Memoirs of the
Queensland Museum.

VOL. X. PART V.

Issued 30th OCTOBER, 1935.

EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR, HEBER A. LONGMAN, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S.

ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR
QUEENSLAND, THE HON. W. FORGAN SMITH, LLD.

CONTENTS,

New Australian Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta) -
An Abnormal Lorikeet — Plate XXXIII* — — —

Notes on Rearing Young Ceratodus — — — -

A New Astacopsis from North Queensland — Plate XXXIV*
Palaeontological Notes —

- Robert Benson, M.A.

- H. Greensill Barnard

- A. Rudel - —

- Kathleen Watson, B.A.

- H. A. Longman ~

PAGE.

- 211-229

230

- 231-232

- - 233-235

- 236-239

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, Vol. X, Past V.

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAWFLIES ( Hymenoptera ,

Symphyta).

By Robert B. Benson, M.A., Department of Entomology, British Museum, London..

I have lately had the opportunity of studying a most interesting collection
of sawflies from the Queensland Museum. The collection, of approximately 150

specimens, contained representatives of at least 15 new species ; 13 of these are

described in the present paper, while the descriptions of two others will appear
later elsewhere.

One new genus is describsd Styracotechys, and for this Styracotechyince
a new subfamily of the Pergidce, had to be erected. Keys to a new classification
of the Pergidce are included so as to show the position of this new subfamily
in relation to the other subfamilies, and in the keys a new subfamily

Paralypiince is also instituted for the South American Paralypia and allied

genera. Mention should also be made here to one further addition to the
Australian fauna in Senoclidea ? furvus Konow from Port Darwin. This species
was previously known only from New Guinea.

The richness of this material, which was collected in the field mostly by
Mr. H. Hacker, Entomologist of the Queensland Museum, suggests that there
are still many more new species of sawflies yet to be found in Australia.

AKGID,E.

ANTARGIDIUM Morice.

I lately redefined this genus, Benson 1934 (1), and described two new
species ; in the present collection there are two more new r ones, both having
in the hind wing the recurrent vein nearer to the base of the wing than the
cubital, so that the discoidal cell is smaller and shorter than the cubital as it
is in Antargidium allucente Benson, fig. 1 of that paper, though the exact
position of the recurrent vein is different in three specimens of one of the
species. It now appears that the exact position of these veins differs in
individuals of the same species, and probably, if long series could be examined,
would be found to be of no significance in separating the species. A comparison
of the saws of the new species with the three already described shows that the
saw figured for A. allucente Benson, fig. 7 in my previous paper, is in some
respects not typical for the genus ; in all four other species the hair bands
are eplaced by a row of short broad-based spine (see figs. 1 and 2), and the
denticulations are of the pattern illustrated in fig. 9 of that paper, although
differing in detail. Furthermore the saw of A. allucente Benson was not figured

B

212

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

quite accurately, as further examination has revealed that it also has got a
few broad-based spines obscured by the hairs in the hair-bands ; these spines
are not easily visible and were overlooked before.

J rn . m. .

Fig. 1. — Antargidium atriceps sp. now, tenth tooth of saw.

Fig. 2. — A. rufum sp. now, tenth tooth of saw.

ANTARGIDIUM ATRICEPS sp. now

$ Colour. — Yellow ; black are the head (except palps and the tips of
the mandibles), the meso- and meta-notum, a large spot on the mesopleura,
the mesosternum, and the 6 apical segments of the abdomen except the base
of the sawsheath in the $ ; apex of hind tibia and all tarsal segments slightly
fuscous. Wings infuscate throughout ; stigma and venation black.

Length. — § 5*5 to 6-5 mm. ; forewing 5*5 to 6-5 mm. : antenna 1.7 to
2 mm. ;

o 6 mm. ; forewing 6 mm. ; antenna 2*5 mm.

Puncturation. — Rugulose on face ; rest of insect shining and unpunctured.
Head : malar space about two-thirds length of pedicel of antenna ; pedicel
about two-thirds as long as broad ; supra-clypeal area with a well-developed
carina reaching from clypeus to frontal area where it divides into 2 branches w'hich
surround the pear-shaped median fovea ; ocellar basin deep, including front
ocellus and surrounded by a pentagonal wall. Legs : with hind basitarsus
about as long as three following tarsal segments together. Wings : recurrent
vein in hind wings nearer to the base of the wing than the transverse-cubital
vein, so much so that the recurrent vein is twice as far from the apex of the
cubital vein as the transverse-cubital vein is. Abdomen : hind margin of

hypopygium entire; sawsheath as in A. allucente Benson; saw fig. 1.

New South Wales, Tamborine, 1 <j>, 1 (holotype and allotype), 21-ii-1927,
H. Hacker (Queensland Museum); Queensland. Conondale 1$, 7-M930, H.
Hacker (British Museum) ; and a variety in which the transverse cubital vein
is only about two-thirds as far from the apex of the cubital vein as the

NEW AUSTRALIAN SA W FLIES.

213

recurrent vein (indicating that the positions of these veins are more liable to
variation than was at first thought) and in which the black pigment is less
widespread, so that the front and sides of mesonotum together with the
scutellum and the metanotum are yellow, while the dark mark on the
mesopleura is much smaller. Queensland, National Park, 1 §, xi-1920, H. Hacker
(Queensland Museum).

This species is separated from all others in the genus by the black head
in both sexes, the very pale legs, and the carina on the face reaching right to
the front of the supraclypeal area ; the sawsheath is most like that of A .
apicale W. F. Kirby, but the dorsal tooth is not so sharp when viewed from
the side.

ANTARGIDIUM RUFUM sp. nov.

$ Colour. — Reddish yellow all over, except the tibiae and tarsal segments
which are infuscated. Wings, infuscated throughout ; stigma and venation
black. Length 6-3 mm. ; forewing 6-3 mm. ; antenna 25 mm. Puncturation
obsolete. Head : malar space about half as long as pedicel of antenna ; pedicel
about two-thirds as long as broad ; supraclypeal area with the .medial carina
present on the hind two-thirds of the area, but not sharp, the front one-third
is simply rounded; frons as in A. atriceps sp. nov. Legs with the hind

basitarsus distinctly longer than the three following tarsal segments together.
Wings : recurrent vein in the hindwing nearer to the base of the wing than
the transverse-cubital vein, as in A. allucente Benson (Benson 1934 (1), fig. 1).
Abdomen: hind margin of hypopygium entire; sawsheath as in A. dentivalvis
Benson, but set up almost erect ; saw fig. 2.

New South Wales, Tooloom, 2$$, i-1920, H. Hacker (holotype in
Queensland Museum ; paratype in the British Museum).

This species is distinguished from all others by the head and body being
entirely reddish -yellow, and by the very short almost linear malar space. The
sawsheath comes nearest to that of A. dentivalvis Benson, but it is set up
almost erect, whereas in that species the sawsheath is not so set.

ANTARGIDIUM ? DENTIVALVIS Benson.

One female, Queensland, Townsville, Dr. H. Priestly, in bad condition,
probably belongs to this species. It differs from the type in being larger
(4-5 mm. instead of 4 mm.), in the sawsheath being set up erect at the apex
and in the transverse-cubital vein in the hind-wing not being interstitial with
the recurrent vein, but received on the cubital nearer the apex of the wing as
in A. allucente Benson and typical Arge.

214

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

TENTHREDINIDiE.

SENOCLIDEA ? FURVUS Konow.

Monophadnus furvus Konow, Wein ent. zt. xvii, 1898 : 232. North Australia, Port Darwin,.

1$, F. P. Dodd.

This species, previously known only in New Guinea, is a very interesting
addition to the Australian sawfly fauna as it represents the first true Australian
Tenthredinid (not counting, of course, Caliroa limazina Retz., which is obviously
an alien that has been introduced with fruit trees into a great many parts of
the world).

PTER YGOPHORI D.E.

CLARISSA FLAMMEA, sp. nov.

$ Colour reddish -yellow ; head black except for the pale mouth -parts,
clypeus, supraclypeal area, and antennae ; a large cream-coloured spot covering
the hind half of the outer quarter of abdominal tergum 2. Wings hyaline,
slightly infuscate at the apex ; veins at extreme base of wing, including basal
half of costa yellow ; rest of veins infuscate ; stigma infuscate, with a pale
transparent basal patch.

Length 6 mm. ; fore wing 5*5 mm. ; antenna 2 mm.

Puncturation. — Head [and thorax dull with fine surface puncturation
becoming rugulose on head ; abdomen rugulosely sculptured. Head : mouthparts
normal ; malar space about as long as pedicel ; antenna 1 1 -segmented ; subclavate
pedicel a little longer than broad ; segment 3 = 4 -f- 5 in length ; only segments
9 and 10 broader than long ; median fovea as a slight rounded depression.
Legs : hind-basitarsus about equal to three following tarsal segments. Abdomen :
with sawsheath normal ; saw fig. 3.

Queensland National Park, 1 $, 25-X-1923, H. Hacker (Queensland

Museum).

This species is superficially very similar to C. divergens W. F. Kirby,
and would run to that species in my key — Benson 1934 (2) p. 469. Externally

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAW FLIES.

215

it is only distinguishable on colour characters, the thorax and abdomen being
all red, while in C. divergens W. F. Kirby the mesepimeron, mesosternum,
and metapleurae together with the last two or three abdominal segments are
black, and the costa being yellow at the base instead of all black. The saw
is however quite different ; it is more like the saw of C. flavicornis Benson
(Benson 1934 (2) fig. 6a). The waved ridges on the side of the saw, however,
suggest a link between the saw of C. flavicornis Benson and the spiny-ridged
saw of C. ruficollis Benson.

Clarissa males.

In the collection were males belonging to four different species of this
genus, but none of them seemed to belong to any of the described females.
I have with some diffidence then described four new species based on the
male sex only, which are separated in the key that follows from the already
known males of C. atrata G. Turner and C. divergens W. F. Kirby. The male
genitalia in this group seem to exhibit but slight and insufficient differences
to be relied on yet for separating the species.

1 . Pedicel clearly broader than long ^ 6

Pedicel longer than broad 2

2. Head and thorax metallic greenish -black ; abdomen, except tergum 1, entirely

reddish yellow ; hind legs all black. Eyes strongly converge in front so

that the malar space is linear diana sp. nov.

Head and thorax shining black without metallic tinge ; abdomen, only
yellow banded, being black at base and apex ; at least hind tibia
mostly yellow. Eyes converge in front, but malar space is still at
least half as long as the diameter of an ocellus 3

3. Flagellum of antenna yellow ; the segments each being strongly swollen

apically. Puncturation on temples and thorax very fine, almost obsolete.

Wings slightly infuscate lucida sp. nov.

Antenna all black ; the segments not noticeably swollen out apically.
Puncturation on temples very fine and close.

Wings hyaline 4

4. Abdomen with whole of segments 2, 3 and often part of 4 yellow

divergens W. F. Kirby.

Abdomen with only apices of segments 2, 3 and 4 yellow

atrata G. Turner.

.5. Flagellum of antenna together with a band on abdomen and legs (except
coxae, trochanters and tibial spurs) yellow. Inner apical spur to hind
tibia, about half as long as hind basitarsus antennata sp. nov.

216

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

Antenna, abdomen and for the most part the hind legs black. Inner
apical spur to hind tibia almost as long as hind basitarsus
obscura sp. nov.

CLARISSA DIANA sp. nov.

Colour. — Metallic greenish -black ; yellow are on the fore legs, the front
of the femur, the tibia and tarsi, on the middle legs a spot on the apex of the
femur, and the whole of the abdomen except tergum 1. Wings slightly infuscate
throughout ; veins and stigma black.

Length 4*7 mm. ; fore wing 4-5 mm. ; antenna 2-2 mm.

Puncturation : head with very fine regular surface puncturation, but

shining between the punctures ; the punctures are visible also on the prothorax,
but on the mesonotum and mesopleura3 the punctures are apparent only at the
sides of the lobes, the middles of the lobes being unpunctured smooth and
shining ; abdomen with normal rugulose transverse sculpturing.

Head with eyes strongly converging in front so that they almost touch
the side of the clypeus and the base of the mandible, leaving but a linear
malar space ; length of clypeus and labrum together equals the breadth of the
clypeus ; antenna 9-segmented ; distinctly clubbed from the apex of segment 4 ;
segment 2 (pedicel) longer than broad ; median fovea as a long groove, joining
the frontal furrow and reaching back to the front ocellus behind.

Wings as in Clarissa divergens W. F. Kirby, but in the unique type the
first transverse cubital nerve is absent in the fore wing.

Legs with inner spur on apex of hind tibia about half as long as hind-
basitarsus ; hind-basitarsus about equal to 2 following segments in length.

Abdomen with apex upturned ; hypopygium entire behind.

Queensland, Nanango District, 1 xi-1927, H. Hacker (Queensland

Museum).

CLARISSA LUCID A sp. nov.

<$ Colour black; yellow are the labrum, flagellum of antenna, angles of
pronotum behind, legs (except the infuscate coxae, trochanters and tibial spurs)
and a band on the abdomen covering terga 2-4 and sterna 2-5. Wings
infuscate ; stigma black with a paler base ; costa and venation black basally
but brownish apically.

Length 6-5 mm. ; forewing 5-5 mm. ; antenna 3*5 mm.

Puncturation fine dense and regular on face and frontal region, but
obsolete on the temples whose surface is smooth and shining ; obsolete also on

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAW FLIES.

217

most of the thorax especially the lobes of the mesonotum where sparse vague
punctures are only apparent in the hollows and at the sides ; abdomen
transversely rugulose.

Head : length of clypeus and labrum together about equals breadth of
clypeus ; malar space about as long as two-thirds the diameter of an ocellus ;
antenna 12-segmented, not club-shaped, but subserrate, the segments from 4
onwards being of equal breadth apically, but each one being very broad apically
and narrow basally, so that the breadth basally is about two -thirds the breadth
apically ; median fovea as a deep rounded depression ; vertical furrow clearly
marked.

Legs with hind basitarsus equal to three following tarsal segments
together ; inner hind tibial spur about five-sevenths length of basitarsus ;
Abdomen with hypopygium set ujj erect, with the hind margin slightly two-lobed,.
being emarginate in the middle.

New South Wales, Tooloom, 2^^, i-1926 H. Hacker (holotype in
Queensland Museum, paratype in British Museum).

CLARISSA ANTENNATA sp. nov.

Colour black : yellow are labrum flagellum of antenna hind angles of
pronotum, legs (except coxse trochanters and tibial spurs), a band on abdomen
covering terga 2-4 and sterna 2-5 and the apex of the hypopygium. Wings
almost hyaline, slightly infuscate stigma (except for a pale spot at base), costa
and venation dark brown.

Length 5-5 mm. ; fore wing 5 mm. ; antenna 4 mm.

Puncturation on head fine dense and irregular, though on the clypeus
and temples small unpunctured spaces occur between the punctures ; pro- and
mesonotum shining betw 3en scattered regular punctures ; meso-pleurse with
regular very fine surface punctures ; abdomen transversely rugulose dorsally.

Head : length of clypeus and labrum together about equal to breadth of
clypeus ; clypeus entire on front margin ; malar space as long as the diameter
of an ocellus ; antenna 12-segmented . not club-shaped ; the breadth of segments
4 onwards being the same apically ; pedicel clearly broader than long ; segments
from 4 onwards slightly broadened apically ; median fovea as a deep rounded
depression ; vertical furrows very distinct. Legs with hind basitarsus equal to
2 following tarsal segments together in length; inner hind-tibial spur about
five-sevenths as long as hind basitarsus. Abdomen with hypopygium normal in
position, excised in middle on hind margin, and slightly emarginate each side.

Queensland, Tamborine Mountain, 1 < J, W. H. Davidson (Queensland
Museum).

218

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM .

CLARISSA OBSCURA sp. nov.

Colour black ; pale brown are the labrum, front margin of clypeus, the
front legs (except base of femur, trochanters and coxa) the middle and hind
tibiae apically as well as the tarsal segments at their joints. Wings slightly
infuscate ; stigma and venation black, except basal half of costa which is
brownish.

Length 6 mm. ; fore wing 5-5 mm. ; antenna 4 mm. though the Brisbane
specimen is 8 mm. ; forewing 6-2 mm. ; antenna 4-5 mm.

Puncturation on head dense, shallow and irregular, on nota of thorax in
the form of regular round scattered punctures with shining smooth spaces

between ; the punctures are thicker at the sides of the lobes of the mesonotum

and the scutellum, but sparser in the middle of the mesonotal lobes ; on pleurae
and sterna the puncturation is irregular and shallow ; on the abdomen the
dorsum is transversely rugulose.

Head : length of clypeus and labrum together equal to about the breadth
of the clypeus ; clypeus emarginate in the middle of the front margin ; malar

space in length about two-thirds the diameter of an ocellus ; antennae 14-15

segmented, not club-shaped, increasing in breadth slightly until about segment
6 or 7, and then tapering slightly ; funicle and pedicel very short ; pedicel
about twice as broad as long ; segments 4 and onwards being each much
broader apically than basally, the basal breadth being about two-thirds of the
apical breadth ; median fovea as a deep rounded depression ; vertical furrows
clearly defined. Legs with hind basitarsus equal to two following tarsal
segments ; inner hind tibial spur in Brisbane specimen equals about five-sixths
length of basitarsus, in other specimens almost equals basitarsus in length.
Abdomen with hypopygium set up erect, and entire on hind margin.

Queensland, 3<Jc? (including Holotype) Tamborine Mountain, W. H.
Davidson; 1 ^ Brisbane, 7-xii-1924, H. Hacker (holotype and one paratype
Queensland Museum, two paratypes in British Museum.)

DIPHAMORPHOS PALLICORNIS sp. nov.

Colour black ; yellow are labrum, clypeus in front, antenna, pronotum,
tegula, a longitudinal band in the middle of the mesonotum covering the whole
of the front lobe, and the middle of the side lobes, sides of scutellum and upper
part of mesopleurse, legs except the coxae at their bases, and the neighbourhood
of the saw T sheath.

Length 5 mm. ; forewing 4-5 mm. ; antenna 1*5 mm.

Puncturation : head (except clypeus and labrum wdiich are smooth) with
a rough surface, duU but without regular punctures ; behind the temples the

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAW FLIES.

219

sculpturing is denser ; on the thorax the roughness is absent in the middle of
mesonotal lobes and scutellum which are perfectly smooth and shining ; abdomen
transversely rugulose.

Head : clypeus entire ; malar space very short, about half the diameter
of an ocellus in length ; antenna (fig. 4a) 10-segmented ; pedicel about as long
as broad ; segment 3 greater in length than 4 + 5 ; flagellum set i form ; no
segment broader than long ; median fovea well marked as a deep depression.

Fig. 4. — Antenna of ( a ) Diphamorphos pallicornis sp. nov., ( b ) D. minor It oh we r.
Fig. 5. — D. pallicornis sp. nov., saw.

Legs with hind basitarsus equal in length to three following tarsal
segments together.

Abdomen . — Hypopygium with a triangular area, lightly chitinized, in the
middle of the hind margin ; sawsheath viewed from above small and slightly
emarginate apically with curved hairs ; saw fig. 5.

New South Wales, Tooloom, 2$$, i-1926, H. Hacker (holotype in

Queensland Museum, paratype in British Museum).

This species is at once distinguished from the three previously described
in the colour and form of its antennae which are yellow, only 10-segmented,
setiform, with no segments broader than long (cf. fig. 4a and b). For a key
to the previously described species see Benson 1934 (2) : 471. The saw and
sawsheath are typical also for the other known species in this genus.

220 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

NEOEURYS BREVIVALVIS sp. nov.

? Colour metallic black with a slightly greenish tinge on head and thorax
yellow are mandibles, front of labrum, all the sterna including hypopygium of
abdomen as w r ell as the lateral portions of the terga, and the apices of the
femora ; rest of legs yellowish white infuscated on apices of tarsal segments,
ings hyaline; stigma pale brown with basal half white; venation brown.

Length 4*8 mm. ; forewing 4*5 mm. ; antenna 1*2 mm.

Puncturation. — Head and thorax shining unpunctured except for small
hair follicles ; abdomen transversely rugulose.

Head. Clypeus with front margin entire ; malar space about as long as
apical breadth of jDedicel ; antenna 9-segmented, subclavate ; pedicel longer
than broad (in proportion of about 5:3); median fovea deep in front,
continuing back as a groove as far as front ocellus. Legs with hind basitarsus
about equal to three following tarsal segments in length.

Abdomen laterally compressed and kom the side appears truncate at the
apex because the sawsheath is set up erect (fig. 6a) ; saw of normal type but
simplified (fig. 6b).

Queensland, Brisbane, 1$ (Holotype), 17-ix-1914, and 1$ (paratype),
8-ix-1915, H. Hacker (holotype in Queensland Museum, paratype in British
Museum).

This species would run dowm in my key to N . ventralis Forsius (Tasmania),
which is a larger species in which the sawsheath is normal in position and the
saw is more complex (see Benson 1934 (2) p. 476, fig. 6f for sawsheath and
fig. 9b for saw).

NEOEURYS AURORA sp. nov.

$ Colour : metallic black with green reflections on head and thorax ;

yellow' are mandibles and labrum, flagellum of antenna on underside from
apical half of segment 4, apex of femora, tibiae and on front and middle legs
bases of, all tarsal segments on hind legs, only basal half of basitarsus, and
apex of abdomen from segment 7, except the medial dorsal portion of segment

7 and 8. Wings hyaline, stigma light brown at the apex with the basal half

white, venation browm.

Length 3-5 to 4 mm. ; forewing 3-5 to 4 mm. ; antenna 1-3 mm.

Puncturation. — Head and thorax dull with a rough coriaceous surface,

actual punctures being for the most part ill-defined and irregular.

Head. — Clypeus entire in front ; malar space about as long as apical

breadth of pedicel ; antenna 10-segmented, subclavate ; pedicel longer than
broad (in proportion of about 5:3); median fovea deeply impressed and

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAW FLIES.

221

continuing back as a shallow groove as far as front ocellus. Legs . — Hind

basitarsus about equal in length to three following tarsal segments.

Abdomen laterally compressed and almost truncate when viewed from the
side (fig. 7a), because the sawsheath is set up in an erect position almost as
much as in N. brevivalvis sp. nov. ; sawsheath from above appears as in N .
caudata Morice (Benson 1934 (2), fig. 8e), but the hairs each side are straight ;
saw fig. 7b.

Fig. 6 . — Neoeurys brevivalvis sp. nov. :

(a) apex of the abdomen of the female from the side ;

(b) saw.

Fig. 7. — N. aurora sp. nov. :

(a) apex of the abdomen of the female from the side ;

(b) saw.

Fig. 8. N. caudata Morice, apex of the abdomen of the female from the side.

Queensland, Stanthorpe, 12-viii-1925 (holotype in Queensland Museum,
paratype in British Museum).

222

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

This species would run to N. caudata Morice (Tasmania) in my previous
key and superficially is rather like that species. N. caudata Morice is, however,
much larger, has black mandibles, labrum and antennae, has a malar space
decidedly longer than the pedicel, has a sawsheath in normal position (not
erect) (cf. figs. 7a and 8), curved hairs on the side of the sawsheath when
viewed from above, and different saw (see figure in my previous paper). The
saw r of N. aurora sp. nov. is unlike any other previously met with in the
genus and is more like that of a typical Diphamorphos sp., and, from its strong
build and arrangement of spiny projections, suggests that the species oviposits
in some coarse plant tissue.

Both N. aurora sp. nov. and N. brevivalvis sp. nov. differ from all
previously described. Neoeurys in the peculiar erect position of the sawsheath
and the slightly shorter malar space.

PERGID^E.

For one of the most interesting specimens in the collection it was found
necessary to erect a new genus and subfamily. In order to place the new
subfamily, the following system of classification is put forward provisionally.
The system is convenient at present, but, no doubt, when more genera are
discovered, it will prove to be inadequate.

1. Radial cell in hind wing open at apex ; cubitus and cubital veins forming

the apex of the subcostal cell in hindwing are in one straight line and
transverse.

[Eyes converge in front leaving a linear malar space ; propodeum is
deeply emarginate behind, leaving exposed a large poorly chitinized
area ; antennae very short, of not more than 6 segments in all, and
threadlike. 1st transverse cubital vein missing.]

Genera : Acordulecera Say, Ceratoperia Enderlein and Thulea Say (South

American region), Acordulecerin^e.

-. Radial cell in hind wing closed at apex ; cubitus and cubital veins
forming apex of the subcostal vein in hindwing are not in one
straight line, the cubitus being longitudinal 2

2. Abdomen long and tapering posteriorly ; in $ tergum 9 elongate. Head

twice as broad as high when viewed from in front ; $ antenna with apical
dorsal projections to segments. Eyes almost round when viewed from side
and set far away from mandibles leaving a malar space about as long as
half the diameter of an eye ! Antennae set behind the clypeus at a distance
of about the length of the malar space. Fore wing with 1st recurrent vein

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAW FLIES.

223

bent at a right angle in the middle, so that, whereas the hind or inner
portion of the vein runs towards the base of the stigma, the front or outer
portion runs towards the apex of the wing and joins the cubital vein near
the middle of the 2nd cubital cell (see Morice 1919, plate xi, fig. 6).

[Propodeum only slightly emarginate behind. Larvae leaf miners in
Eucalyptus .]

Genus: Phylacteophaga Froggatt (S. Australia), Phylacteophagin^e.

— . Abdomen normal. Head normal. Antennae in $ without dorsal
projections to segments. Malar space short, little more than length

of pedicel at the most. Antennae set very close to hind margin of

clypeus. Fore wing with the first recurrent vein straight throughout

and subparallel with basal vein 3:

3. Fore wing with petiolate anal cell present. [Small species under 5 mm. in

length. Antenna 14- segmented. Basal vein in forewing joins costa at
junction of cubital and costa ; 1st transverse cubital vein missing.
Propodeum strongly emarginate behind leaving exposed a large semi-circular
blotch of poorly chitinized surface.]

Genus : Styracotechys gen. nov. (Queensland), Styracotechyin.e (subfamily new) .
-. Forewing without anal cell 4

4. Fore wing with basal vein received on costa at junction of costa and cubital

vein.

1st cubital vein subequal with 2nd ; 1st transverse cubital vein at less
than a right angle with 2nd. Mostly large species over 8 mm. in
length, with antennae (except in Cerealces) short and club-shaped.
Propodeum not strongly emarginate behind so that the blotch is
very small.]

Genera : Cerealces W. F. Kirby, Perga Leach and Xylopsrga Shipp

(Australia) Pergin m.

-. Forewing with basal vein received on cubital at a short distance from
where the cubital leaves the costa ; the portion of the cubital between
the junction with the basal and the junction with the costa (i.e.,
the cubitus) is bent back towards the apex of the wing and is in a
straight line with the basal vein 5

5. Forewing with 1st cubital cell very short (broader than long) ; 1st transverse
cubital vein set at right angles to 2nd g,

224 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM .

Forewing with 1st cubital cell subequal with 2nd in length and
clearly longer than broad ; 1st transverse cubital vein set at much
less than a right angle to the 2nd. [Palps of mouthparts generally
much reduced ; antennae short, subclavate, with regular annular
segments. Preapical spines to middle and hind tibiae very short.
Forewing generally with 4 cubital cells of which the 2nd receives
both recurrent veins. Propodeum strongly emarginate behind in the

middle leaving a large blotch as in Acordulecera.]

Genera : Acorduleceridea Rohwer, Giladeus Brethes, Lagideus Konow and

Paralypia Kirby (South American Region) Paralypiin^ subfamily new.

6. Antenna short, not more than 8-segmented, tending to become clavate ;
segments normal. Propodeum not emarginate behind.

Genera : Incalia Cameron, Parasyzygonia Rohwer, Syzygonia Klug and

Syzygonidea Ashmead (South America Region) Syzygoniinae.

Antenna long, many segmented (15-22) ; each segment broader apically
than basally so that it is triangular in shape. Propodeum emarginate
behind, leaving a blotch, though this is sometimes chitinized and not
easy to distinguish.

Genera : ? Cerospastus Konow (Chile) and Philomastix Froggatt (E.

Australia) Philomastigin^e.

STYRACOTECHYS genus, nov.

Small broad species (about 4 mm. long).

Head very little developed behind the eyes (fig. 9a) ; mouthparts normal
with 4-segmented labial and 6-segmented maxillary palps ; eyes converge in
front so that malar space is but linear ; labrum asymmetrical, and produced
on the right side ; clypeus very short (shorter than length of pedicel) ; antennae
very close to hind margin of clypeus (at a distance of about half length of
pedicel) : antenna short (flagellum being about as long as the breadth of the
head) ; funiculum and pedicel broader than flagellar segments and about as
broad as long ; flagellum not increasing in breadth apically ; basal flagellar
segments viewed from the side, with apical margin concave, and with a
prolongation beneath (fig. 9b) ; frontal area with furrows obsolete ; ocellar
region slightly raised ; ocelli arranged nearly in a line, the triangle being very
broad based ; behind the two hind ocelli is a carina.

Thorax. — Pronotum without a clear accessory suture ; sternauli separating
mesepisternum from mesosternum well developed ; third pleural suture ungulate
in the middle, the angle pointing backwards. Wings as in Diphamorphos Rohwer

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAW FLIES.

225

Fig. 9. — Styracotechys dicelysma gen. et. sp. nov. :

(a) Head from above ;

(b) Antenna from the side ;

(c) Hind leg ;

( d ) Sawsheath from above ;

(e) Saw.

STYRACOTECHYS DICELYSMA sp. nov.

? Colour yellow ; black or fuscous are the head (except for the mouth-
parts, clypeus, 4 basal segments of antenna which are brown), the side lobes

{see Benson 1934 (2) pp. 464-5) but that the 1st transverse cubital vein is
missing and that in both fore and hindwings the apical cell is very much
reduced.

Legs with exceptionally long apical tibial spurs (fig. 9c) ; claws simple.

Abdomen . — Propodeum very strongly emarginate behind so that there is a
large area with a white, weakly chitinized surface between propodeum and
ter gum 2. Sawsheath (fig. 9d).

226 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

and scutellum of mesonotum, the hind tibiae and tarsi, the abdomen from the
middle of the 4th segment with the exception of the sawsheath. Wings
hyaline ; costa yellow ; stigma and rest of venation brown.

Length (excluding genitalia) 4 mm. ; forewing 4-5 mm. ; antenna 1*8 mm.

Puncturation. — Surface mostly shining and unpunctured, but on the orbits,
and side lobes of mesonotum is in places developed a very fine regular coriaceous
sculpturing, and the dorsum of the abdomen is transversely rugulose.

Pubescence. — The whole insect, except the dorsum of the abdomen from
segment 2, is covered with a fine regular pubescence.

Head. — Antenna with 14 segments, (fig. 9b).

Legs with long preapical tibial spurs on middle and hind legs ; apical
tibial spurs exceptionally long ; on the middle legs the longer spur is equal to
about three-quarters the length of the basitarsus ; on the hind legs the longer
sp:ir is equal to the length of the 3 following tarsal segments together (fig. 9c).

Abdomen. — $ Sawsheath viewed from above (fig. 9d) ; saw (fig. 9e).

New South Wales, Tooloom, 1$, 1926, H. Hacker (Queensland Museum).

PERGA THOMSONI sp. nov.

$ Colour black ; yellow are mouthparts, the face in front of a transverse
line on a level with front ocelli and genae at the sides up to a level with
the top of the eyes ; on all the legs the tibiae and tarsi, and on the front legs
the apical half of the femur also. Wings hyaline at the base, slightly infuscate
at apex from below the stigma ; stigma, and venation black.

Length 18 mm. ; fore wing 12-5 mm. ; antenna T2 mm.

Head . — Face shining unpunctured with sparse pubescence ; a transverse
band from eye to eye, including the ocelli, thickly and finely punctured and
covered with dense pubescence ; head behind the eyes convex and with coarse
scattered punctures and sparse pubescence ; mouthparts normal ; clypeus slightly
emarginate in front : malar space very short, about as long as 3rd segment of
antenna ; antenna paradoxically short (shorter than distance between antennae),
6-segmented ; pedicellum very short, more than twice as broad as long ;
flagellar segments all forming a club ; segment 3 = 4 + o ; segment 6 longer
than rest of flagellum ; median fovea as a deep groove stretching back to front
ocellus, and with a large flat cushion each side and behind the antennae ; eyes
large elongated, concave in the inner side ; ocelli far apart so that Pol : Ool
in the proportion of 18 : 13 ; post-ocellar area bordered at the sides with coarse
punctures, and broader than long (in the proportion of about 6 to 5).

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAW FLIES.

‘221

Thorax. — Mesonotum in front of a transverse line reaching from tegula
to tegula is rough, dull, densely and finely punctured and covered with close
fine pubescence ; rest of thorax is smooth shining with scattered coarse rounded
punctures and sparsely haired ; scutellum flat, broader than long, with front
margin broadly rounded, hind margin swollen a little in the middle, and with
sharp slightly produced corners. Wing venation normal with the 3rd transverse
cubital vein strongly bent in the middle as in Perga dorsalis Leach (see Morice
1919, plate xv, fig. 14). Hind legs with tarsal segments together much shorter
than tibia.

Abdomen with almost obsolete fine rugulose sculpturing, the surface being
smooth and polished.

New South Wales, Tooloom, 1$, 12-ii-1922 (H. Hacker).

This very fine new species I dedicate to the great Swedish entomologist
C. G. Thomson ; this is to continue the policy of Westwood in naming
species of Perga after Hymenopterists. Perga thomsoni sp. nov. would run down
in Morice’s key to couplet 16 where it will not fit owing to its entirely black
thorax. It appears to be closest in structure to P. christi Westwood* but the
temples are more heavily punctured and the scutellum has definitely angular
projections at the hind corners, while in P. christi Westwood the projections
are rounded. Unfortunately the unique specimen on which the species is based
had its abdomen so badly eaten out by Anthrenus that the saw was missing.

Morice 1919, p. 265, gave the descriptions of two Perga spp. which he
could not fit into his key as they had their antennae missing. In the Queensland
collection are representatives of both these species, both having exceptionally
short yellow antennae, so that P. walJceri Westwood comes very close to
P. mayrii Westwood and P. christi Westwood as suggested by Morice comes very
close to P. dalbohmi Westwood and P. vacillans Morice. Both P.. ivallceri
Westwood and P. christi Westwood were recorded from South West Australia
by Westwood 1880, p. 368 and 366. In the Queensland Museum collection
P. christi Westwood is represented by 1 $, Queensland, Bunya Mountains,
9-xii-1925 and P. walkeri Westwood by 1 <j>, Queensland, Brisbane, Mount Cootha,
20-M925, H. Hacker, and 2$$, North Queensland, Ayr, 30-X-1925, S. Bates.

Either here we have an extraordinary case of distribution or else, what
seems more probable, there was some error in the localities recorded by
Westwood.

XYLOPERGA PERKINSI sp. nov.

? Colour yellow ; black are the tips of the antennae, an ocellar patch, the
shortest middle part of the pronotum, the meso- and meta-notum (except the
scutellum and the sides of the mesonotal lobes reaching from front angles of the
c

228

Memoirs of the Queensland museum.

scutellum to the tegulae), propodeum and front half of abdominal tergum 2, the
lower portion of the mesepisternum together with the mesosternum and
mesepimeron and the meta-sternum and metepimeron, the middle of hind
coxae, and the abdominal sterna. Wings tinged with yellow, especially fore-
wings ; hind wings nearly hyaline ; stigma dark brown ; costa and venation
brown.

Length 17 to 18 mm. ; forewing 14 to 15 mm. ; antenna 3 mm.

Pubescence very sparse, almost entirely absent from head (except mouthparts)
and thorax, very short and scattered on ventral surface of abdomen.

Head. — Face with sparse coarse punctures ; head behind antennae more
strongly punctured especially on depressed borders to postocellar area and
temples ; malar space about half-length of pedicellum ; antenna 7-segmented ;
about as long as shortest distance between eyes ; clavate from apex of 5th
segment ; distance between the hind ocelli greater than distance from ocellus to
eye ; median fovea and frontal furrow fused to form a pear shape depressed
area including the front ocellus ; lateral furrow starts on about a level with
the front ocellus and continues back as a slight dejDression to the vertex ;
post-ocellar area slightly convex and rounded.

Thorax. — Shining all over with coarse scattered rounded punctures becoming
dense on the front and side lobes of the mesonotum, especially on the middle
of the side lobes, and very sparse on scutellum which is strongly contracted
behind, slightly depressed longitudinally in the middle and with very small
appendages behind ; mesosternum and metapleurae unpunctured. Abdomen
with transverse rugulose sculpture.

$ Colour. — Yellow except for the following which are black : tips of

mandibles ; the ocellar region and a band stretching backwards to the vertex
each side of the post-ocellar area ; pronotum in front and side lobes of mesonotum
(except the raised margins of the side lobes stretching from teguke to
scutellum) ; depressed parts of metanotum ; dorsal parts of abdominal terga.
Wings yellowish hyaline with patch of scales (? androconia) occupying sub-costal,
first discoidal and first two cubital cells of forewing ; stigma brown ; tegula
and venation yellow in basal half of wings, brown in apical half.

Length 13 mm. ; fore wing 11 mm. ; antenna 3 mm.

Structure as in female except for wings, genital segments and slightly
denser puncturation noticeable on mesopleurse where between punctures the
surface is dull and rugulose.

West Australia, Cunderdin, 2$$ (including holotype) 3(J<J (including
allotype) ; (holotype, allotype and 1 paratype returned to Queensland Museum;

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAW FLIES. 22$

1 and 1 $ paratypes in British Museum) ; 1 $ (paratype) var. with abdominal
terga 1-7 black in the middle (though at the sides, and on segments 5, 6, and
7, also on the front and hind margins, yellow), returned to Queensland Museum.

This beautiful species is dedicated to Dr. R. C. L. Perkins, F.R.S.

By its rich yellow colour and dark stigma, and by its sparse coarse
puncturation with shining spaces between, distinguishable from all other species.
The paler form is in colour superficially like X. aurulenta Morice and
X. univittata W. F. Kirby, but both these have a pale stigma, dark hind femora
and a densely finely punctured head and thorax. The dark form is rather like
X. amenaida W. F. Kirby, but this is rather more black in colour and much more
sparsely punctured, the head being almost entirely without punctures.

REFERENCES.

Benson, R. B. . . 1934 (1), Stylops, iii, 10 : 228-232, figs, 1-9.

1934 (2), Trans. Roy. Ent. Soc., London, LXXXII, 2: 461-478, figs. 1-9.
Morice, F. D. . . 1919, Trans. Ent. Soc., London, 1918 (1919) : 247-333, plates xi-xv.

Westwood, J. O. 1880, Proc. Zool. Soc., London, 1880 : 359-379.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

230

AN ABNORMAL LORIKEET.

By H. Greensill Barnard.

(Plate XXXIII.)

In November, 1934, a specimen of a yellow “ Rainbow ” or “ Blue Mountain”
Lorikeet, Trichoglossus moluccanus, was presented to the Queensland Museum by
Nurse E. Doig, Wynnum. The bird had died in captivity. According to information
received, it had been captured some years before at Gunalda, near Gympie. The
specimen is a female.

The striking plumage of this abnormal bird is shown in Plate XXXIII, and a
typical <£ Rainbow Lorikeet ” is also shown for direct comparison. A close study of
the yellow or golden form will reveal that the uniform green on the wings, back and
tail of the normal bird is replaced with gold with a misty film of green showing. The
coloured Plate has been made from paintings by Miss V. Barnard.

Xanthochroism, or an abnormal replacement of another colour by yellow,
is ver}^ rare among our Australian Lorikeets. Among the seed-eating parrots (lories),
variation of colour is not uncommon, especially in the case of the Pale-headed Rosella,
Platycercus adscitus. It has been suggested that yellow' colouration may be obtained
by feeding birds on certain foods, but this could hardly occur among the lorikeets,
as they are almost entirely honey -feeders.

A case of “ mixed albinism and xanthochroism” in Pyrrhulopsis splendens
from Kandavu Island v r as recorded, with a coloured Plate, by Casey A. Wood in The
Emu, Vol. XXIII, January, 1924, p. 161. Xanthochroism in a female specimen
of Platycercus elegans v^as noted by H. L. White in The Emu, Vol. XVI, 1916, p. 108.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, Vol. X, Plate XXXIII.

Face page 230-

Trichoglossus mutuccanus : Yellow and normal forms.

NOTES ON REARING YOUNG CERATODUS.

By A. Rudel.

It was my good fortune to receive on December 1st, 1933, through the
Queensland Museum, two specimens of the Queensland Lungfish, Epiceratodus
forsteri, for the purpose of rearing them, if possible, to the adult stage. These fish
were hatched out by the late Dr. T. L. Bancroft and were, after his death, sent with a
few others to the Museum by his daughter, Dr. Josephine Mackerras. When
received the fish were 17 mm. in length. They were hatched out between September
23rcl and October 9th, 1933.

After their long journey from Eidsvold, the two small fish seemed in poor
condition, and one of them was floating upside down in the container, but a slight
touch sent it to the bottom very much alive.

I prepared an all-glass aquarium, size 30 x 9 x 9 cm., in the following
manner : — The bottom was covered with well-washed coarse sand to a -depth of 50
mm., rising to a height of 120 mm. at one end. I covered the highest part of the floor
with smooth pebbles the size of hazel nuts to provide hiding places for the fish.
The height of the water was just flush with the highest point, i.e. 120 mm.

Out of a few long-established aquaria I siphoned some sediment consisting
of decayed vegetable matter, such as aquatic plants and algae and excreta of aquatic
snails and fish, which covered the new tank to a depth of about 10-12 mm. This
sediment sinks quickly to the bottom and leaves the water quite clear. It contains
a host of living organisms. To keep the water pure I planted a few sprigs of Hydrilla
and Ceratophyllum demersum. After making sure that the temperature of the water
in the new tank was equal to that in the container, which was 24 Celsius, I
transferred the two specimens. Colour of young fish : — blackish above and lighter
below. Now the vexed question of feeding presented itself. I did not have the
faintest idea what they would eat or what they would require. As I could see by their
size that they were past the infusoria stage, I decided to give them a mixed diet and
feed them on things with which I generally feed young fry. First of all I placed a
lot of mosquito rafts (eggs of Culex) in the aquarium ; then I strained a quantity
of mosquito larvae through a fine tea strainer and also crushed three or four aquatic
snails in the water. After two days I rubbed a few Enchytrae worms through a fine
strainer. Two days later I rubbed a little shredded raw beef through a fine strainer,
giving them a change of diet every second day. Needless to say I took great care
not to foul the water, especially as I had placed the tank in a position where the
light was only subdued.

232

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

After about a month I siphoned half the water out of the tank and renewed
with fresh water of the same temperature. The fish lived and I took the first
measurements on March 4th, 1934, when they had attained the length of 50 mm.
Colour : dark chocolate above and just a shade lighter below.

Now came the time to transfer the fish to a bigger tank and I was dubious
as to how they would stand the change. 1 prepared a tank, size 55 x 30 x 30 cm.,
well planted with Hydrilla and Vallisneria, and formed a kind of grotto with some
large smooth stones. Height of water 15 cm. The fish stood -the change well and
disappeared at once among the stones. The new tank also contained the above-
mentioned sediment to a depth of about 15 mm. Now I fed them with mosquito
wrigglers, Enchytrae worms, finely-shredded raw beef and crushed aquatic snails.
When measured on May 25th the fish were 75 mm. The colour then was dark
chocolate above and below, with mottled lighter spots, also five distinct black spots
on both sides of the tail. The water was raised to full height of aquarium (30 cm.).
On July 10th the bigger of the two fish was 103 mm., the other fish was about 10
mm. shorter.

There is not much to write about the behaviour of the fish, as they lead a
rather quiet and sedate existence ; they are essentially “ bottom feeders” and
approach their food with jerky movements. They resemble very much the Mexican
Axolotl in their movements, but they move like lightning when touched ; in fact-
one jumped right out of the aquarium on one occasion. They prefer to rest in the
sediment and it is my opinion that a layer of this is of vital importance in rearing
Ceratodus.

One of the two specimens measured on August 23rd, 1934, w r as 122 mm., in
maximum length.

Another specimen reared from ova obtained from Mr. George Sigg, Drinan,
near Bundaberg, Burnett River, attained a length of 156 mm. in the course of
tw r elve months in similar conditions.

Editor's Note .— The tw^o Ceratodus were placed in the Bancroft Memorial
Aquarium in the Queensland Museum on March 21st, 1935. One was approximately
eight inches in length, the other being distinctly shorter. References to Dr. T. L.
Bancroft s published work on Ceratodus will be found in the paper on Juvenile
Lungfishes (Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Vol. IX, 1928, pp. 160-173).

A NEW ASTACOPSIS FROM NORTH
QUEENSLAND.

By Kathleen Watson, B.A.

(Plate XXXIV.)

Species of Astacopsis have been recorded as characteristic Southern
Australian crayfishes. Therefore it was surprising to receive a spiny crayfish from
the Cairns district, North Queensland, in July last. This was kindly forwarded
by Dr. H. Flecker, President of the North Queensland Naturalists’ Club. The
specimen was collected at Root’s Creek, near Mt. Carbine, in the Mt. Molloy
district, about 80 miles west of Cairns.

ASTACOPSIS FLECKERI sp. nov.

Described from a single specimen. Male. Type locality : Root’s Creek, North
Queensland.

In its outstanding characteristics, this crayfish appears to be more closely
allied to A. franklinii of Tasmania than to its nearest geographical congener, A.
serratus. The species differ, however, in a complex of minor characters of armature
and sculpturing that can best be seen by comparing the figures of the two. The
most noticeable difference is the absence in A. fleckeri of the median suture which
appears so prominent a feature of the carpus of the cheliped of A. franklinii. This
is represented on the carpus of A. fleckeri only by a very slight shallowing. In A.
fleckeri , also, the lateral keels of the rostrum are not so prominent, and each is
provided with only three spines, which appear shorter and blunter than those in
the figure of A. franklinii.

The other more important differences are the development of the exopodite
of the 3rd maxilliped, which is much longer in A. fleckeri, and the shape of the antennal
scale. This appears relatively broader than that figured by Geoffrey Smith for A.
franklinii, and the inner border is almost semi-circular when viewed from above.

M easurements . —

Maximum length from tip of rostrum to posterior border of telson, 223 mm.

Right chela — Maximum length, 93 mm. ; maximum breadth, 38 mm.

Left chela — Maximum length, 100 mm. ; maximum breadth, 42 mm.

The left branchiostegite was removed and the gills examined. These show no
marked difference from the typical characters of the genus.

The rostrum is broad, rounded and concave; there are seven subequal, blunt
spines around the raised border ; the anterior one is not enlarged, and is not produced
posteriorly as a keel on the concave median surface.

Except for minute pitting, the median portion of the carapace is smooth.
Antero- laterally there are tubercles and small, blunt spines. The branchi-
ostegites also bear tubercles, sparsely scattered except on the posterior portion,

234

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

where they are slightly more numerous. Behind the ocular margin there is a small,
depressed keel, without an anterior spiny point, and behind this a small tubercle.
This sculpturing is relatively less prominent than that figured for A. franklinii, and
that in our specimens of A. serratus.

The inter-antennal spine is long and narrow, with three serrations on either

side.

The metopic plate is relatively smooth and glabrous, unlike that of A. serratus ,
with a few hairs sparsely clothing the posterior portion. There is a group of about
twelve tubercles on each lateral border. The oral border consists of a transverse,
rounded bar, very slightly curved ; the lateral margins are sub-spherical.

The lateral border of the 1st abdominal segment bears a sharp spine.

The left lateral border of the 2nd abdominal segment bears four large sharp
spines, and the right bears five.

The 3rd to the 5th abdominal segments bear laterally a sharp spine, decreasing
in size on each segment posteriorly. The 6th segment bears no spines, although on the
right side there is a small tubercle some distance from the lateral border.

The exopodite of the uropod has a row of teeth between the hard and
membranous portions. The endopodite has two spines between the two portions — one
on the external border and one in the middle line. The telson has two lateral spines.

The exopodite of the 3rd maxilliped reaches or slightly exceeds the 3rd segment
of the endopodite.

The propodus of the chelipeds is serrated internally and externally. The
biting edges of the propodus and the dactylus bear rows of tubercles, some of which
are greatly enlarged. The upper surface of the carpus is smooth and tumid, with only
a faint trace of a median suture. On the under surface, there is a transverse row of
three large spines, extending from near the anterior margin to the middle of another
row of spines (three on the right cheliped, four on the left) on the inner margin. There
are two smaller spines on the outer margin. The merus is armed on the upper margin
with a row of spines ; on the under margin there are two rows — an interior row of seven
or eight spines, and an exterior row of three larger spines. The ischium is provided
with a few small spines on the under margin.

The 1st walking leg has one spine on the anterior border at the distal end.
This is absent on the left leg. Each of the 2nd pair of walking legs bears a single spine
on the posterior border at the proximal end. On the two posterior pairs the spines
are much more numerous.

Colour in spirits . — General colour of head, dorsal portion of thorax and
abdomen, and of the chelipeds, dull bluish-green ; the antennae and antennules
Congo pink ; the membranous portion of the tail-fan, darker congo pink ; spines on

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XXXIV.

Face page 234.

Astacopsis fleckeri.

A NEW ASTACOPSIS FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND.

235

the chelipeds and the tips of the great chelae carmine ; tubercles on the biting edges
dull carmine at the base, cream-buff above ; legs greenish glaucous blue, deep greenish
glaucous at their extremities ; chelae on 1st two legs dark olive-buff.

(Colour names taken from Ridgway’s “ Colour Standards and Nomenclature,”

1912 .)

It may be noted that specimens of the well-known A. serratus have been
received from such localities in Southern Queensland as Tamborine Mountain and the
Lamington National Park. McCulloch 1 has also recorded specimens from near
Stanthorpe, and made notes on the variations in colour that these crayfish exhibit.
It is evident that A. serratus has a far wider range than that recognised by Geoffrey
Smith 2 , who regarded the Blue Mountains as its northern limit.

In view of this discovery, it is interesting also to note that Astacopsis was
recorded by Nobili 3 from Sorong, New Guinea, from a specimen collected by D’Albertis.
Later authorities, 2 and 4 however, regarded this as a probable mistaken locality.

Special efforts are being made by members of the North Queensland Naturalists’
Club to obtain additional material.

1 A. R. McCulloch, Rees. Aust. Mus. XL, p. 237-238.

2 Geoffrey Smith, P.Z.S., 1912, pp. 144-169.

3 G. Nobili, Annali del Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Gen., 1899, 40, p. 246.

4 Walter Faxon, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., XL., No. 8, p. 352.

236

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

PAL/EONTOLOGICAL NOTES.

By H. A. Longman (Director).

Notable additions have been made to the series of vertebrate fossils in the
Queensland Museum as the result of a collecting trip by Mr. J. Edgar Young,
Honorary Collector, in the Hughenden district, North-western Queensland, in April
and May of this year. This preliminary note on some of the specimens received may
be amplified later.

ICHTHYOSAURUS AUSTRALIS.

Although numerous fragments of Ichthyosaurians had been received from
time to time from localities in Cretaceous areas near Hughenden, no significant
associated material had been collected. Mr. Young was fortunate in discovering on
Telemon Station the greater part of a complete skeleton. He notes that this was found
“ in shaley ground one mile eastward of the Telemon homestead in a paddock on hill
towards the woolshed.” A small exposed fragment was fortunately noticed and the
remainder of the fossil was excavated.

This skeleton is approximately eighteen feet in length. Practically all of the
vertebrse appear to be preserved, although the series was somewhat disrupted when
found. The skull is about four feet six inches in length, the extreme tip being missing.
This skull has been obliquely crushed with intense lateral pressure from the right side,
resulting in great displacement of the elements behind the rostral portion of the
jaws.

Although many fragments of ribs are present, these are much broken and
abraded. Much of the skeleton is at present largely involved in matrix, including
the remains of numerous bivalves. The skull is apparently of the same species as
that described in detail by the writer in 1922 1 .

Portion of one of the anterior limbs is exposed. The whole region of the
pectoral girdle, however, is much distorted and involved in matrix. An incomplete
humerus and radius and ulna with adjoining elements have been partly cleaned.
The radius and ulna are not elongated. The distal ends of these bones are recessed
medially for a prominent intermedium. Additional breadth is given by a pisiform,
which also articulates with the humerus. Only the proximal elements of the paddle
can be precisely allocated, but it is obvious that this is of the Latipinnate type of the
family Ichthyosaur idse and not of the Stenopterygikke.

It is hoped that other significant features will be revealed when matrix is
cleared from the skeleton.

J H. A. Longman, Mem. Qld. Mus., Vol. VII., pp. 246-256.

PALAEONTOLOGICAL NOTES.

237

KRONOSAURUS QUEENSLANDICUS.

Mr. Young also collected on Telemon very massive fragments of this gigantic
Pliosaur, first described by the writer in 1924, with additions in 1930 and 1933. 2

The largest specimen from Telemon consists of the central part of a skull,
including the orbits and portions of the post -temporal fossae. The upper and lateral
portions of this fragment have been greatly abraded, and the outer part of the left
maxilla has disappeared to such an extent that the alveolar portions of the massive
teeth are fully exposed. Some portions of the teeth had been removed as curiosities,
having been chipped away.

Many hundredweights of massive fragments belonging apparently to this
species were collected by Mr. Young in three localities on Telemon. These specimens
include other cranial fragments, portions of mandibular elements, vertebrae and
incomplete bones not yet identified. Apparently these valuable specimens represent
at least two and probably three individuals. Unfortunately, most of these fragments
have long been subjected to surface weathering and the contours are partly obscured.
None the less, when cleared of matrix (a process that will entail months of careful
work), these massive remains will add greatly to our knowledge of this gigantic
marine reptile.

From the fragments preserved in the alveolar cavities of the mandibular
symphysis of the original type specimen, it was suggested that the larger teeth of the
series would attain “ at least 250 mm.,” the maximum alveolar diameter being 40 mm.
In one of the Telemon specimens, however, the diameter of an alveolus is no less than
55 mm., which shows that some of larger teeth exceeded this estimate.

It is of interest to recall that in 1932 Mr. W. E. Schevill secured for Harvard a
magnificent skeleton of Kronosaurus, collected at Army Downs, in the Richmond
district. About five tons of material were obtained, and this will doubtless be described
in detail later.

*****

In 1929 a list of records of vertebrate fossils from new localities was given
by the writer (Mem. Qld. Mus., Vol. IX., pp. 250-251). The following are additional
records of new localities or of specimens of special interest.

Megalania prisca . — A single vertebra, found on a creek at Sandhurst Park,
Fernlees, 187 miles west of Rockhampton, was presented in 1932 by Mr. J. Garvey.
(F. 2291.) This is a large vertebra from the dorsal region. In 1924 a vertebra was
recorded from Marmor Quarry, 24 miles south of Rockhampton, but the remainder
of our specimens come from Diprotodon beds on the Darling Downs. Unless the

2 H. A. Longman, Mem. Qld. Mus., Vol, VIII., Part 1 ; Vol. X,, Parts 1 and 2,

238

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

tail of this giant lizard was relatively short in comparison with the “ goannas ” of
to-day, including the largest living monitors found at Komodo, it probably attained
over twenty feet in length. The vertebras of Megalania and Varanus have been
described in great detail by the late Baron G. J. de Fejervary (Annales Musei Nationalis
Hungarici, XXIX. 1935).

Diprotodon australis. — A fragment of a lower jaw of this large marsupial was
picked up in the bed of Fletcher’s Creek, about four miles from the Logan Downs
Station, near Clermont, and presented by Mr. H. W. Eite, through Mr. H. R. Deane,
Land Commissioner. (F. 2339). A fragment of a Nototherium mandible, also found
near Logan Downs, was recorded in 1929.

Diprotodon australis. — Incomplete worn molar teeth found on the left bank of
the Sellheim River, south-west of Bowen, have been presented by Mr. F. M. Hutton.
(F. 2250.) These were found one mile from the junction with Percy Douglas Creek.

Diprotodon australis. — A fragment of a femur, found near embankment of a
dam on a watercourse at Cooromon, Boyneside, via Kingaroy, was presented in
May, 1933, by Mr. A. Slater. (F. 2319.)

Diprotodon australis. — A molar found at mud springs, near Eulo, in the Cunna-
mulla district, was sent in by Mr. G. C. Clark. (F. 2131.)

Diprotodon australis. — We are indebted to Dr. F. W. Whitehouse, Hon.
Palaeontologist, for a massive maxillary fragment, with remains of molars, found in
the Diamantina River at Birdsville. (F. 2419.)

Diprotodon australis. — Mr. Thomas Jack, Dalby, presented a specimen consist-
ing of remains of a palate of a very old Diprotodon ; only the second molars on each
side are in position and these are worn almost to the roots. This was found at Ranges
Bridge, Condamine River, some fifteen miles west of Dalby. (F. 2346.)

Plesiosaurus spp. — Many vertebrae and fragments attributed to this genus,
used in the broad sense, have been received from Western Queensland and they are
the vertebrate fossils most frequently collected. Unfortunately, the material has not
been sufficiently significant to enable a local worker to make adequate comparisons
v ith other species or even genera. Two species, Plesiosaurus macrospondylus and
P . sutherlandi , were very concisely described by McCoy in 1867, but little has been
published since, apart from the records by Jack and Etheridge in the “ Geology
and Palaeontology of Queensland, 1892, pp. 508-10. Hundredweights of vertebrae,
some in associated series, have been received during the last twenty years at the
Queensland Museum, in addition to remains in the old collection.

A series of 24 associated vertebrae collected in the Flinders River, near Rich-
mond, was presented through Mr. G. E. Blake. (F. 2085.) Another series of
vertebrae with other fragments, mostly embedded in matrix, found at “ Caithness,”
Dartmouth, was collected and presented by Mr. A. B. Cribb. (F. 2100.) About ten

PALEONTOLOGICAL NOTES.

239

vertebrae from Baneda, via Augathella, were presented by Mr. George S. Martin.
(F. 2329.) Seven incomplete vertebrae from Ashgrove, near Brixton, Barcaldine,
were collected and presented by Messrs. H, A. Craig and C. Loft. (F. 2178.)

The typical dorsal vertebrae have centra about 80 to 95 mm. in length. These
centra are somewhat constricted in the middle, and their transverse and vertical
diameters are subequal. In well-preserved specimens the maximum diameter is about
105 mm.

Howchin has figured cervical vertebrae from “ the Cretaceous beds of the
Neales Biver, north-westward of Lake Eyre,” which are very similar to some of our
cervical specimens (Handbooks of the Flora and Fauna of South Australia, “ The
Building of Australia,” Part If, 1928, p. 320).

Fragments from the shoulder -girdle are associated with the “ Caithness ”
fossils, but these have not yet been freed from matrix.

As previously mentioned, the generic term Plesiosaurus is only applied in the
wide sense, and, when better known, these fossils will probably need distinctive generic
recognition. D. M. S. Watson has noted that Elasmosaurus occurs in ’Queensland
(P.Z.S., 1924, p. 885). Judging from the vertebral characters outlined by Watson,
these fossils belong to the “ small-headed, long-necked Plesiosaurs.”

Only one small cranial fragment has been received, and this, although much
abraded and involved in matrix, shows portions of maxillary bones with remains of
small teeth projecting obliquely. This was collected by Mr. J. Edgar Young on
Telemon Station during his recent trip. (F. 2448.)

" Plesiosaur.” — From Mount Abundance, near Muckadilla, South-western
Queensland (Roma Series), we have received fragmentary material representing a
large Plesiosaur. This includes a fragment of a paddle, presented by Mr. R. J.
Bumpton. This interesting specimen, which is embedded in matrix, shows massive,
elongated phalanges, some of which are over 70 mm. in length. These phalanges
are constricted in the middle and they are oval in section. (F. 2242.) Other specimens,
said to be from the same fossil, were presented by Mr. William Schmid through Dr.
H. I. Jensen, who informs me that this Mount Abundance discovery was in Portion
32, Parish of Norman. Associated with the fossils was a deposit of water-worn
pebbles, one to three inches in diameter, forming a nest near the actual bones.

Notochelone costata .— We are indebted to Mr. Ulick Browne for a fairly complete
carapace of this chelonian, which was discovered at Garomna, Julia Creek, North-
western Queensland. (F. 2174.)

[End of Volume X, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum J

David Whyte,, Government Printer, Brisbane.

]