puella, Chaud., but in that species inter alia the hind angles of the prothorax are said to be right angles.
N. Queensland ; Cardwell ; in the collection of C. French, Esq.
BY THE EEV. T. BLACKBURN. 95
MlCROFERONlA AoELAIDiE, Blackb.
The minute Carabid which I described under this name seems to have been wrongly referred by me to the Feronini, as I find that it has not the oblique sulcus traversing the elytral epipleurse which appears to be an essential character of that sub-family. Removed from the Feronini it must find its place, I think, among the Anchomenini, and is probably related to Lestignathus and Lacordairia, though it has not much superficial resemblance to either of them.
LOXANDRUS.
The most salient character of this genus seems to consist in the 3rd interstice of the elytra having only a single puncture, and that placed slightly in front of the middle of the elytra ; further characters may be found (at least for the Australian species) in the total absence of the abbreviated basal stria of the elytra, and the exceptionally conspicuous puncturation of the ventral segments, which are not transversely sulcata. I am unable to regard the presence or absence of wings as an essential character (the Baron de Chandoir, I observe, associates winged and apterous species in Leptojwdus), as I have before me an apterous insect which presents all the above characters, and seems to have no structural difference whatever from winged examples of the genus, except the absence of wings.
There is a generally distributed species of this genus of which I have examples (apparently quite incapable inter se of specific separation), from very widely divided localities, and which I believe to have been described by the Count de Castelnau and ISir W. Macleay as Pcecilus iridescens, Cast., and Pcecilus suhiri- descens, Macl. It is a small insect (long. 4-4^ lines) of extremely brilliant iridescence, with the parts of the mouth, the antennae and the legs more or less reddish or reddish-brown, with the pro- thorax (by measurement) very slightly transverse, punctulate behind, somewhat quadrate, its greatest width about the middle, its sides slightly arched, its hind angles roundly obtuse, and its
96 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
front distinctly margined all across, and with the striae of its elytra strong and distinctly punctulate and their interstices somewhat convex ; it is winged, and has rather prominent eyes.
Besides this species, the Baron de Chaudoir places in Loxandrus the following three : — Poecilus rufilahris. Cast., (from Queensland), which is described as an iridescent insect, larger than iridescens (long. 5 lines), with reddish-brown labrum and palpi, black legs and brown tarsi, prothorax wider in front than behind (where it is punctulate), and elytral striae strongly punctulate ; Poecilus gagatinus, Cast., (from Tasmania), described as a small species (long. 3| lines), entirely black ; and Poecilus atrouitens, Macl., (from Queensland), which is briefly characterised as a little smaller than subiridesceris, with the impressions on the head feebler than in that species, the elytral interstices less convex, and the surface almost devoid of iridescence. I have not seen any species that I can identify with the three just named.
Loxandrus l^vicollis, sp.nov.
Alatus; sat elongato-ovalis; nitidus; niger, vix cyaneo-iridescens, capite antice palpis antennis tarsisque rufescentibus ; oculis sat fortiter prominulis ; prothorace haud punctulate, quam longiori plus quam tertia parte latiori, tenuiter canaliculato, utrinque ad basin sulco elongato longitudinali impresso, antice late leviter emarginato, margine antico quam postico paullo latiori, latitudine majori sat longe ante medium posita, lateribus modice arcuatis, angulis posticis obtusis vix rotundatis ; elytris punctulato-striatis, striis latera versus minus profundis, stria abbreviata scutellari nulla, interstitiis sat planis (3° ante medium punctura ornato).
[Long. 4*, lat. 1| lines.
Probably near L. rufilahris, Cast., but with the prothorax entirely devoid of puncturation (except the two marginal punctures). Compared with the species mentioned above, as probably L. iridescens, Cast., this insect inter alia has a more transverse prothorax, wider towards the front and with the
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 97
margin running along the front, obsolete in the middle, the striae of the elytra narrower, but much more conspicuously punctured, the interstices considerably less convex, and the eyes more prominent.
S. Australia ; near Morgan.
LOXANDRUS MICANS, Sp.nOV.
Apterus ; sat elongatus ; nitidus ; niger, cyaneo-iridescens, capite antice palpis antennis tarsisque picescentibus ; oculis parum prominulis ; prothorace postice sparsissime punctulato leviter transverso, tenuiter canaliculato, utrinque ad basin sulco elongato longitudinali impresso, antice modice emarginato (angulis anticis manifeste prominulis), hie quam ad basin sat angustiori, latitudine majori paullo ante medium posita, lateribus modice arcuatis, angulis posticis rotundato-obtusis ; elytris striatis, striis 1-6 antice punctulatis, stria abbreviata scutellari nulla ; interstitiis vix convexis (3° ante medium punctura ornato). [Long. 6, lat. 2^ lines.
Very distinct by the absence of wings, as well as by its size notably surpassing that of the previously described Australian Loxandri. The prothorax is distinctly margined all across its front ; the punctures at its base are very few, but well defined.
Victoria ; in the collection of C. French, Esq.
TRECHIDES.
Trechus.
I have recently examined tlie tyjies of the species of Trechus from Gayndah described by Sir W. Macleay and which are in the Australian Museum. I do not feel sure that any of them are true Trechi. T. rufilahris is a singular insect, for which I do not feel prepared to suggest a place. T. atriceps appears to be a Thenarotes, and T. ater a 9 Lecanomerus. T. concolor may be a Trechus ; unfortunately it is a unique 9.
V ,*:' ^ y-i^y
98 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
BEMBIDIIDES. Bembidium.
I have recently made an examination of the Australian types described by Sir W. Macleay as belonging to this genus. I was unfortunately not able to study them sufficiently at leisure to enable rae satisfactorily to characterise new generic forms among them, which would, I think, be necessary in treating them pro- perly ; but as Sir W. Macleay in describing them intimated that he referred them to Bembidium only in a general sense, I think that I can furnish some notes on them which may prove useful pending a more exhaustive treatment of the subject.
One of them, B. transversicoUe, appears to uie to be a small Harpalid very close to my Notophilus Icetus (of which, however, I had not a specimen with me for comparison). The unique type in the Australian Museum is unfortunately in very bad condition, so that I fear it will be hardly capable of satisfactory examination.
The other species are all, 1 think, rightly referred to Bembidium (using the name in a very general sense). I should say, however, that B. gagatinum and Jiavipes might properly be referred to a new genus, hipartitum. to another new genus and hrunnipenne to still another.
The following appear to be typical Bembidia, viz., bipustulatum, amplipenne and subviride.
The rest of the species are, I think, congeneric with Tachys Mindersi, Blackb., and other species which I have referred provi- sionally to Tachys as presenting in general the structural characters of that genus, while at the same time their superficial resemblance to typical Bembidia suggests the probability that eventually they may receive a distinct generic name,
Bembidium ocellatum, Blackb. This species is identical with B. subviride, MacL, of which it must in future be regarded as a synonym. The rest of the species described by Sir W. Macleay as Bembidia are distinct from all T have described unless my Notophilus lo'tus should be identified with Bembidium transversicoUe, Macl.
BY THE KEV. T. BLACKBURN. 99
PALPICORNES. Hydrobaticus tristis, Macl. An examination of the type of this species shows that it differs from H. australis, Blackb., in having the interstices of the elytra evidently convex behind, the alternate interstices slightly more so than the others, and the commencement of the posterior declivity a little marked, not quite evenly continuing the general surface.
Hydrobaticus luridus, Macl.
I have inspected the type of this insect and have no doubt of its being a variety of H. tristis. In his description Sir W. Macleay says that it differs from that species only by its smaller size and pale lurid colouring. I have found a very similar variation in H. australis.
LAMELLICORNES.
DiPHUCEPHALA SPRETA, sp.nOV.
Viridis, capite postice prothoraceque aureo-micantibus, antennis (clava picea excepta) pedibusque rufis, tarsis apice picescen- tibus ; pilis supra brevibus fulvis subtus elongatis albidis vestita; clypeo (maris) antice profunde arcuatim exciso, angulis anticis divergentibus ; capite crebre ruguloso ; prothorace crebre fortiter vix profunde punctulato late leviter canali- culato, sulcis transversis sat profundis sulcum dorsalem baud attingentibus, lateribus in medio angiilatis, angulis posticis acute rectis; elytris sat fortiter transversim rugulosis obsolete 2-costatis ; tibiis anticis ad apicem extus 2-dentatis.
[Long. 5, lat. 2i lines.
A large and handsome species ; the only one yet recorded, I think, from W. Australia with red legs.
W. Australia ; in the collection of C. French, Esq.
LiPARETRUS MAURUS, .sp.nOV.
Ovalis ; minus nitidus ; piceo-niger, antennarum stipite rufo, pedibus picescentibus ; prothoiace (basi excepta) setis erectis
100 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
nigris fimbriate, corpore subtus cinereo-pubescenti ; capite conf ertim minus fortiter prothorace magis fortiter nee erebre, elytris sat fortiter subseriatim, prepygidio subtiliter nee erebre, pygidio fere ut pi'othorax, punctulatis ; clypeo antice manifeste arcuatim emarginato ; fronte late longitudinaliter concavo ; prothorace postice obsolete eanaliculato ; elytris sat fortiter geminato-striatis ; tibiis anticis extus obtuse 3-dentatis ; tarsis validis, posticorum articulis basalibus 2 sat sequalibus ; antennis 9-articulatis.
[Long. 3|, lat. 1^ lines. This species is closely allied to L. concolor, Er., and L. collaris, Macl. The latter difiers from it inter alia by its brownish elytra and more densely frilled prothorax with finer puncturation. L. concolor is a shorter and more ovate species with the prothoracic channel entire or nearly so, the prothoracic puncturation much coarser, the propygidium much more strongly punctulate, the basal joint of the hind tarsi very evidently shorter than the 2nd joint, &c. I suspect that the specimens from N. S. Wales which Sir W. Macleay referred to L. concolor were examples of the insect I am describing.
N. S. Wales ; Blue Mountains.
LiPARETRUS LUGENS, sp.nov.
Late ovalis ; subnitidus ; piceo-niger, antennis palpis elytris tibiis tarsisque obscure rufescentibus ; prothorace basi excepta setis erectis brunneis fimbriate, corpore subtus cinereo-pubescenti ; capite confertim minus fortiter, pro- thorace fortiter rugulose confluenter (fere ut L. salebrosi, Macl.), elytris sat fortiter nee rugulose nee confertim, prepy- gidio vix fortiter vix erebre, pygidio sat fortiter vix erebre, punctulatis ; prothorace vix manifeste canaliculate ; elytris obsolete geminato-striatis ; tibiis anticis extus fortiter triden- tatis ; tarsorum posticorum articulo 2^' quam 1"^ fere dimidio longiori.
Maris clypeo antice lato retiexo-emarginato, angulis anticis extrorsum acute prominentibus ; fronte longitudinaliter
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 101
obtuse bicarinata ; tarsorum aaticorum articulo primo intus
dilatato.
Feminse clypeo antice minus lato leviter reflexo-emarginato,
anguiis anticis sat acutis ; fronte obtuse minus fortiter
bicarinata. [Long. 4, lat. 2g lines.
This species belongs to the first section (Sir W. Macleay's
arrangement) of Liparetrus, and is not very closely allied to any
previously described species.
N. S. Wales ; taken by Mr. T. G. Sloane near Albury.
Liparetrus Adelaide, si).nov. Ovalis ; sat elongatus ; subnitidus ; niger, palpis antennis (clava excepta) elytris (basi anguste nigra et nonnullis exemplis lateribus infuscatis exceptis) pedibusque rufis ; supra pilis erectis pallide brunneis sat dense vestitus, corpore subtus pygidio propygidioque dense cinereo-birsutis ; capite pro- thorace pygidio propygidioque confertim sat fortiter subrugu- lose, elytris fortiter minus crebre, punctulatis ; prothorace leviter vel vix manifesto canaliculato ; elytris sat distincte geminato-striatis ; tibiis anticis extus 3-dentatis ; tarsorum posticorum articulo 2° quam 1"^ dimidio longiori. Maris clypeo antice minus lato, fortiter reflexo-emarginato, pone ajjicem angustato, anguiis anticis extus sat acute productis ; tarsorum anticorum articulo basali intus anguste elongato. Feminse clypeo antice angustato subtruncato, vix emarginato.
[Long. 4-4f , lat. 21-2? lines.
According to description this species must be very near the
Queensland L. fulvohirtus, Macl., but is very much larger. The
late Sir W. Macleay compared an example with the type of his
species and reported it " quite distinct."
S. Australia ; near Adelaide.
SciTON, gen.uov.
Generi Anodontcmyci affinis; labri anguli nullo modo prominuli; palpi maxillares crassi, articulo apicali breviter ovali quam
102 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
secnndus vix longiori, quam tertius vix dimidio longiori
(quam latiori vix duple longiori) ; clypeus (speciei typicse)
antice abrupte truncatus. Antennae magis elongate (speciei
typicfe 9-articulat8e).
Anodontonyx, Shp., must be very near Colohostonia, Blanch.,
diflfering inter alia by the number of joints in the antennse. The
latter is also no doubt near Sciton, but inter alia its maxillary
palpi have their apical joint " oblongus " and the clypeus is
" rotundatus."
Having only a single example I have been unable to dissect the parts of the mouth.
SCITON RUBER, Sp.nOV.
Sat elongatus ; minus nitidus ; subparallelus ; totus ruber nisi tibiis obscnrioribus, antennis palpisque dilutioribus ; supra glaber subvelutinus ; sternis pilis suberectis subtilibus spar- sim inconspicue vestitis ; segmentis ventralibus pedibusque setis sat robustis instructis ; clypeo obscure ruguloso, antice late abrupte truncato, lateribus fortiter sinuatis ante oculos baud dilatatis ; capite postice prothoraceque vix manifesto punctulatis; hoc quam longiori fere duplo (postice quam antice paullo minus) latiori, antice late marginato, supra sequali, lateribus leviter arcuatis, margine antico sat profunde bisinuatim emarginato, basi bisinuata, angulis anticis acutis modice productis posticis rotundatis (superne visis subrectis); elytris sparsim leviter punctulatis, perspicue striatis, inter- stitiis alternis quam cetera latioribus ; pygidio nitido, longitudinaliter sulcato, subtiliter sat crebi-e punctulato ; propygidio (hoc ab elytris hand plane obtecto) pubescenti ; corpore subtus sat nitido ; sternis sat crebre subfortiter punctulatis ; segmentis ventralibus sparsius subtiliter punc- tulatis et transversim punctorum majorum setiferorum seriebus instructis ; coxis posticis quam metasternum parurti brevioribus ; femoribus latis ; tibiis anticis extus fortiter 3- dentatis; unguiculis simplicibus; antennis 9-articulatis, stipite quam clava duplo longiori, hujus laminis 3 subsequalibus. S. Australia. [Long. 8, lat. 4 lines.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 103
COLPOCHILA CAMPESTRIS, Sp.nOV.
Ovata ; sat brevis ; rubro-ferruginea, vix iridescens, capite prothoracequeobscurioribus; pectorevalde hirsute; abdomine setoso ; capite confertim riigulose confluenter nee crasse, prothorace (hoc subvelutiao) pygidioque (hoc haud carinato), elytris (his geminato-striatis) obscure, punctulatis ; antennis 9-ai-ticulatis ; tarsorum posticorum articulo 2° quam basalis manifeste longiori.
Maris (exempli typici) antennis carentibus ; pygidio apice late sinuato-ti'uncato.
Feminse antennarum clava 5-articulata, hujus articulo 2° quam 3° (et basali quam ille) quarta parte breviori ; pygidio valde gibboso apice minus late truncato. [Long. 11-|-, lat. 6 lines.
Very near the S. Australian C. fortis, Blackl)., from which it diflPers by its darker colour, somewhat broader and more robust build, less distinctly punctured elytra, and the antennal characters. In the female the basal joint of the club is not much more than half as long as the third joint, and the second joint is about intermediate in length between the first and third, whereas in C. fortis (female) the basal joint of the club is scarcely shorter than the second, and the second is scarcely shorter than the third. The pygidiura also in C. campestris (female) is very much more gibbous than in C. fortis. In the male the pygidium is much more widely and less straightly truncate at the apex than in the male of G. foTtis, and no doubt the antennal characters are different. From C. giganteo,, Burm., the five-jointed (in the female and no doubt in the male also) flabellum of the antennae distinguishes the present insect. In C. dubia, Blackb., the antenaiB (female) are much like those of C. campestris, — the 2nd joint of the flabellum, however, being markedly less abbreviated, — but the species inter alia is considerably more strongly punctulate, more nitid and more elongate. The other species of this group of Colpochila (large insects having a sharply defined lateral protho- racic gutter set with long soft hairs) difi'er still more widely. In
NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
my tabulation of Colpochila (P.L.S.N.S.W., 1890, pp. 520-2) this species falls under " FF" on p. 521 with C. fortis.
W. Australia ; near Yilgarn ; sent by C. French, Esq.
Frenchella, gen.nov.
Labium planum; palporum labialium articulusultimus elongato-
ovalis ; maxillse 5-dentatte ; palporum maxillarium articulus
ultimus quam penultimus duplo longior ; labrum minus
crassum, angulis fortiter prominulis ; antennae 9-(vel. 8 ?)
articulatse, clava 3-articulata quam stipes paullo breviori ;
pectus setis elongatis sparsim vestitum ; tibise posticse (ut
Colpochilce) apicem versus fortiter dilatatse ; tarsi modice
elongati ; unguiculi simplices ; elytra nullo modo geminato-
striata.
I am unable to specify any character to separate this genus from
Colpochila (regarded as including Haplonycha) except the absence
of any approach to a geminate arrangement of the strise on the
elytra. Nevertheless the facies is quite diiferent, approaching that
of Heteronyx, and I do not think the species described below could
with any propriety be referred to Colpochila. I do not find any
distinctive sexual characters among the examples before me. The
genus Homolotropus, Macl., differs from this intei' alia by its
geminate-striate elytra, Platydesmus, Macl., by its depressed
form, greatly developed antennal club, &c., Colohostoma by the
apical joint of its labial palpi being " crassus." It is most probable
that Haphmycha striatella, Blanch., ohscuricornis, Blanch., and
rugosa, Burm,, should be placed in this genus, which I have named
after C. French, Esq., the Victorian Colonial Entomologist.
Frenchella lubrica, sp.nov,
Ovalis ; convexa ; pernitida ; supra glabra, ad latera fulvo- ciliata ; subtus capillis fulvis elongatis minus dense vestita ; piceo-nigia, capite prothoraceque vix rufescentibus an tennis palpis et tarsorum apice rufis ; capite confertim sequaliter rugulose punctulato, clypeo reflexo antice rotundato-truncato, sutura clypeali distincta angulata ; prothorace quam longiori
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 105
plus quam dimidio latiori, feie ut caput sed paullo sparsius punctulato, linea mediana Isevi, basi bisinuata quam apex (hoc modice emarginato) dimidio latiori, lateribus postice fortiter rotundatis antice siuuatis, angulis anticis acutis, posticis obtusis ; elytris crebre sat crasse punctulatis, trans- versim rugulosis, leviter regulariter striatis, striis apicem versus obsoletis ; tibiis anticis extus 3-dentatis ; antennis 9-articulatis; pygidio crasse ruguloso, longitudinaliter carinato.
[Long. 6^, lat. 3 1 lines. Of the three species mentioned above as probably belonging to this genus the descriptions are very brief, but they all seem distinct from this species ; striatella is called " tota ferruginea," ohscuricornis has the club of the antennae blackish and the elytra iridescent, while rugosa is said to be dark brown with the elytra paler. The uppermost tooth on the front tibiae of this insect is small but well defined, and is directed almost straight forward. Victoria ; Swan Hill ; taken by C. French, Esq.
OCNODUS LUGUBRIS, Sp.nOV.
Piceus, antennis palpis pedibusque rufescentibus ; capite pro-
thoraceque crebre, elytris minus crebre, pygidio sparsim,
fortiter punctulatis ; puncturis in fundo plus minusve
pallidis vix manifeste setigeris ( '? exemplo typico abraso) ;
elytris vix perspicue 3-costatis ; clypeo antice late rotundato ;
tibiis anticis extus obtuse 3-dentatis. [Long. 4|, lat. 2 lines.
The puncturation of the elytra (which tends a little to run in
rows) and of the pygidium is decidedly coarse, that of the head
and prothorax less so, but conspicuously closer. On the elytra
the sutural stria is fairly well-marked, and there is no trace of
other strife, but an indication from a certain point of view of
three scarcely distinct costee. The pygidium is strongly fringed
with longish fulvous hairs. The prothorax is decidedly more
than half again as wide as long, strongly convex and even above,
the sides very gently arched, the front (which is very strongly
bisinuate, with sharp angles) very little narrower than the base,
the hind angles obtuse and somewhat rounded, the base bisinuately
106 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
rounded hindward (the middle part a good deal produced hind- ward, but hardly distinctly lobed). The interstices of the punctures on the elytra are scarcely rngulose. The SGutellum is moderate in size, and strongly transverse.
W. Australia, Roebuck Bay ; sent by C. French, Esq.
Hbteronyx merus, sp.nov. Modice elongatus ; minus convexus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat nitidns ; ferruginous ; fere glaber, capillis fulvis sparsim fimbriatus ; clypeo confertim crasse rugulose, capite postice crasse minus crebre, prothorace sparsim acervatim minus fortiter, elytris sat fortiter nee crebre sublineatim, pygidio sparsim fortiter, punctulatis ; clypeo brevi lato ante oculos extrorsum fortiter producto, antice obsolete angulatim late emarginato ; prothorace quam longiori fere duplo latiori, postice quam antice plus quam dimidio latiori, lateribus leviter arcuatis, basi vix bisinuata, angulis anticis sat acutis sat producfcis, posticis bene determinatis obtusis fere rectis ; elytris hie illic obscure striatis, setis inconspicuis fulvis sparsim ornatis ; tibiis anticis extus valde 3-dentatis : labro a clypeo obtecto ; antennis 9-articulatis ; coxis posticis ad lateia quam metasternum sat brevioribus quam segmentum ventrale secundum sat longioribus ; unguiculis bifidis.
[Long. 4|-5*, lat. 2|-3i lines. I have not seen any other Heteronyx very close to this one, which possesses several characters unusual in the genus, especially the clusters of punctures thinly scattered over the prothorax and the peculiar sculpture of the elytra consisting in fairly defined rows of punctures (here and there appearing in a certain light to run in striae for snort distances) separated by wide intervals on which are here and there little groups of punctures similar to those of the rows.
N. Queensland ; sent by C. French, Esq.
Heteronyx arcanus, sp.nov. Modice elongatus ; sat convexus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; rufo-piceus, antennis palpisque testaceis ; capillis
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 107
fill vis minus sparsim vestitns ; capite crasse rugulose crebre, prothorace crassissime sat sparsim, elytris crebre crasse squamose, pygidio subcrebre minus fortiter, punctulatis ; clypeo brevi lato ante oculos minus fortiter extrorsum producto, antice late rotundato ; prothorace quam longiori (et postice quam antice) plus quam dimidio latiori, lateribus leviter arcuatis, basi bisinuata, angulis anticis sat acutis sat productis, posticis rectis ; elytris haud striatis, pustulis inconspicuis setas erectas ferentibus instructis ; tibiis anticis extus sat fortiter 3-dentatis ; labro a clypeo obtecto ; antennis 9-articulatis ; coxis posticis ad latera quam metasternum multo brevioribus, quam segraentum ventrale secundum paullo longioribus ; unguiculis bitidis.
[Long. 4^-51 lat. 2J-3 lines. N. Queensland ; sent by 0. French, Esq.
Heteronyx protervus, sp.nov.
Modice elongatus ; sat convexus ; postice minus dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; ferrugineus, antennarum clava testacea ; pilis erectis fulvis sparsim vestitus; clypeo crebre fortiter rugulose, capite postice crebre fortiter nee rugulose, prothorace insequaliter sparsius sat fortiter, elytris crasse vix squamose vix crebre, pygidio sparsim sat fortiter, punctulatis ; clypeo brevi lato ante oculos extrorsum fortiter producto, antice rotundato (vix sinuatim) ; prothorace quam longiori (et postice quam antice) plus quam dimidio latiori, lateribus vix arcuatis, basi leviter bisinuata, angulis anticis leviter productis sat acutis, posticis subrectis ; elytris nuUo modo striatis ; tibiis anticis extus sat fortiter 3-dentatis ; labro a clypeo obtecto; antennis 9-articulatis ; coxis posticis ad latera quam metasternum sat brevioribus quam segmentum ventrale secundum sat longiori- bus ; unguiculis bitidis. [Long. 4^-.'), lat. 3 lines. N. Queensland ; sent by C. French, Esq.
N.B. — Since the publication of my tabulation of the 1st section oi Heteronyx (P.L.S.N.S. W,, 1888, pp. 1329-1331) several addi- tional species have come befox'e me belonging to that section and
108 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
forming a group distinguished by the combination of 9-jointed antennae, comparatively short hind coxae, and very strongly bifid claws. This little group seems to be confined to Northern Aus- tralia, and occupies in my tabulation (loc. cit.) lines 10-21 on p. 1331. I propose now to substitute the following for the contents of lines 13-21 in order to include the additional species, but I regret that I must drop H. corpulentns, Macl., oat of this revised table, as I have not an example of the insect before me ; at the time of my drawing up the original table I had a type lent me by Sir W. Macleay and since returned. From memory and description, however, I think it is distinguishable from all the species included in the following table by the character referred to in its name — viz., its short broad form ; it is certainly not identical with any of them. G. Front outline of clypeus not evenly rounded (i.e., more or less truncate or sinuous). H. Elytra evenly punctulate.
I. Uppermost tooth on margin of front
tibiae well defined protervus, Blackb.
II. Uppermost tooth on front tibiae
almost obsolete hreviceps, Blackb.
HH. Elytral punctures subseriate and with unpunctureJ spaces of various area.
I. Clypeus much more closely punc-
tured than forehead ; size mode- rate merus, Blackb.
II. Head somewhat evenly punctured ;
size very large piceo-niger, Macl.
GG. Front outline of clypeus quite evenly rounded. H. Punctures of prothorax excessively
coarse arcamis, Blackb,
HH. Punctures of prothorax very much
finer rugosipennis, Macl.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 109
Haplopsis viridis, sp.nov.
Breviter ovata; supra fulvo-, subtus griseo-, pilosa; minus nitida ; laete viridis, corpore subtus (et nonnullis exemplis elytris) obscuriori ; capite prothoraceque sat crebre granulatis ; hoc fortiter transverse, antice angustato, lateribus leviter arcuatis, angulis anticis fortiter productis posticis obtusis ; elytris obscure rugulosis, 5-lineatim (plus minusve distincte) longi- tudinaliter convexis, lineis glabris vix rugulosis ; tavsorum posticorum articulo 1° quam 2^^ fere duplo breviori.
Maris clypeo latissime quadratim producto antice late leviter emarginato antennarum clava elongata, tibiis anticis externe leviter 3-dentatis.
FeminjB clypeo antice angustato vix emarginato, antennarum clava brevi, tibiis anticis externe fortiter 3-dentatis.
[Long. 3-3f, lat, l|-2 lines
N. S. Wales and Victoria.
Byrrhomorpha, gen.nov.
Generi Heteronyci affinis ; mentum concavum ; palporum
labialium articulus apicalis piriformis ; maxillae 5-dentatge ;
palporum maxillarium articulus ultimus quam penultimus
plus quam duplo longior ; labrum permagnum supra clypeum
sursum productum ; antennae breves, Q-articulatse, clava brevi
3-articulata ; tibiae posticse minus breves apice modice
dilatatae ; tarsi modici ; unguiculi simplices ; corpus valde
crassum, crasse sculpturatum ; elytra sulcatis sulcis sub-
geminatis.
The species of this genus to a casual glance present somewhat
the appearance of Byrrhus ; this peculiar build in combination
with a labrum strongly elevated above the clypeus (giving the
front of the head strongly the trilobed appearance characteristic
of certain species of Heteronyx) and simple claws will, I think,
distinguish the genus from all its allies. The mentum and
labrum are so related to each other that from a certain point of
view they appear to form a continuous surface which is deeply
110 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
concave longitudinally. I do not notice any sexual distinctions except that the antennal club seems a little elongated in the examples I take to be males.
Byrrhomorpha verres, sp.nov.
Breviter ovalis ; valde convexa ; nitida ; fere glabra ; atra, tarsis scutelloque vix rufescentibus, antennis palpisque rufo- testaceis ; capite confettim crasse rugulose, prothorace con- fertim rugulose minus crasse, elytris ciasse in^equaliter minus crebre, pygidio subtiliter confertissime aspere, punctulatis ; clypeo autice sat fortiter emarginato ad labrum recipiendum, ante oculos leviter extrorsum dilatato ; prothorace quam longiori (et postice quam antice) vix tertia parte latiori vix manifesto canaliculate lateribus leviter arcuatis ; basi valde retrorsum dilatata, margine antico fortiter arcuatim emar- ginato, angulis anticis acutis fortiter productis, posticis rotundato-obtusis (superne visis rectis et extrorsum subpro- ductis) ; scutello magno antice punctulato; elytris insequaliter sulcatis, interstitiis sat latis fortiter insequaliter transversim rugulosis, alternis quam cetera irregulai'iter latioribus ; tibiis anticis extus 3-dentatis, dentibus inferioribus magnis acutis, tertio parvo ; coxis posticis quam segmentum ventrale secundum vix longioribus ; corpore subtus pernitido fortiter minus crebre punctulato. [Long. 5, lat. 3 lines (vix).
Viewed from the side the labrum presents somewhat the appearance of a small upturned horn or tusk. The sculpture of the elytra is different from that of any of the allied genera. The elytra cannot, I think, be regarded as genuinely geminate-striate, and I should place the genus among those with the elytra simply striate; but nevertheless tlie irregularity in width of the interstices (which might be called uneven costse) brings some of the sulci somewhat into pairs, — but this arrangement is rendered still more irregular by some of the wider interstices being in places split apart by uneven furrows that traverse them ; moreover the distinctness of this arrangement varies in different examples. S. Australia ; Poi't Lincoln and elsewhere.
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. Ill
Byrrhomorpha PONDEROSA, sp.nov.
Prsecedenti valde affinis ; multo major ; prothorace quam longiori (et i)ostice quam antice) fere duplo latiori, angulis posticis subrectis (superne visis aciitis et fortiter extrorsum retror- sumque directis) ; elytris minus fortiter sulcatis.
[Long. 6, lat, 85 lines.
W. Australia; Yilgarn ; sent by C. French, Esq.
PSEUDOHETERONYX.
Heteronyci affinis sed apterus ; elytra conglutinata ; metaster-
num breve. Huic generi Heteronyx haldiensis, Bl.ackb., tribuendus est.
PsEUDOHETERONYX HELiEOIDES, Sp.nOV.
Brevis ; fortiter convexus ; postice leviter dilatatus ; minus nitidus ; supra fere glaber pilis erectis fulvis sparsissime vestitus, subtus et in pedibus setis fulvis minus sparsim vestitus ; piceo-niger, antennis palpisque rufis, illarum clava testacea ; clypeo crebre, capite postice minus crebre, protho- race sparsim, pygidio etiam magis sparsim, leviter sat crasse punctulatis ; elytris substi'iatis et leviter foveato-rugulosis ; clypeo antice sinuato-truncato, ante oculos extrorsum vix perspicue producto ; prothorace quam longiori fere duplo (postice quam antice baud multo minus) latiori, lateribus a basi antrorsum arcuatim convergentibus, basi media sat lobata, angulis anticis modice ]iroductis sat acutis, posticis (superne visis) obtusis ; tibiis anticis extus obtuse 3-dentatis ; labio a clypeo obtecto ; antennis 9-articulatis ; coxis posticis quam metasternum (hoc brevi) vix brevioribus, quam seg- mentum ventrale secundum parum longioribus ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 5^, lat. 3^ lines.
This species bears a remarkable resemblance to a Helceid {e.g., Nyctozoihis) on a casual glance. The absence of wings is a rare character among the Melolonthidce, and I do not know how it escaped my notice when I was describing P. baldiensis ; which,
112 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
however, is much more like a Heteronyx superficially than is P. helceoides. The basal joint of the hind tarsi is considerably shorter than {in P. baldiensis about equal to) the 2nd joint.
N. Queensland ; a single example sent by C. French, Esq., and generously presented to me.
Rhop^ea soror, sp.nov.
Minus elongata ; pubescens, capite prothoracis margine antico sternis (his densissime) pygidio pedibusque longe villosis ; rufescens vel flavo-brunnens ; capite subcrasse, prothorace confertim sat subtiliter, elytris dupliciter (et crebre sat sub- tiliter et minus crebre magis crasse), punctulatis ; prothorace quam longiori (et postice quara antice) fere duplo latiori, lateribus crenulatis sat fortiter arcuatis, angulis posticis obtusis fere rectis ; elytris singulis apice manifeste rotundatis. Maris antennarum flabello minus elongato 7-articulato, articulo
3° intus producto. Feminse antennarum flabello brevi 6-articulato, articulo 4° intus producto; tarsis posticis brevibus.
[Long. 10-101 lat. 5^ lines. Very near R. heterodactyla, Germ. ; the principal differences that I notice are as follows : — The flabellum of the antennae is evidently shorter (in heterodaclyla male it is by measurement as long as the basal 4 joints of the tarsi together, in this species clearly less), the puncturation is throughout a trifle stronger and less close, the prothorax is more narrowed in front with its sides very evidently more strongly rounded, the elytra (regarded indi- vidually) are manifestly more rounded at the apex.
N. S. Wales, near Tamworth ; taken by C. T. Musson, Esq.
Rhop^a MUSSONi, sp.nov.
Minus elongata ; pilus elongatis sparsim (in capite sternisque sat dense) vestita ; rufescens ; capite sat crebre prothorace minus crebre subfortiter punctulatis, elytris subcrasse rugu- losis, pygidio confertim subtilius punctulato ; prothorace
BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 113
quam longiori dimidio (postice quam antice fere duplo) latiori,
lateribus crenulatis modice arcuatis, angulis posticis rectis ;
elytris singulis obsolete 2-costatis, apice minus rotundatis. Maris antennaruiu flabello elongate 6-articulato, hnjus articulo
priino quam ceteri multo breviori. Feminse antennarum flabello minus elongato 6-artioulato, hujus
articulo primo perbrevi. [Long. 9-10, lat. 5-5i lines.
Differs from all the previously described species of Rhopcea by its much coarser sculpture. The antennae come nearest to those of R. Verreauxi, but differ considerably. In Verreauxl (male) the 3rd joint of the antennae is unusually elongate, the 4th is sharply produced in a kind of spine internally and the apical 6 form a very elongate flabellura (all the latter being subequal in length except the 1st, which is a little shorter than the rest). In Mussoni the 3rd joint of the antennae is less elongated, the 4th is scarcely produced internally, and the apical 6 form a flabellum not very much different from that of Veri-eaihxi except in the 1st of them being very much shorter. I have not seen a female Verreauxi and therefore cannot compare the female of the present species with it.
N. S. Wales, near Narrabri ; taken by C. T. Musson, Esq.
AnOMALA AUSTRALASIA, Sp.nov.
Oblongo-ovalis : sat convexa ; viridis, antennis rufis, pedibus nonnuUis exemplis piceis ; capite confertim subtilius subru- gulose punctulato ; prothorace fortiter transverse, subtiliter plus minusve distincte crebre punctulato, antice angustato, angulis posticis rotundato-obtusis; elytris sparsius subtilissime punctulatis, puncturis pauUomajoribus sat crebre intermixtis, his hie illic obscure seriatim in striis vix impressis positis ; pygidio magis fortiter punctulato ; tibiis anticisextus apicem versus bidentatis, et in medio dente subobsoleto armatis.
[Long. 8, lat. 4| lines.
The only Australian Anomala that I can find to have been
described is fusco-viridis, H. and J., which is omitted from
Masters' Catalogue. It is differently coloured from the present
8
114 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTEaA,
insect, and inter alia is said to have its elytra " deeply punctate sulcate."
N. Territory of S. Australia ; also N. Queensland.
MiCROVALGUS.
This is an extremely difficult genus to deal with ; it appears to contain numerous Australian species so closely allied inter se that it is most difficult to characterise them in such manner as to enable them to be recognised by description. Only three have been named, — Lapeyrousei, G. & P., (N.S.W. and Vict.), charac- terised as a dark brown species, with reddish elytra and tibiae and underside blackish, and the clypeus perceptibly emarginate ; nigrinus, Macl., (Queensland), entirely black with the clypeus rounded in front; and ca^aneipennis, Macl., (Queensland), having the head and prothorax black and elytra chestnut, and the clypeus truncate in front. Judging by the exaoiples before me, which certainly represent at least several species, the differences in the outline of the clypeus are very slight. The colour as a rule seems somewhat constant, I think I know M. Lapeyrousei and nigrinus ; if my identification is correct the former is evidently larger than the latter, and the basal joint of its hind tarsi is longer in proportion to the second joint. The following species from Western Australia is evidently distinct from any hitherto described.
MiCROVALGUS YILGARNENSIS, sp.nov.
Ferrugineus, elytris ad latera et apicem infuscatis ; albido- squamosus ; prothorace quam longiori vix sexta parte latiori, angulis anticis acutis valde productis fere spiuiformibus, posticis obtusis, lateribus leviter arcuatis ; tarsorum posti- corum articulo basali quam secundus plus quam dimidio longiori. , [Long. 1|, lat. ^ line.
An exceptionally narrow species, coloured differently from those previously described, and remarkable for the very strongly pro- jecting front angles of the prothorax, which (if the head be in its natural subvertical position) stand out free of the body, and are
BY THE REV, T. BLACKBURN', 115
conspicuous to the naked eye, looking like two horns. No other species that I have seen approaches this one in this respect. W. Australia ; Yilgarn ; sent to me by Mr. C. French.
CISTELIDiE. Apbllatus MASTERSi, Macl.
I have examined the type of this insect, and have no doubt whatever of its being the female of A. palpalis, Macl.
CURCULIONID.^ (BRACHYDERIN.E). Prypnus (?) SQUAMOSUs, sp.nov.
Oblongus (mas), magis latns (fern.) ; niger squamis, supra griseis vel albidis (nonnuUis fuscis maculatim intermixtis), subtus albidis nonnullis fulvis intermixtis, vestitus ; breviter inconspicue fulvo-setosus ; rostro capite angustiori longiori, longitudinaliter bisulcato, supra sat fortiter arcuato ; oculis sat magnis, modice convexis ; antennis modicis, scapo oculorum marginem posticum vix attingenti; prothorace transverso, antice posticeque truncate, crebre tuberculato- ruguloso, canaliculato, margine antico sub oculos ciliato ; elytris ad apicem singulatim leviter acuminatis, punctulato- striatis, interstitiis subinsequalibus alternis leviter alternis fortiter convexis, interstitio 3° ad basin antrorsum promiuente, humeris reflexis subprominulis, sutura postice cariniformi.
[Long. 5-6, lat. l|-2,2, lines. In freshly coloured examples, the head and rostrum are densely clothed with nearly white scales, in which a few of a pale fuscous colour are intermingled (sometimes in small patches), the rest of the upper surface being densely clothed with scales of an obscure ashen hue, much interrupted by patches of fuscous scales which form on the prothorax an ill-defined central band and some small lateral spots, and on the elytra more or less numerous ill-defined and small spots ; the most conspicuous marking is the dark central band of the prothorax ; the general aspect is that of a dull ashy- coloured insect, with the head and rostrum almost white, or at any
116 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA,
rate,