'r THE PROCEEDINGS x^> LINNEAN SOCIETY NEW SOUTH WALES. FOR THE YEAR 18Q6 Vol. XXI. -WIXH SIXXY-ONE I*I-AXES. ^gbttcg : PRINTED AND PUBLISHED FOK THE SOCIETY BY F. CUNNINGHAME & CO., 146 PITT STREET, AND SOLD BY THE SOCIETY. 1896. SyDNEY : F. CUNNINGHAME AND CO., PRINTERS, PITT STREET. CONTENTS OF 1896, PART I. (No. 81). (Issued July inth, 1896.) PAGE Observations on the Relations of the Organ of Jacobson in the Horst.. By R. Broom, M.D., B.Sc. (Plater.) 9 Descriptions of Further Highly Ornate Boomerangs from New South Wales and Queensland. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator of the Australian Museum. (Plates ii. -v.) ... ... ... ... 14 On a New Genus and Species of Fishes from Maroubra Bay. By J . Douglas Ogilby. (Commmicatedhy T. Whitehgrje, F.E.M.R.) 23 On the Occurrence of Callosities in Gyprcea other than Cy. hicallosa and Gy. rhinocerus; and on the Occurrence of a Sulcus in Trhna, By Agnes F. Kenyon'. (Comnmnicated by J. Brazier, F.L.S.) 26 Theoretical Explanations of the Distribution of Southern Faunas. By Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S., Hon. Memb. L.S.N.S.W. ... 36 Report ou a Bone Breccia Deposit near the Wombeyan Caves, N.S.W. : with Descriptions of some New Species of Marsupials. By R. Broom, M.D., B.Sc. (Plates vi.-viii.) ... 48 On a Galaxias from Mount Kosciusko. By J. Douglas Ogilby ... 62 The Entomology of Grass-Trees ( Xamhorrha'a). By Walter W. Froggatt. (Plate IX.) 74 Ob.servations on Peripatus. By Tho.s. Steel, F.C.S 94 Descriptions of New Australian Fungi. By D. McAlpine, F.L.S. No. i. (Gommunicatedhy J. H. Maiden, F.L.S.) (Plates x.-xi.) 104 Description of a New Species of Astralium from New Britain. By Charles Hedley, F.L S., and Arthur Willey, D.Sc. (Plate XII.) 107 On a Rare Variation in the Shell of Pterocera lanibis, Linn. By Arthur Willey, D.Sc. (Gommiuiicated by Jas. P. Hill, F.L.S.) (Plate XIII.) 110 Catalogue of the Described Coleoptera of Australia. Supplement, Part ii. By George Masters.* [Title]. Elections and Announcements ... ... ... ... 1, 30, 31, 89 Donations ... ... ...• ... ... ... ... ... 1, 31, 89 Notes and Exhibits 28,88 * Issued sepaiatuly as a .Supplement to this Part. 2 Ok- *y ..*,< ,.-. i i i %J IV. ^ CONTENTS. PART II. (No. 82). (Issued September 23rd, ISOO.) PAGE A New Family of Australian Fishes. By J. Douglas Ogilbv ... 118 Descriptions of two new Genera and Species of Australian Fishes. By J. Douglas Ogilby .. .. ... 136 On the Australian CUvinides (Fain. Carabidce) — Rkvision of the Austkalian Species of the Genus Cliviua, WITH THE Description of a new Genus (Glivinarchus). By Thomas G. Sloane 143 On the Bag-Shelters of Lepidopterous Larvae of the Genus Tcara. By Walter W. Froggatt. (Plate xiv.) 258 Note on the Occurrence of Diatomaceons Earth at the Warrumbungle Mountains, New South Wales. By T. W. Edgeworth David. (Plates XV. -XVII. ) 261 Appendix to the Australian Clinnides (Fam. Carabidct). By Thomas G. Sloane — The Clivinides of King'.s Sound and its Vicinity 275 Elections and Announcements ... ... ... ... ... 114,270 Donations ... 114, 270 Notes and Exhibits 113,269 PART III. (No. 83). (Issued December 22nd, 1896.) PAGE Description of a New Species of Ahhipharus from Victoria, with Critical Notes on two other Australian Lizards. By A. H. S. Lucas, M. A., B.Sc, and C. Frost, F.L.S 281 Descriptions of New Species of Australian Coleoptera. By Arthur M.Lea. Part iii 284 Descriptions of some new Aranekke of New South Wales. No. 6. By W. J. Rainbow. (Plates xviii.-xx.) 320 A new Genus and three new Species of Mollusca from New South Wales, New Hebrides, atid Western Australia. By John Brazier, F.L.S. , C.M.Z.S.,&c .345 Note on a new Variety of Acacia decurrens, Willd. By R. T. Baker, F.L.S 348 CONTENTS. V. PART III. (continued). PAGE Note on the Nidifioation of a Pouched Mouse, ( Phascologcde. flavipes ). By Edgar R. Waite,F.L.S 349 • On the Australian Bembidiides referable to the Geuus 7'achys, with the Description of a new allied Genus Pi/rrotachy-i. By Thomas G. Sloane 355 Two new Species of ProHtanthtra from New South Wales. By R. T. Baker, F.L.S., Assistant Curator, Technological Museum, Sydney. (Plates xxi.-xxil.) 378 A Monograph of the Australian Marsipohranchii. By J. Douglas OoiLBr 38S Ou the Botany of the Rylstone and Goulburn River Districts. Parti. By R. T. Baker, F. L.S., Assistant Curator, Technological Museum, Sydney ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 427 Note on Cyprti^a angwifafa, Gray, var. suhcarnea, Ancey. By C. E. Beddome 467 Elections and Announcements ... ... ... ... ... 352,383 Donations 352,383 Notes and Exhibits 348,382 Note. — On pp. 378, 380, and 381, /or Plate xxii. read Plate xxi.; and for Plate XXIII., reac^ Plate xxii. PART IV. (No. 84.) (Issued May -Ust, IS'JT.) PAGE The Sooty Mould of Citrus Trees : a Stud^' in Polymorphism. By D. McAlpi>ie. (Plates xxiii-xxxiv). ... ' ... 469 Note on the Range of the Platj'pus. By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S. 500 Notes on Boronia Jloribunda, Sieber. By Baron von Mpeller, K.C.M.G., F.R.S 503 Anst va,\ia,n Termitidre. Part ii. By Walter W. Froggatt. (Plates xxxv.-xxxvi.) ... 510 The Occurrence of Radiolaria in Pabeozoic Pvocks in N. S. Wales. By Professor T. W. Ed(4eworth David, B.A., F.G.S. (Plates xxxvii. -XXXVIII.) 553 VI. CONTENTS. PART IV. (continued). PAGE Note on the Occurrence of Casts of Radiolaria in Pre-Cambrian (?) Rocks, South Australia. By Professor T. W. Edgeworth David, B.A., F.G.8., and Walter Howchin, F.G.S. (Plates XXXIX. -XL.) 571 On the Comparative Anatomy of the Organ of Jacobson in Marsupials. By R. Broom, M.D., B.Sc. (Plates xli.-xlviii.) 591 On a New Species of Macadnmin, together with Notes on two Plants new to the Colony. By J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., and E. Betche 624 Descriptions of some new Araneidre of New South Wales. No. 7. By W. J. Rainbow, Entomologist to the Austi-alian Museum. (Plate XLix., figs 1 -3a.) 628 Contributions to a Knowledge of the Arachnidan Fauna of Australia. No. 1. By W. J. Rainbow, Entomologist to the Australian Museum. (Plate xlix., figs. 4-4&.) 6."U Revision of the Genus Paroji-^is. By Rev. T. Blackburn, B.A., Cor- responding Member. Part i. .. ... ... ... ... ... 637 The Silurian Trilobites of New South Wales, with References to those of other Parts of Australia. By R. Etheridge, Junr. , Curator of the Australian Museum, and John Mitchell, Public School, Narellau. Part iv. The Odoutopleu7-idce. (Plates l.-lv.) 694 Two Additions to the Fungi of New South Wales. By D. McAlpine. (Plate LVi.) 722 On some Australian .£^/eo^?/rtf''. By J. Dougla.s Ogilby 725 On Domatia in certain Australian and other Plants. By Alex. G. Hamilton. (Plate lvil) ... ... ... ... - . ... 758 Notes on two Papuan Throwing-Sticks. By J. Jennings. (Plate LViii.) 793 Observations on the Eucalypts of New South Wales. Part ii. By Henry Deane, M. A., F.L.S., &c., and J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., &c. (Plates Lix.-LXi.) 798 Description of a new Species of Papitia from Queensland. By C. E. Beddome 814 Elections and Announcements Donations Notes and Exhibits ... Presidential Address. By Henry Dkane, M.A., F.L Office-bearers and Council for 1897 Title-page, Index, Contents, &c. 507 508,586 500,584,816 S 821 SG3 N CORRIGENDA. Page 50, after line 20 add— PI. vi. figs. 4-7. Page 71, line 32 — for .tchomburrfhii and hayi read schojnburgJcii and kayi. Page 85, line 16 — for C. alhitarsis read E. cdbitarsis. Page 150, line 14 — for C. adelaidce read C. tumidipes. Page 171, line 20— /o;- clypeus read clypeal. Page 173, line 20 — for Cprafof/lofisHS read Cerafoglossa. Page 180 — omit line 2. Page 181, line 5 — omit " South Australia," et seq. Page 182, line 27 — for C. addaidiv read C. tmnklipes. Page 195, line 18 — for C. adelaidce, Blk., read C. tumidipes, SI. Page 253, line 7— -for C. adelaidce read C. tumidipes. Page 253, line '21— for on read in. Page 254, line 29 — for C. adelaidce read G. tumidipes. Page 255, line 31 — for C. fenuipes read O. cjracilipes. Page 314, line 2i— -for punctclatum read punctulatus. Page 326, line \\—for Tome xlvii. read Tome xlii. Page 345, line .30 — for Canthuruf; read Caiitharus. Page 351, line 3 — for Canfhurus read Cantharus. Page 378, line b—for Plates xxii.-xxiii. read Plates xxi.-xxii. Page 378, line 7 — for Plate xxii. read Plate xxi. Page 380, line 3— /o?' Plate xxiii. read Plate xxii. Page 381, line 10— /or Plate xxii. read Plate xxi.; for Plate xxiii. rend Plate xxii. Page 381, line 19— /or Plate xxiii. rend Plate xxii. Page 430, line 8 — for phifirifo/ia read phylirifolia. Page 430, line 23 — for .4. ixophylla read A. ixiophyUa. Page 537, line 0 — for hruncirornis read hrunneicornis. Page 567, line 13 — for PipeifeleUa read Pipef fella. Page 758, line 25— /or Naturliche read Natiirliohe. LIST OF FLUTES. PROCEEDINGS 1896. Plate I. — The Organ of Jacobson in the Hoi-se. Plates II. -V. — Ornate Boomerangs from New South Wales and Queensland. Plates VI. -VIII. — Fossil Marsupials and Echidna (Macropus wombeyensis, Potorous tr'idactylns var. anfiquus, Bxirramys parvus, Palceope- taurus elegaas, Pxeudochirus anfiquus, Perameles womheyensis. Echidna sp.) from a Bone Breccia Deposit near the Wombeyan Caves, N.S.W. Plate IX. — Insects infesting Grass-Trees (Xanthorrhiea). Plates X. -XI. — Australian Fungi. Plate XII. — Astralium moniliferum, n.sp., fromNew Britain. Plate XIII. — Rare Varieties of Pterocera lamhis, Linn. Plate XIV. — Teara contraria, Walk., and larval bag-shelters. Plate XV. — Section showing junction between the Trachyte Volcanic Group and the Permo-Carboniferous Coal Measures, Warrunibungle Mountains, N.S.W. Plate XVI. — Sections showing the intercalation of Diatomaceous Earth in the Trachyte Series, and in association with Cinnamomum Leich- hardtii, Ettings., Warrunibungle Mountains, N.S.W. Plate XVII. — Ginnamomum Leichhardfii, Ettings., Warrunibungle Moun- tains, N.S.W. Plates xviii.-xx. — New Araneidce from New South Wales. Plate XXI. — Prostanthera discolor, n.sp. Plate XXII. — Prostanthera stricta, n.sp. Plates XXIII. -XXXIV. — The Sooty-Mould [Cdjniodinm c/friro/um, n.sp.) of Citrus Trees. Plates XXXV. -XXXVI. — Australian Termites. Plate xxxvii. — Surface of Calcareous Radiolarian Rock etched with dilute HCl. Plate XXXVIII. — New South Wales Palaeozoic Radiolaria. Plate XXXIX. — South Australian Pre-Cambrian (?) Radiolaria. Plate XL. — Sections and Map illustrative of the Occurrence of Pre-Cam- brian (?) Radiolaria in South Australia. Plates XLi.-XLViii. — The Organ of Jacobson in Marsupials. Plate XLix. — New Australian Arachnids {Epeira coronata ( $ ), Parhygnaffia siiperha, ( ? ), Atfiis -sjj/endens, { S); and Biithiiti jlavicruris). Plates L.-LV.— New South Wales Silurian Trilobites (Fam. OdontopJenridm). Plate LVi. — A new Fungus {Capnodinm callitris) attacking the Murray Pine. Plate LVii. — Domatia in Australian and other Plants. Plate LViii. — Two Papuan Throwing-Sticks. Plates Lix.-LXi.— New South Wales Eucalypts (Stringybarks). iF'i^ocEEiDinsrc-s LINNEAN SOCIETY 3>TET7^ SOXJTia: •^T^.^LES. WEDNESDAY, 25th MARCH, 1896. The Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Society waa held in the Linnean Hall, Ithaca Road, Elizabeth Bay, on Wednesday even- ing, March 25th, 1896. The President, Henry Deane, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., in the Chair. The President gave notice that upon requisition he convened a Special General Meeting to be held on April 29 th, to take precedence of the Monthly Meeting. Business : The Hon. Treasurer to move for the insertion in Rule xxiii. of an additional clause providing for the countersigning of all cheques drawn on behalf of the Society. DONATIONS. (Received since the Meeting in November', 1895.) Manchester Museum, Owens College — Studies in Biology. Vol. iii. (1895) : Catalogue of the Hadfield CoUection of Shells from the Loyalty Islands. From the Museum. 2 DONATIONS. Perak Government Gazette. Vol. viii. Nos. 27-31 (Oct.-Dec. 1895); Vol. ix. Nos. 1-3 (Jan. 1896). From the Government Secretary. Royal Society of Victoria — Ti-ansactions. Vol. iv. (1895). From the Society. Imperial University, Japan — Calendar, 1894-95. From the President. College of Science, Imperial University, Japan — Journal. Vol. ix. Part 1 (1895). From the Director. Societe Royale Linneenne de Bruxelles — Bulletin. 21"". Annee. Nos. 1-3. (Nov. 1895-Jan. 1896). From the Society. McAlpine's " Systematic Arrangement of Australian Fungi, together with Host-Index and List of Works on the Subject." (4to. 1895). From the Tmatees of the Free Public Library, Melbourne. Geological Society, London — Quarterly Journal. Vol. li. Part 4 (No. 204, Nov. 1895) : Vol. lii. Part 1 (No. 205, Feb. 1896) : Geological Literature, itc, 1895. From the Society. Zoologischer Anzeiger. xviii. Jahrg. Nos. 487-492 (Oct.-Dec. 1895); xix. Bd. Nos. 493-495 (Jan.-Feb. 1896). From the Editor. Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Frankfurt a/M. — Bericht, 1895. From the Society. Societe Geologique de Belgique — Annales. T. xx. 4'' Liv. (1892-93); T. xxii. 2'"''. Liv. (Sept. 1895). From the Society. American Naturalist. Vol. xxix. Nos. 347-348 (Nov.-Dec. 1895); Vol. XXX. Nos. 349-350 (Jan.-Feb. 1896). From the Editors. Victorian Naturalist. Vol. xii. Nos. 8-11 (Nov. 1895-Feb. 1896). From the Field Naturalists Chib of Victoria. American Geographical Society — Bulletin. Vol. xxvii. No. 3 (1895). From the Society. DONATIONS. 6 ■ Hamilton Association — Journal and Proceedings for 1894-95. From the Association. Geological Survey of Canada — Palaeozoic Fossils. Vol. i. (1861- 65); Vol. ii. Part i. (1874); Vol. iii. Parts i.-ii. (1884 and 1895) : Maps of the Principal Auriferous Creeks in the Cariboo Mining District, British Columbia, Nos. 364-372, 379-390 and 550-551 : Sheet No. 11, S. W. Nova Scotia: Eastern Townships Map — Quebec. N.-E. Quarter Sheet; Rainy River Sheet — Ontario. Frovi the Director. American Museum of Natural History — Bulletin. Vol. vii. ,(1895), Sig. 20-24, pp. 305-388 (Sept.-Dec. 1895). From the Museum. Department of Mines, Perth, W. A. — "Mining Handbook to the Colony of Western Australia." 2nd Edition (1895). By H. P. Woodward, J.P., F.G.S. From the Secretary for Mines. Bureau of Agriculture, Perth, W. A. — Journal. Vol. ii. Nos. 25-27 (Nov.-Dec. 1895); Vol. iii. Nos. 1-5 (Jan.-Mar. 1896). From the S'.cretary. Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein zu Osnabriick — Jahresbericht, 1893-94. From the Society. Michigan Fish Commission — Bulletin. No. 5 (1895). From the Commission. Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. — Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Vol. xxvii. Nos. 4-6 (Aug.-Nov. 1895): Annual Report of the Curator, 1894-95. From the Curator. Asiatic Society of Bengal — Journal, ri.s. Vol. Ixiv. (1895), Part i. No. 2 : Proceedings, 1895. Nos. vii.-viii. (July-Aug.). From the Society. Societe de Physique et d' Histoire Naturelle de Geneve — Memoires. T. xxxii. Premiere Partie (1894-95). From the Society. Royal Microscopical Society — Journal. 1895. Parts 5 and 6 {Oct. and Dec). From the Society. 4 DONATIONS. Geological Survey of India — Records. Yol. xxviii. Part 4 (1895). From the Director. Hooker's " Icones Plantarum." (Fourth Sei'ies). Vol. v. Parts i.-ii. (Nov. 1895-Jan. 1896). From the Benthain Trustees. K. K. Zoologisch-botanische Gesellschaft in Wien — Yerhand- lungen. Jahrgang, 1895. xlv. Band 8-10 Hefte. From the Society. Australasian Journal of Pharmacy. Yol. x. No. 120 (Dec. 1895); Yol. xi. Nos. 121-123 (Jan.-Mar. 1896). From the Editor. Pharmaceutical Journal of Australasia. Yol. viii. Nos. 11-12. (Nov.-Dec. 1895); Yol. ix. Nos. 1-2 (Jan.-Feb. 1896). From the Editor. Pamphlet entitled " Stratigraj^hical Notes on the Georgina Basin," etc. (1895). By R. L. Jack, F.G.S., F.R.G.S. From the Author. Nederlandsche Entomologische Yereeniging — Tijdschrift voor Entomologie. Deel xxxviii. Afl. i. (1894-95). From the Society'. L'Acad^mie Imperiale des Sciences de St. Petersbourg — - Bulletin. v«. S^rie. T. ii. No. 5 (May, 1895); T. iii. No. 1 (June, 1895). From the Academy. Troisieme Congres International de Zoologie — Guide Zoolo- gique : Communications Diverses sur les Pays-Bas (1895). From the Netherlands Natural History Society, Helder. Societe d' Horticulture du Doubs, Besancon— Bulletin, n.s. Nos. 59-60 (Nov.-Dec. 1895): Serie Illustree. No. 1 (Jan. 1896). From, the Society. Pamphlet entitled " On Mediterranean and New Zealand Reteporre," &c. (1895). By A. W. Waters, F.L.S. From the Author. Cambridge Philosophical Society — Proceedings. Yol. viii. Part 5; Yol. ix. Part i. (1895). From the Society. DONATIONS. 0 Zoological Society, London — Abstracts. 19th Nov., 3rd Dec, 17th Dec. 1895, Uth Jan. 1896, Feb. 4th: Proceedings, 1895. Part iii. : Transactions. Vol. xiii. Part 11 (Oct. 1895). From the Society. Royal Society of South Australia — Transactions. Vol. xix. Part ii. (Dec. 1895). From the Society. Societe Royale de Geographie d'Anvers — Bulletin. T. xx. 2me.3me pg^j.^^^ (1895-96) : Memoires. T. iv. From the Society. Department of Agriculture, Sydney — Agricultural Gazette. Vol. vi. Parts 11-12 (Kov.-Dec. 1895); Vol. vii. Parts 1-2 (Jan.- Peb. 1896). From the Hon. the Miraster for Mines and Agriculture. Johns Hopkins University Circulars. Vol. xv. JSTo. 121 (Oct. 1895). From the University. Naturvvissenschaftlicher Verein des Reg.-Bez., Frankfurt a/0. — Helios. xiii. Jahrg. 1895. Nos. 1-6 (Ap.-Sept.): Societatum Litterse. ix. Jahrg. 1895. Nos. 4-9 (Ap.-Sept.). From the Society. Scottish Microscopical Society — Proceedings, 1894-95. From the Society. Kaiserliche Mineralogische Gesellschaft, St. Petersbourg — Materialien zur Geologie Russlands. Bd. xvii. (1895). From tlie Society. U.S. Department of Agriculture — Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy — Bulletin. No. 6 (1895): Division of Entomology — Bulletin, n.s. Nos. 1-2 (1895). From the Secretary of Agri- culture. Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences — Transactions. Vols, i.-iii.; Vol. iv. Parts 1-2; Vols, v.-vi. (1866-85;. From the Academy. Bombay Natural History Society — Journal. Vol ix. No. 5; Vol. X. No. 1 (Oct.-Nov., 1895). From the Society. 6 DONATIONS. Societe Entomologique de Belgique — Annales. T. xxxvi. (1892); xxxviii. (1894) : Memoires. i. (1892). From the Society. Pamphlet entitled " Analyses of the Artesian Waters of New South Wales," etc. By J. C. H. Mingaye, F.C.8. No. 2 (1895). From the Author. Entomological Society of London — Proceedings, 1895. Parts iv.-v. From the Society. Museo de La Plata— Revista. T. vi. Part ii. (1895). From the Director. Australian Museum, Sydney — -Records. Vol. ii. No. 7. (Jan., 1896). From the Trustees. Academic Royale des Sciences et Lettres de Danemark, Copenhague — Bulletin. Annee, 1895. No. 2 (April-May). From the Academy. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademie— Handlingar. Bd. xxvi. (1894-95): Bihang. Bd. xx. Afd. i.-iv. From the Academy. Journal of Conchology. Vol. viii. No. 5 (Jan., 1896). From the Conchologicnl Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Naturhistorischer Verein der Preussischen Rheinlande, West- falens, and des Reg.-Bez., Osnabriick — Verhandlungen. lii. Bd. Erste Halfte, (1895): Sitzungsberichte der Niederrheinischen Gessellschaft fiir Natur- und Heilkunde zu Bonn. 1895. Erste Halfte. From the Society. Societe Beige de Microscopie — ^Annales. T. xix. 2'"". Ease. (1895). From the Society. Archiv for Mathematik og Naturvidenskab. Bd. xvii. Hefte 1-4 (Ap., 1894; Aug., 1895). From the Royal Uniiiersity of Upsal. Upsala Universitets Mineralogisk-Geologiska Institution — Meddelanden. Nos. II and 17-19. From the Royal University of Norway. DONATIONS. t Societe Royale Malacologique de Belgique — ^Annales. T. xxvii. (1892) : Proces-Yerbaux. T. xxi. (1892), pp. 75-86. (Nov.-Dec.) ; T. xxii. (1893); T. xxiii. (1894); T. xxiv. (1895), pp. 1-83 (Jan.-May). From the Society. Societe Nationale des Sci. Nat. et Math, de Cherbourg — Memoires. T. xxix. (1892-95). Fi-om the Society. Geelong Naturalist. Vol. v. No. 2 (Jan., 1896). From the Geelovg Field N^aturalists Club. Royal Society, London — Proceedings. Vol. Iviii. Nos. 349- 352 (Aug. -Nov., 1895); Vol, lix. No. 353 (Jan., 1896). From the Society. Royal Irish Academy— Ti'ansactions. Vol. xxx. Parts 15-17 (Feb. -Dec, 1895) : Proceedings. Third Series. Vol. iii. No. 4 (Dec, 1895) : List of Members, 1895. From the Academy. Entomologiska Foreningen i Stockholm — Entomologisk Tids- krift. Arg. 16, 1895. Haft 1-4. From the Society. Queensland Geological Survey — Report on the Leichhardt Gold Field and other Mining Centres in the Cloncurry District. 1895 (No. 208). By W. H. Rands. From the Director. Sydney Observatory — ^Results of Rain, River, and Evaporation Observations made in New South Wales during 1894 under the Direction of H. C. Russell, B.A., C.M.G., F.R.S., Govt. Astro- nomer. From the Director. Bureau of American Ethnology— Bulletin W. (No. 23) [1894]. From the Bureau. Public Library, Museums, and National Gallery, Melbourne — Report of the Trustees, 1894. From the Trustees. University of Melbourne — Examination Papers : Matric (Nov., 1895) ; Annual (Oct. and Dec, 1895). From the University. Comite Geologique, St. Petersbourg — Bulletin. Supplement au T. xiv., 1894 : Memoires. Vol. x. No. 4 (1895). From the Committee. O DONATIONS. Department of Agi'iculture, Victoria — Three Reports by Messrs. Sinclair and Irvine: Guides to Growers, Nos. 6-7, 18- 20, and 22. From C. French, Esq., F.L.S. Gordon Technical College, Geelong — The Wombat. Yol. i. No. 2 (1895). From the College. L'Institut Colonial de Marseille — Annales. Vol. ii. (1895). Frovi the Institittion. Revista de Sciencias Naturaes e Sociaes. Vol. iv. No. 14 (1896). From the Directors. OBSERVATIONS ON THE RELATIONS OF THE ORGAN OF JACOBSON IN THE HORSE. By R. Broom, M.D., B.Sc. (Plate i.) In Herzfield's recent paper " Ueber das Jacobson'sche Organ des Menschen und der Saugethiere "* he calls attention to the peculiarity in the Horse in that in it there is no naso-palatine canal opening into the mouth, and that the duct of Jacobson, instead of opening into the naso-palatine canal as in most higher mammals, opens into a deep depression in the nasal floor. This condition he found to exist in both the Horse and the Ass, and he states that according to Gratioletf a similar condition is found in the Camel and Giraffe. A8 I had from my studies on the organ of Jacobson in different Orders come to the conclusion that though the degree of develop- ment of the organ may vary greatly in different genera the type on which it is formed is remarkably uniform in each Order, I naturally became anxious to find the explanation of how it was that the organ in the Horse differed apparently so rem.arkably from the normal Ungulate type as found in the Sheep. Being fortunate in having in my possession the head of a foetal Horse I have made a study of the relations of the organ by means of a series of vertical sections. Though the examination of a younger specimen would doubtless have been even more * ZoDlog. Jahrbuch, Abtheil. ftir Anatomie und Ontogenie. BJ. iii. 188). t Recherches sur i'organe de Jacobson. aris, 1845. 10 RELATIONS OF THE ORfiAN OF JACOBSON IN THE HORSE, satisfactory, as the present series sufficiently elucidates the natui-e of the peculiarity, I think it well to publish the present results. The Horse differs from most mammals in having the jDremaxil- laries developed in such a way as to carry the palate forward in advance of the nares and forming a sort of rostrum — a condition seen in a much greater degree in the Tapir. As a result of this development a large j)ortion of the anterior part of the nasal septum is clasped between the premaxillaries, and the lateral cartilages, which in most mammals become the " cartilages of the nasal floor," are here confined by the premaxillaries and prevented from developing latei-ally to any great degree, and seem to com- pensate for the want of lateral expansion by developing down- wards. Figure 1, Plate i., I'epresents a section immediately behind the point where the premaxillary gives off its palatine process. A portion of the lateral cartilage (I.e.) is seen passing downwards from the nasal septum (n.s.) between the premaxillary and the palatine process. A little below it may be observed an oval cartilage cut across— this is an anterior process from the lateral cartilage. It passes well forward, approaching nearer to the palate, and ending a little behind the rudimentary papilla. The most noteworthy peculiarity of this section is that there is no trace of the naso-palatine canal to be seen, nor is there in any anterior section. Even by the sides of the papilla, where the anterior opening of the canal would be expected, I have failed to find even a rudiment. A little distance behind the plane of figure 1 the anterior process of the latei'al cartilage is seen united with the main part, which though still attached to the nasal septum is becoming constricted off. In a slight concavity on the inferior end of the cartilage is found on this plane the anterior closed end of the imperfect naso-palatine canal (ii.p.c.). In figure 3 the naso-palatine canal is found to have a distinct lumen, and on its inner side it is supported by a small downward cartilaginous process. BY R. BROOM. 11 In the next succeeding planes the relation of the duct to the cartilages is very similar, but the lateral cartilage is found becoming shorter and broader and detaching itself from the nasal septum (fig. 4). On reaching the plane shown in fig. 5 the nasal cavity is found to be approaching the lateral cartilage, which here becomes for the first time a " nasal-floor cartilage '"' proper. At its outer angle it is seen sending up a process which further back is found to represent the rudimentary cartilage of the nasal wall. Here the naso-palatine canal is seen flattened out and about to give off Jacobson's duct. The inner part or Jacobson's duct is almost surrounded by cartilage. In figure 6 the ducts are seen separated, and a cartilaginous partition passes between them. In the following figure the outer part of the cartilage is seen detached, while the inner forms a complete investment for Jacobson's duct. Between the two portions of the divided lateral cartilage is found the naso-palatine canal about to open into the nasal cavity. Behind this region the organ and its cartilages are found quite to follow the ordinary mammalian form. It will 1)6 observed that the points in which the Horse differs from the normal type are these : — (1) occlusion or absence of the anterior part of the naso-palatine canal, leading to the secretion from Jacobson's organ passing backwards into the nasal cavity by the upper part of the naso-palatine canal; and '2) the anterior processes of cartilage usually given off from the nasal-floor or lateral cartilage and passing forward supporting Jacobson's duct and the naso-palatine canal, here for the greater part remain united with the lateral cartilage. In the absence of even a trace of the canal in its anterior part, it is doubtful whether the anterior cartilaginous process repi"esents Jacobson's or Stenson's cartilages or a fusion of both — probably the latter. 12 RELATIONS OP THE ORGAN OF JACOBSOX IX THE HORSE, In almost all other respects there is a close agreement between the condition of parts in the Horse and those in most other Ungulates. Pig. 10 shows a section of part of the nose of a very small foetal Calf. Here both Jacobson's and Stenson's cartilages are well developed and seem distinct from the broad nasal-floor cartilage. If this be compared with figures 4 or 5 the close resemblance will be seen; in fact the only marked difference is that in the Horse the cartilages of Jacobson and Stenson are united with the nasal- floor cartilage, in the Calf distinct. But all the corresponding parts can easily be observed. Figure 11 represents a section of the foetal Calf corresponding to figure 6 in the Horse. Here the duct cartilages are united with the nasal-floor cartilage as in the Horse. The resemblance is, 'however, somewhat marred by the enormous de^'elopment of the cartilage of the nasal wall in the Calf. Such variations in cartilaginous development, however, occur in very nearly allied forms as the Cat and Dog. The agreement of figure 12 with figure 8 is most striking. The peculiarities in the Horse are probably due to the strong development of the premaxillary bones leading to the occlusion of the anterior part of the naso-palatine canal and to the vertical direction assumed by the lateral cartilage permitting the duct cartilages to remain united with the main body. The similar condition in the Camel is probably accounted for by the fact that its very recent ancestors had remarkably well developed incisors, e.g , Protolabes from the Upper Miocene of Oregon. In the Giraffe the explanation is not very manifest. I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. John Mackie and Mr. A. Robb, F.R.C.V.S., of Glasgow, for the foetal horse examined, and to Mr. Alf. Swan, of Taralga, for the icetal calf. BY E. BROOM. 13 REFERENCES TO PLATE I. a.l.c, anterior process of lateral cartilage; J.c, Jacobson's cartilage; J.d., Jacobson's duct; J.o., Jacobson's organ; Ic, lateral cartilage; Mx., maxillary; n.f.c, nasal-floor cartilage; n.p.c, naso-palatine canal; n.v.c, nasal-wall cartilage; vi.-s"., nasal septun.; p.Pmx., palatine process of pre- maxillar}'; Pmx., premaxillary. Figs. 1- 9. — Transverse vertical sections through snout of fcctal Horse (head length about 7*5 cm.) x 7- Figs. 1012. — Transverse vertical sections through snout of foetal Calf (head length about 2 cm.) x 30. Dotted portion represents cartilage; parts shaded by lines represent the regions of ossification. u DESCRIPTIONS OF FURTHER HIGHLY ORNATE BOOMERANGS FROM NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND. By R. Ethbridge, June., Curator of the Australian Museum. (Plates il-v.) The boomerangs described in the present communication may be regarded as supplementary to those of an ornate nature figured in these " Proceedings,"* and the " Macleay Memorial Volume. "t They are from the collections of Dr. J. C. Cox, and Messrs. P. R. Pedley and N. Hardy, and my best thanks are due to these gentlemen for the loan of the weapons. The first five boomerangs generally resemble one of those first referred to, | where the incised ornament consists of loops returned on themselves, either continuous along the whole length of the weapon or disconnected one from the other. The most highly ornate of the five (Fig. 4) bears three incised loops formed by from three to five continuous grooves, the loops gradually inci'easing in length. The free end of the shortest loop commences near one of the apices of the weapon, passes down the middle line for about one quarter its length, then turns to the left or concave side of the boomerang and is returned again to the apex, at this point rounding on to the convex side, which it follows to a point a trifle beyond the centre of the weapon. Here it turns to the left as far as the middle line, and is again returned in that plane until meeting with and joining the first bend, the loop curves on itself to the left and follows the concave margin throughout the remaining length of the weapon, i e., to the further apex, then returning on itself to the right, passes on to the cons^ex margin, which it follows until coming in » Pioc. Liun. Soc. N.S Wales, 1894, ix. (2), p. 193. t P. 237, t. 32, f. 1-8. + Proc. Lmn. Soc. K.S, Wales, I.e., t. 15, f. 1. BY R. ETHBRIDGB, JUNE. 15 contact with the first return of the second loop, again returns on itself to the middle line of the boomerang, pursues its course along that plane, and terminates as it commenced in a free end ; hence there are in this figure four turns to the left, and two to right. When there are more than three incised grooves, the additional ones are made by interpolation. Some of the inter- spaces of the loops are quite plain, one bears seven crosses in three and a half pairs, three others have continuous zig-zag incised lines, whilst outside the central loop on the convex side of the boomerang, the marginal space is oc(3upied by a similar zig-zag, or almost festoon-like, figure of two incised grooves. One of the apices is similarly marked transversely, whilst the other is devoid of sculpture, but just within the return of the loop, and above the free end is a figure resembling an unsymmetrical letter W. The length of this weapon across the curve is two feet four inches ; the breadth two and a quarter inches ; and the weight ten and a half ounces. It is from the collection of Mr. P. R. Pedley, and was obtained at St. George on the Balonne River, a branch of the Maranoa River, in South-east Queensland. The second boomerang (Fig. 3) differs from Fig. 4 only in detail. The loops are identical in number and execution, but at the returning points instead of four deflections to the left and two to the right, there are two and four respectively. The interspaces are also sculptured in the same manner, although not within corresponding loops. The apices on the contrary are differently marked, both bearing a diagonal of four incised lines, the spaces on either side carrying sharp v-shaped figures. The length is two feet four inches; the breadth two and a half inches; and the weight eleven ounces. It is from the same locality and collection as the last. The third weapon (Fig. 2) resembles Fig. 3, except that only two loops have been incised, almost equally dividing the surface, with two deflections to the right and two to the left. Only one inter- space bears a single zig-zag line, the others are devoid of sculpture. At one end the loop is contiguous to the apex, at the other the 16 BOOMERANGS FROM N.S.W. AND QUEENSLAND, free space beyond the retumi of the loops is occupied by sigmoidal figures of two incisions each, and a central gently lunate outline. The length is two feet three and a quarter inches; the breadth two inches; and the weight nine ounces. It is from the same locality and collection as the two previous weapons. The two succeeding boomerangs (Figs. 1 or 7) have disconnected loops, or rather half-loops placed back to back and touching in pairs. Cross bars are also present, but dififer in the two weapons. In both the loops are formed of six undulating grooves, producing a figure along one margin of each weapon, then returning on itself, and proceeding along the other margin, leaving a wide space in the middle line. In Fig. 1 there are seven of these half -loops, and in Fig. 7 six. In Fig. 1 the apical half-loops are turned in opposite directions, and one is smaller than the other. That at one of the apices is cut off by a single incised transverse line, and is followed by two half loops abutting against one another, and again divided off near the middle of the weapons by another transverse incised line. Two further half-loops repeat the same order, separated by the third transverse incised line from the first large half-loop referred to as occupying one of the apical portions of the boomerang. The arrangement in Fig. 7 is practically the same, but in consequence of the penultimate apical half-loops being nearly of a size, the sculpture is almost bilaterally symmetrical. The cross-bars are only two, wide quadrangular spaces, vertically incised with close grooves. The interspaces between the two parts of each half-loop are occupied in the middle line of the weapon with a zig-zag figure of two incised lines, the angles of the zig-zag either continuous or broken. In Fig. 7 there is only one such figure, but in Fig. 1 three of the half- loops are infilled with an additional series of a single incision. Again in Fig. 7 an additional zig-zag line is represented immediately along the central convex edge of the weapon. Fig. 1. Fig. 7. Length 2ft. 9in. 2ft. 6in. Breadth ... 2iin. 2^in. Weight ... 12oz. 12oz. BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUNE. 17 Both boomerangs are from Angeldool, on the Narran River, near the Queensland border, and are from the collection of Dr. J. C. Cox. The next weapon to be described (Fig. 6) is well ornamented with four parallel series of small conjoined ovals, extending nearly the entire length of the boomerang, the two nearest the ■ convex margin being the shortest. This margin is also scalloped. The ovals are obliquely incised with single grooves not all in the same direction, but the scalloped edge is plain. The length is two feet eight inches; the breadth two and a quarter inches; and the weight thirteen ounces. It is from the same locality and collection as Figs. 1 and 7. The original of Fig. 5 like that of Fig. 6 is a large boomerang, with the sculpture excellently done, consisting of a median line of six inequilateral rhombs, the intervening triangular spaces on each side being vertically incised with grooves. Tlie surfaces of the rhombs are smooth, and devoid of sculpture, with the exception of the shaped nicks, in from one to four series in each rhomb, but too disjointed to assume a zig-zag pattern. The length is two feet nine and a half inches; the breadth two and a half inches; and the weight thirteen and a half ounces. This example is also from Dr. Cox's Angeldool collection. Fig. 8 represents a boomerang imperfect in itself, but exactly coinciding in its sculpture with one of those described by me from Norley, on the Bulloo River,* and therefore need not be described further. We have here either an example of wide distribution of a certain pattern of sculpture, or a case of a weapon passed on by barter. The specimen is again from Angeldool. Deeply scalloped margins distinguish Fig. 1 2, the scalloping edged with a wide groove, and itself obliquely incised. The middle line or crown is quite smooth with the exception of a fluctuating or :ierpentine line of two grooves, fairly well coinciding in its fluctuations with the groove edging the scalloped figure on the * Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1894, ix. (2), t. 15, f. 2. 9 18 BOOMERANGS FROM N.S.W. AND QUEENSLAND, concave side of the weapon. The immediate apex at one end is cross-incised, and bears a few irregular v-shaped nicks. The length is two feet three and a half inches; breadth two and a quarter inches; and the weight twelve ounces. It is from St. George, Balonne River ( Mr. P. R. Pedley). Fig. 10 is again a bilaterally unsymmetrical boomerang as regards the incised sculpture. There are thi'ee cross-bars formed of one obliquely cross-notched incised line. One of these is near the centre, another half way between this and one of the apices, and the third at the apex referred to, thus dividing the surface into three unef[ual lengths. The middle line bears acute small rhombs, extending throughout the two larger divisions. On each side the line of rhombs are the usual rolling or fluctuating grooves four to five on either side; whilst the middle line of the division unornamented by riiombs, is occupied by similar grooves. The apex at this end bears a transverse double zig-zag pattern, and a single similar series is intra-marginal on the convex side of the boomerang. Length two feet three and a half inches; breadth two and a quarter inches; and the weight eleven ounces. This is a much shorter and more highly curved weapon. St. George, Balonne River (Mr. P. R. Pedley). The middle line of this boomerang (Fig. 11) instead of rhombs is ornamented by deeply incised rolling grooves. Flanking these are two similar grooves, intra-marginal in position, and between the latter and both edges of the weapon are a series of crosses. There are four cross-bars, one towards each apex, and one on either side the centre of the weapon. At the apices are broad semi-lunar transverse bands, both concave in the same direction, and vertically grooved. The length is two feet four and a half inches ; breadth two inches ; and weight ten and a half ounces. This boomerang is again from St. George, and in the collection of Mr. P. R. Pedley. Like Fig. 10 it is a good deal curved. Another very bilaterally unsymmetrical boomerang is represented by Fig. 9. The principal sculpture consists of three ranges of BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUNR. 19 fluctuating grooves, four to six grooves in each range, one group in the middle line, and one on either side, extending from apex to apex, but twice interrupted by cross bars, that differ widely, how- ever, from those figured on preceding weapons. That on one side of the centre consists of two parallel grooves, united by transverse incisions, the other near one of the apices of two such bands, some- what separated from one another, the plain interspace carrying five V-shaped figures placed transversely. On the concave side of the boomerang, and along one part of the edge, is the ever-recurring single zig-zag line, whilst between the fluctuating lines over the general surface, either the same kind of incised sculpture or v- shaped figures parallel to the longer axis of the weapon. Length two feet five and a half inches: breadth two and a quarter inches; and weight twelve and a half ounces. This boomerang was received from Normanton, Gulf of Carpentaria, by Mr. N. Hardy, to whom it belongs. A very peculiarly ornamented boomerang is represented in Fig. 13. Along the convex margin is a series of very deep scallops, reaching transversely to near the middle line of the weapon, and grooved parallel to its longer axis. The middle or centre line is occupied by a single zig-zag, and between this and the concave edge are three deep and wide slightly fluctuating lines of two grooves each. The whole produces a very marked pattern. The apices in this weapon are very sharply pointed. Length two feet six inches; width two inches; and weight ten ounces. From Angeldool, on the Narran River, in the collection of Dr. J. C. Cox. The last boomerang but two (Fig. 14) bears on each side of the sculptured face long moderately deep festoons, five on either side, and obliquely grooved, but not reaching to either apex. The middle line is occupied b}'' five large ovals, so arranged that each more or less falls into the space left between opposite re-entering angles of the festoons. These are also deeply and obliquely grooved. Clear sj)aces are left at both apices, one containing two 20 BOOMERANGS FROM N.S.W. AND QUEENSLAND, and a half rhombs placed transversely, whilst at the other is an oblong enclosure, with two parallel zig-zags of a single line each. Length two feet five inches; breadth two and a quarter inches; and w'eight eleven and a half ounces. From Angeldool, on the Narran River, in the collection of Dr. J. C. Cox. In the last specimen but one (Fig. 15) runs a sub-central longi- tudinal line of eleven large ovals, and along the concave and convex margins respectively rows of fifteen and eighteen narrower ovals. Intervening between the central row and that on the convex margin at one end of the weapon is an additional row of larger ovals, but this only extends for half the length of the w^eapon. At each end this larger row dies off into a single zig-zag line, whilst between the sub-central line of ovals and that on the con- cave margin is another. All the ovals are grooved obliquely. Length two feet four inches; breadth two and a quarter inches; and w^eight eleven ounces. Again from Angeldool, on the Narran Rivei', and in the collection of Dr. J. C. Cox. The last boomerang (Fig. 16) is figured with some hesitation, not as to the genuineness of the weapon itself, but of the carving; the former betrays nothing out of the common. The natural objects represented are a large fish in the centre, bounded by two incised lines, and filled in with single diagonal lines in two directions, producing a series of rhombs probably representing scales. Following this, and in front of it, is a by no means bad I'epresentation of a bird; below^ this again four i*hombs, one within the other, followed by a nondescript object, infilled with incised lines coincident with the outline; and finally at the apex a heart- shaped body. It is the execution of the bird, with the appearance of the nondescript and heart-shaped bodies that might raise the suspicion that the carving on this weapon is not purely " black- fellow." Birds, however, are by no means uncommon on the highly decorated dilly-baskets of North Australia, whilst the heart has on more than one occasion been observed amongst rock paintings, undoubtedly the work of the Aborigines. The BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUNE. 21 boomerang is the pi'operty of Mr. Norman Hardy, and is from Queensland. Figs. 2 to -t are obviously after the type of the ornamented boomerangs from the Bulloo River, figured by myself,* differing merely in minor details; the loop pattern is here paramount. I think it very possible also that the sculpture fore-shadowed on a boomerang from Queensland, figured by Smyth, f is only this pattern in an incomplete state. Knight figures | a boomerang exhibited at the Philadelphia International Exhibition, said in the same breath to be both from N.S. Wales and Victoria, and bearing those serpentine figures that are probably of the same nature. Figs. 1 and 7. — ^The half-loops do not correspond to any previously published illustrations known to me. The weapon represented by Fig. 6 is to some extent allied in its pattern to another figured by Smyth,§ from Rockingham Bay, that from Coomooboolaroj gi^'en by Lumholtz,|| and one of those from the Alligator River Tableland, figured b}^ myself in the Macleay Memorial Volume,'^ except that Fig. 6 is wanting in the marginal festoon work and possesses an additional row of ovals. Fig. 15 also stands in much the same relation. The pattern of the broken boomerang, Fig. 8, again corresponds to one from the Bulloo River.** The remainder of the figures are not related to any published forms so far as I know. Broken zig-zag double lines, as in Figs. 1, 7, 8, 15, lire, are by no means uncommon on aboriginal weapons, whilst crosses are very uncommon (see Fig. 11). For instance a Bull-roarer, figured by Angas, from S. Australia, and called Wvmmari, is decorated in this manner. * Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1894, ix. (2), t. 15, f. 1. t Aborigines of Victoria, 1878, i., p. 285, f. 37. X Smithsonian Ann. Report for 1879 [1880], p. 227, f. 28, lower tig. § Smyth, loc. cit. p. 329, f. 112. ;! Among Cannibals, 1890, p. 51, f. b. ^ t. .32, f. 3. ** Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1894, ix (2), t. 10, f. 2. 22 BOOMERANGS FROM N.S.W. AND QUEENSLAND, On taking a genei-al glance over the figures of these Ijoomerangs one is struck with the limited number of designs that appear to have been used amongst the aboriginal artists, notwithstanding that so far as detail goes no two are precisely alike. The designs are confined to the loop, half-loop, rhomb, oval, cross, rectangular bars, and semilunate, festoon, and zig-zag patterns, with modifi- cations of one or the other. The chevron or herring pattern is also often met with. Circles and spirals are conspicuous by their absence on boomerangs. True it is the incised work of our Aborigines is devoid of that finish and delicacy of execution seen iu the carvings of many other dark races — for instance, compare some of the beautiful designs employed by the Dyaks to ornament their wood work. At the same time the incised patterns of our Aborigines have a character of their own not to be mistaken for those of any other race. Whenever natural objects are represented they are always to a greater extent recognisable as such, and do not seem to be degenerate representations of a higher and more advanced art previously existing, the realism being maintained and not abandoned. Writing on the " Decorative Art of Torres Straits," Professor A. W. Haddon says* : — " We see that the animals are always represented individually, and are not utilised for the purpose of making patterns, or of telling a story, or for conveying infor- mation." At present there is no evidence to show that figures of the animate creation were otherwise used hj our Aborigines on their boomerangs. In the majority of instances the designs run parallel to the longer axis of the boomerangs, although not in all. Etched designs appear remarkable by their absence on this class of weapon, so far as my observation goes, although they are met with on some Womerahs; neither does there seem to be that appreciation of the grotesque that forms so marked a feature in carvings from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. One very noticeable character exists throughout the whole series, without exception, the emargination and produced centre of all the apices. * R. Irish Acad. Cunningham Mem. 1894, No. x. p. 65. 23 ON A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF FISHES FROM MAROUBRA BAY. By J. Douglas OoiLiri'. (Communicated hy T. Whitelegge, F.R.M.S.) It is again my pleasing duty to record yet another new fish from Maroubra Bay, where it was obtained by Mr. Whitelegge early in February. The constant recurrence of new forms of animal life in this small bay, probably the only spot on the Australian coast which has been systematically and scientifically explored, is an additional proof, if one were needed, of how imperfect a knowledge of our littoral fauna we possess. I am puzzled to know in what family this genus should be placed; a casual glance would indicate aflinity to the Ajwgonidce, but the absence of vomerine teeth and the number of the dorsal spines apparently deny it a resting-place among these little fishes, unless indeed it should be considered to be an aberrant Apogonid with scitenoid affinities. ► Apogonops, gen.nov. Body elongate-oblong and somewhat tapering posteriorly, compressed. Head large. Mouth rather large, with oblique cleft, the premaxillaries protractile and forming almost the entire anterior margin of the upper jaw; maxillary exposed, without supplemental bone; lower jaw the longer. Two nostrils on each side, the anterior leather the larger and situated much nearer to the eye than to the extremity of the snout. Eye large. Preorbital entire; preopercle with a double ridge; the inner ridge entire, the outer with a few weak spines round the angle; opercle with 24 A NEW FISH FHOM MAHOUBRA BAY, two spines; the membranous portion produced and pointed, extending well beyond the lower spine; posttemporal spiniferous. Gill-membranes separate from the isthmus; gills four, a slit behind the fourth; seven branchiostegals; pseudobranchi«; present; gill- rakers moderate, rather slender. Narrow bands of villiform teath ill the jaws; vomer, palatines, and tongue edentulous. A single dorsal fin, deeply notched, with x 10 rays, the spinous portion longer than the sofc; anal short, with iii 7 rays, the second spine strong and laterally grooved; ventrals inserted below the base of the pectorals, close together, with a strong spine; pectorals pointed, with 14 rays, the second the longest and much stronger than the third; caudal emarginate, the peduncle long and strong. Scales moderate, cycloid, concenti'ically striated, very deciduous; head partially naked; soft dorsal and anal fins with a basal scaly sheath; no scaly process between the ventrals. Lateral line continuous, extending on the base of the caudal fin, the tube straight and simple, not quite reaching to the extremity of the scale. Etymology :■ — Apogon; aty^A, resemblance. Distribution : — Coast of New South Wales. Apogonops ano.malus, sp.nov. D. x 10. A. iii 7. Sc. 55. Length of head 2,1, depth of body i^^ in the total length;* depth of head 1^, width of head '2'i in its length. Eye very large, situated on the upper half of the side of the head, its diameter one-third of the length of the head; snout obtuse, shorter than the eye; interorbital region flat, its width 3f in the length of the head. Maxillary not quite extending to the vertical from * In this aad all future papers the t jtal length, as taken in connection with the comparative measurements^, is tne distance between the extremity of the jaws and the base of the caudcd tin, unless special mention to the contrary is made; in giving the length oi the fish this fin is of course included. In taking the measurement of the head the free opercular flap is not included, nor, unless definitely stated to the contrary, such portion of the lower jaw as may project beyond the upper. BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 25 the middle of the eye, its length half of that of the head^ its distal extremity is expanded, two-fifths of the diameter of the eye in width, its posterior margin sinuous. The preorbital and the inner ridge of the preopercle are entirely unarmed, while the outer ridge has a few feeble spines at or near the rounded angle: lower opercular spine the longer; posttemporal with five spines. About 22 gill-rakers on the lower branch of the anterior arch. The dorsal fin originates above the base of the pectoral; the spines are rather weak: the first short, about one-third of the second and sub-equal to the eighth; the fourth spine is the longest, two fifths of the length of the head and five-sixths of the anterior soft rays; the ninth spine is very short, and the tenth is inter- mediate in length between the sixth and seventh: the anal originates betneath the fourth soft ray of the dorsal; the first spine is very short and stout, the second much stronger, but not so long as the third, which is one-third of the length of the head, and not much shorter than the anterior rays : ventral not reaching to the vent, the outer ray the longest, four-sevenths of the length of the head: pectoral two-thirds of the head: caudal emarginate, the peduncle long and tapering, its depth immediately l>ehind the dorsal fin 1 1, its least depth 2| in its length. Brownish-green, the sides strongly tinged with yellow; thorax and abdomen silvery; upper surface of head bluish, the lips, inter- orbital region, and an angular band on the occiput darkest; opercle bluish: a series of five large olive brown spots along the side; lower side of tail with three groups of crowded brown specks; dorsal fin sparsely, caudal densely covered with similar specks, the latter with two large dark basal sppts. The single example collected measures oi millimeters and is apparently full grown. CATALOGUE OF THE DESCRIBED COLEOPTERA OF AUSTRALIA. SUPPLEMENT, PART II. By George Masters. I-suf(l sfparat'ly a.s a Supplement to the Part. 26. ON THE OCCURRENCE OF CALLOSITIES IN CYPR.EA OTHER THAN CY. BICALLOSA AND CY. BHI^O- CEBUS; AND ON THE OCCURRENCE OF A SULCUS IN TRIVIA. By Agnes F. Kenyon. (Communicated by John Brazier, F.L.S.) I have lately come across several specimens of different species of CyprKa (helvola, tabescens, miliaris, erosa), which have the termino-dorsal arches adorned with callosities. Though these do not occur in every specimen, still finding it in several specimens of the genus, it proves that it is not an abnormal incident; and therefore I think the circumstance deserving of being recorded. Cy. helvola (callused variety) possessing a double or twin callosity at the posterior extremit}'; the callus is not so well defined anteriorly, though in some specimens well marked; extremities white. Cy. tabescens (callused var.) : extremities with a callus more or less conspicuous, and in some instances furnished with two at the posterior extremity. Cy. erosa (callused var.) : differing in no respect from the nor- mal type except in having at both extremities more or less well defined callosities; some specimens bear double ones on the posterior terminal arch. Cy. miliaris (callused var.) : evidently a lighter variety, but bearing a well marked callus. Cy. carneola (pustulated var.): I have several specimens of this species, in which the margins are pustulated; this I should say was rather a rare occurrence, though evidently not unique. Cy. lynx (pustulated var.): I have several specimens even more pustulated than those of Cy. carneola. BY AGNES F. KENYON. 27 Cy. angustata (var.): I found at Flinders, Victoria, several specimens with the margins unspotted and dorsal surface uncoloured. On the occurrence of a Sulcus in Trivia australis It is some- what unusual to find any species of the genus Trivia with a dorsal impression or sulcus, as the authorities have agreed in defining them with none. I have, however, several specimens distinctly marked; also one in which the base is not white; and one which has only one spot at each end may be pronounced a Victorian variety of T. napolini, it having been found at Flinders, Victoria. I have also a pair of 7'. napolini from West Australia with a distinct sulcus. It will therefore be noted that some of the distinguishing marks of this genus are absent in these specimens. 28 NOTES AXD EXHIBITS. Mr. Hedley called attention to specimens of Fiona marina, Forskal, collected at Maroubra Bay, on February 9th, 1896, by Mr. T. Whitelegge, who first found the genus in Australia last year, the discovery being recorded in Proc. Malac. Soc. I. p. 333, footnote. The first examples found were swimming free, and were tinted that shade of dark blue common to lanthina, Glaucus, Fmyita, Velella, Physalia and other pelagic animals. In the present instance they were of a pearl-grey colour, and were sunk in deep grooves evidently gnawed by themselves in fragments of an indeterminate species of Sepia shell, upon which grew examples of Lepas ansi/era about 10 mm. in length. With them were associated several masses of ova, resembling those figured • by Bergh (Result. Camp. Scient. Prince Monaco, Fasc. iv. PL i. f. 16). In support of the suggestion that the coloration of these specimens was a protective adaptation to the colour of the Sepia, the molluscs, ova and cuttlebone were exhibited. Mr. Hedley also reported that on March 8th last Mr. AVhite- legge had further increased the list of Australian genera by the discovery of the specimens of Fir'ol >idt^s desma'-estl, Lesueur, which were exhibited on behalf of the tinder. Two males and three females were thrown by the waves on the sandy beach at Maroubra Ba}', and were so little injui'ed as to swim about actively for some hours in a vessel of sea-water. The species had been identified by the excellent figures in PI. xvi. of the " Voyage de la Bonite : Zoologie." The bibliography of this species brought down to a late date would be found in Challenger Reports, Vol. xxiii., Heteropoda, p. 22. Like the preceding, this genus is not included in Prof. Tate's census (Trans. Roy. Soc. 1888, pp. 70-81), but an undetermined species of Firoloides had been recorded from Bass Straits by Dr. Macdonald (Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh, Vol. xxiii., 1862). Mr. Edgar R. Waite exhibited a large number of living young Green Tree Snakes ( Dendrophis punct'data), the property of Mr. NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 29 A. P. Kemp, of Kempsey. These snakes were hatched in captivity, the eggs having been obtained at Unkya, on the Macleay River. In a gully, at this place, individuals of the species were said to exist, not in scores, but in hundreds; and in view of the large number exhibited at the meeting the statement was by no means difficult of belief. In illustration of Mr. Ken3^on's papei', Mr. Brazier exhibited specimens of Cyprcua helvola, C. tabescens, C. erosa, C miliaris, C. lynx, and G. cariieola, all showing callosities; a colour variety of C. angustala; and examples of Trivia anstraJis with a distinct dorsal sulcus, a character not in conformity with the generic definition. Mr. Turner exhibited some well grown fruits of Pyrus domestica, L., the True Service Tree, from a gai'den at Camden, a species which, it is believed, has seldom been obserA'ed to fruit here. 30 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29th, 1896. The following Meetings of the Society were held in the Linnean Hall, Ithaca Road, Elizabeth Bay, on Wednesday evening, April 29th, 1896. ADJOURNED ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The Hon. Treasurer read the report of the Auditors, who, after an examination of the books, vouchers, and securities, certified the accounts for 1895 to be correct. On the motion of Mr. P. R. Pedley, the report was adopted. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. On the motion of the Hon. Dr. Norton, M.L.C., Hon. Treasurer, the following addition to Rule xxiii. was adopted : — xxiii. bis— AW moneys received on behalf of the Society shall be paid to an account in the name of the Society in the Commer- cial Bank of Sydney or such other Bank as shall be approved by the Council. No moneys shall be drawn out of the said account except by cheque drawn by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Secretary and no claims on the Society shall be paid except by such cheques or out of petty cash from time to time authorized by the Council to be paid into the hands of the Secretary. DONATIONS. 31 MONTHLY MEETING. The President gave notice that upon requisition he convened a Special General Meeting to be held on May 27th, to take pre- cedence of the Monthly Meeting. Business : Professor Haswell to introduce the subject of the establishment of a Biological Station on the Society's grounds at Elizabeth Bay. DONATIONS. Zoologischer Anzeiger. Bd. xix. Nos. 496-498 (Feb. -March, 1896). From the Editor. K. K. Zoologisch-botanische Gesellschaft in Wien— Verhand- lungen. Jahrgang 1896. xlvi. Bd. 1 Heft. From the Socie'y. Societe Hollandaise des Sciences a Harlem — Archives Neer- landaises. T. xxix. 4"® et 5™*^ Livs. From the Society. Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris — Bulletin. Annee 1895. Nos. 1 and 8. From the Museum. Societe Scientilique du Chili — Actes. T. iv. (1894) 5™"^ Liv- raison. From the Society. Field Columbian Museum — Historical Series. Vol. i. No 2 (May, 1895) : Geological Series. Vol. i. No. 1 (Aug. 1895) : Botanical Series. Vol. i. No. 1 (Aug. 1895). From the Director. American Philosophical Society — Proceedings. Vol. xxxiv. No. 147 (Jan. 1895). From the Society. Portland Society of Natural History — Proceedings. Vol. ii. 1895. Part 3 : The Portland Catalogue of Maine Plants. Second Edition. From the Society. Aca^lemy of Science of St. Louis — Transactions. Vol. vi. No. 18: Vol. vii, Nos. 1-3 (Jan.-Feb., 1895). From the Acalemy. 32 DONATIONS. U. S. Geological Survey— Bulletin. Nos. 118-122 (1894); Monographs. Vols, xxiii. and xxiv. (1S94): Fourteenth Annual Report (1892-93). Parts i. and ii. From the Director. ■ Smithsonian Institution — Report of the U.S. National Museum, 1893. From the Institution. Seven Pamphlets by Prof. J. F. James. (From the Journal of the Cincinnati Societ}' of Natural History; July, 1884-July, 1894). From the Author. American Museum of Natural History — Memoirs. Vol. i. Partii. (Aug. 1895): Bulletin. Vol. viii. (1896), Sig. 1, pp. M6 (March). From the Museum. Naturhistorisches Museum in Haraljurg — Mitteilungen. xii. Jahrg. (1894). From the Jlhiseum. Gesellschaft fiir Erdkunde zu Berlin — Verhandlungen. Bd. xxii. (1895), Nos. 4-6 : Zeitschrift. Bd. xxx. (1895), Nos. 2-3 From the Societij. Pamphlet entitled " Geogenetische Beitrage." By Dr. Otto Kuntze. From the Author. K. K. Naturhistorisches Hof-Museum in "VVien — Annalen, Bd. X. (1895), Nr. 1. Fro7n the Museum. Verein fiir vaterlandische Naturkunde in Wiirttemberg — Jahreshefte. li. Jahrg. (1895). From the Society. Konigl. bohmische Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften in Prag — - Jahresbericht fiir das Jahr 1895: Mathematisch-Naturwigsen- schaftliche Classe — Sitzungsberichte, 1894. From the Society. American Geographical Society — Bulletin. Vol. xxvii. No. 4 (1895). ^Vt>7/t the Society. Natural History Society of New Brunswick — Bulletin. No. xiii. (1895). From the Society. Geological Survey of India — Records. Vol. xxix. (1896), Part 1. From the Director. DONATIONS. 33 Society Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou — Bulletin. Annee 1895. No. 3. From the Society. Perak Government G-azette. Vol. ix. Nos. 4-6 (Feb. -Mar., 1896). From the Goverwment Secretary. Bureau of Agriculture, Pei'th, W.A. — Journal. Vol. iii. No. 6 (Mar. 1896). From the Secretary. Pharmaceutical Journal of Australasia. Vol. ix. No. 3 (Mar. 1896). From the Editor. Societe d'Horticulture du Doubs, Besancon — Bulletin. Serie Illustree. No. 2. (Feb., 1896). From the Society. Zoological Society of London — Abstracts, 18th Febry., March 3rd (and Rules for the Scientific Naming of Animals, &c.), and March 17th. From the Society. Royal Society, London — Proceedings. Vol. lix. No. 354 (Feb., 1896). From the Society. L'Academie Royale des Sciences et des Lettres de Danemark, Copenhague— Bulletin. Annee 1895, Nos. 3-4: 1896, No. 1. From the Academy. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom — Journal. N.S. Vol. iv. No. 2 (Feb., 1896). From the Associa- tion. Royal Microscopical Societj' — Journal, 1896. Part 1 (Feb.). From the Society. Societas Entomologica Rossica — Horte. T. xxix. (1894-95). From the Society. Seven Conchological Pamphlets. By Edgar A. Smith, F.Z.S., etc. From the Author. "The Wealth and Progress of New South Wales, 1894." Fro7n the Government Statistician. 3 34 DONATIONS. Department of Public Instruction, Sydney —Technical Educa- tion Series, No. 11 — "Gems and Precious Stones." By H. G. Smith, F.C.S. From the. Curator, Ttchtioloyical Museum. Royal Society of Queensland— Proceedings. Vol. xi. Part 2 (1896). From the Society. Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein in Hamburg — Abhandlungen. xiv. Band (1896) : Verhandlungen, 1895 (Dritte Folge, iii.). From the Society. Socidte des Sciences de Finlande— Observations Meteorologiques faites a Helsingfors en 1894. Vol. xiii. l""** Liv. From the Society. Societe Royale Linn^enne de Bruxelles — Bulletin. 21'"'' Annee. Nos. 4-5 (Feb. -March, 1896). From the Society. Museo di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata della R. Universita di Torino— Bollettino. Vol. x. (1895), Nos. 210-220; Titlepage, (fee: Vol. xi. (1896), Nos. 221-226 (Jan.-Feb.). From the Museum. Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh — Proceedings, Session 1894-95. Vol. xiii. From the Society. Australasian Journal of Pharmacy. Vol. xi. No. 124 (April, 1896). From the Editor. Johns Hopkins University — Circulars. Vol. xv. Nos. 122-123 (Nov., 1895, Feb., 1896): Annual Reports. Tenth, and Twelfth- Twentieth (1885 and 1887-95). From the University. American Naturalist. Vol. xxx. No. 351 (March, 1896). From the Editors. Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. — Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Vol. xxvii. No. 7 (Jan. 1896). From the Director. Gordon Technical College, Geelong — The Wombat. Vol. i. No. 2 (April, 1896) : Annual Report, 1895. From the C alley e. DONATIONS. 35 Department of Agriculture, Sydney —Agricultural Gazette. Title Page and Index to Vol. vi. (Jan.-Dec, 1895): Vol. vii. Part 3 (Mar., 1896). From the Hon. the Minister for Mines and Agriculture. Pamphlet entitled " Remarks on the Past, Present, and Future of the Australian Flora." By the Rev. W. Woolls, Ph.D., F.L.S. From Mrs. Wool's. Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte Iviii. Jahrgang (1892). ii. Bd. 3 Heft: Ixi. Jahrg. (1895). i. Bd. 3 Heft. From the Editor. Auckland Institute and Museum — Annual Report for 1895-96. From the Institute. Woods and Forests Department, Adelaide, S.A. — Fourteen Annual Progress Reports (1881-95). From the Conservator of Forests, Adelaide. Victorian Naturalist. Vol. xii. No. 12 (March, 1896). From the Field Xaturalists' Club of Victoria. 36 THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS OF THE DISTRIBU- TION OF SOUTHERN FAUNAS. By Captain F. W. Huttox, F.R.S., Hon. Memb. L.S.N.S.W. On considering the present geographical distribution of land and purely fresh-water vertebrates the first and most obvious generalisation is that while the same or closely allied species are widely spread in the northern hemisphere — through Europe, Asia, and N. America — there is, in the southern hemisphere, a great difference between those inhabiting S. Africa, Australasia, and S. America. When we turn our attention to the marine verte- brates— including the migratory fishes which pass a pa.rt of the year in fresh water — we notice that the opposite is the case; for while closely related species are widely difi'used in the southern hemisphere, the seals, whales, sea-birds and fishes of the N. Pacific differ considerably from those of the N. Atlantic. The reason for these peculiarities is, of course, the peculiar configura- tion of the land and sea, giving most of the land to the northern and most of the sea to the southern hemisphere; and a necessary conclusion is that the present configuration of the oceans and continents must have remained much as it is now for a very long time. Indeed oceans and continents could not have been widely different from what they now are ever since most of the present genera — and in some cases even families — of birds and mammals came into existence; for, if such had not been the case, we should not now find these genera and families isolated from each other by barriers of land in the northern, and of sea in the southern hemisphere. We may, therefore, safely infer that the physical geography of the earth has not altered greatly during the latter half of the Tertiary era. But when we pass from the general aspect of the question to study the details, we find many exceptions (especially in the distribution of the land plants and land animals of the southern BY CA.PTAIN P. W. HUTTON. 6l hemisphere) which do not bear out the conclusion forced upon us by the majority of the facts, and the question arises : Have these relationships been brought about by the former existence of more land in the southern hemisphere, or can they be explained without any such assumption 1 The first discussion of the question was by Sir Joseph Hooker, who, in 1853,* advocated a "larger and more continuous tract of land than now exists " in the Antarctic Ocean to explain the distribution of the flowering-plants of the Southern Islands. He assigned no date to this extension of land, but, no doubt, supposed it to be not very ancient. In 1870, Professor Huxley, in his Anniversary Address to the G-eological Society of London, said that the simplest and most rational mode of accounting for the differences between the mammalian faunas of Australia, S. America, and Arctogsea, as well as for the sudden appearance of Eutheria in the latter and in S. America, is the supposition that a Pacific continent existed in the Mesozoic era which gradually subsided, Australia being separated at the end of the Triassic period before the higher mammalia had come into existence. These Eutheria subsequently migrated into North and South America when the Pacific conti- nent finally sank. He says: — "The Mesozoic continent must, I conceive, have lain to the east, about the shores of the N. Pacitic and Indian Oceans, and I am inclined to believe that it continued along the eastern side of the Pacitic area to what is now the province of Austro-Columbia, the characteristic fauna of which is probably a remnant of the population of the latter part of this period."! In 1873 I proposed the following hypothesis to explain the complicated problem of the origin of the New Zealand fauna. An Antarctic Mesozoic continent which subsided in the upper Cretaceous period. During the Lower Eocene a second extension of land from New Zealand northwards so as to include New * Flora Novse Zealandise, Introduction, p. xxi. t Quart. .Journ. Geo!. Soc. Vol. xxvi. p. Ixiii. 38 DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTHERN FAUNAS, Caledonia and part of Polynesia. Subsidence in the Oligocene and Miocene, followed by a third elevation in the Older Pliocene when New Zealand was connected with the Chatham Is , Auck- land Is., and perhaps others to the south, but did not stretch north into Polynesia. This large island was broken up by sub- sidence during the Newer Pliocene.* In 187-i Prof. A. Milne-Edwards presented to the Academy of Sciences, Paris, a report on the fossil birds of the Mascarene Islands showing that they were related to those of New Zealand. As an explanation, he supposed that land communication had formerly existed between these islands and New Zealand, which was also joined to some islands in Polynesia, while it remained separated from Australia. The connection with Polynesia was to explain the occurrence of Rhinochetus in New Caledonia and Didunoulus in Samoa. In 1876 Prof. H. N. Moseley supported Sir Jos. Hooker's theory of a former greater extension of land in the Antarctic Ocean t; and in the same year Mr. A. R. Wallace published his " Geographical Disti'ibution of Animals," which treats of the whole question. In 1880 Mr. Wallace published "Island Life," in which he proposes the following hypothesis relating to Australia and New Zealand. During the Cretaceous period, and probably throughout a considerable portion of the Tertiary era, S. W. Australia (includ- ing the southern part of S. Australia) was separated from Eastern Australia by a broad sea, which contained some islands in what is now Northern Australia. This western island had received its mammalia at an earlier epoch from Asia, and no mammals existed in Eastern Australia. New Zealand was connected with the northern part of Eastern Australia, the land forming a horse-shoe open towards the Tasman Sea. Probably the Bampton Shoal, west of New Caledonia, and Lord Howe's Island formed the western limits of this land; but it is possible, though hardly probable, that * Trans. N.Z. Inst. Vol. v. p. 227, and A.M.N.H. Ser. 4, Vol. xv. p. 25. t Linn Sec. Journ. Botany, Vol. xv. p. 485. BY CAPTAIN F. W. IIUTTON. 39 it extended northward to the Kermadecs and even to Tonga and Fiji. Whether it also extended to the Chatham Islands and Macquarie Island we have, he says, no means of ascertaining, but such is possible. Separation of New Zealand from Australia took place at the close of the Cretaceous period, or in the early Tertiary. At a somewhat later date a southern extension of New Zealand towards the Antarctic continent seems probable " as affording an easy passage for the numerous species of South American and Antarctic plants, and also for the identical and closely allied fresh-water fishes of these countries."* In 1882 M. Eraile Blanchard contributed a paper to the Academy of Sciences, Paris, called " Proofs of the subsidence of a Southern Continent during recent Geological Epochs."! In 1884-5 I made a further contribution to the subject, | in which I abandoned my former idea of a Mesozoic Antarctic Continent, and substituted for it a Mesozoic Pacific Continent, stretching, more or less completely, from Melanesia to Chili. I still adhered to the other portions of my former paper, but laid more sti'ess than before on a greater extension of Antarctic islands during the Older Pliocene. In 1888 Dr. Theodore Gill published, in the Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia, a paper called "A comparison of Antipodal Faunas," in which he also advocated the existence of " some terrestrial passage way" between Tasmania, New Zealand, and South America, " at a time as late as the close of the Mesozoic period. The evidence of such a connection afforded by congeneric fishes is fortified by analogous repre- sentatives among insects, molluscs, and even amphibians. The * Island Life, p. 455. t See N. Z. Journal of Science, Vol. i., p. 251. In the same Journal will be found a paper l)y Di'. H. Filhol on the Geological and Zoological Relations of Campbell Island with the neighbouring Islands. t Tart I. in N. Z. Journ. Sci. Vol. ii. p. 1, and A. M. N. H. (5), xiii., 425; Part II. in N. Z. Journ. Sci. Vol. ii. p. 249, and A. M. N. H. (5), XV., 77. 40 DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTHERN FAUNAS, separation of the several areas must, however, have occurred Kttle later than the early Tertiary, inasmuch as the salt-water fishes of corresponding isotherms found along the coasts of the now widely separated lands, are to such a large extent specifically difierent." In 1 892 Dr. H. von Jhering published a paper in the Trans. N. Z. Inst. Vol. xxiv. " On the Ancient Relations between New Zealand and South America." He here supposes that during the whole of the Mesozoic era a continent — which he calls Archiplata — existed which included Chili and Patagonia and extended into the South Pacific. This gradually subsided, throwing off first the Polynesian Islands, then New Zealand, and finally New Guinea and Australia. All this took place before and during the Eocene period; after which Archiplata was joined to Archi- guyana, which occupied the high lands of Brazil and Venezuela. Dr. F. Ameghino has also, quite independently, advocated a Pacific Mesozoic continent to explain the relations of the Eocene marsupials of Patagonia to those of Australia, and Prof. Zittel has expressed a favourable opinion of this theory.* In 1893 Dr. H. O. Forbes published a paper in the "Geo- graphical Journal (Supplementary Papers ") called " The Chatham Islands : their relation to a former southern continent," in which he reproduced the old theory of an Antarctic continent, but made it last until late Pliocene times, when, he thinks, the Antarctic fauna and flora Avere driven north by the coming on of a glacial epoch. This continent is supposed to have been unconnected either with S. Africa or with W. Australia (which formed a large island); but sent out prolongations northward, (1) to Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands, (2) to Tasmania and E. Australia, thence through New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to Borneo and Sumatra, (3) to New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji; and (4) to S. America, reaching to beyond the Amazon. In the same year Mr. C. Hedley published in the Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. a short note advocating the existence during Mesozoic * See Geol. Mag. New Series, Decade hi., Vol. 10, p. 512 (1893). BY CAPTAIN F. W. BUTTON. 41 and early Tertiary times of a strip of land extending from S. America across the pole to Tasmania; New Zealand, in Tertiary times, reaching near this antarctic land without joining it. And in " Natural Science " he had a paper " On the Relations of the Fauna and Flora of Australia to those of New Zealand," in which he supports the idea of an ancient continent, or " Melanesian Plateau,"* which included the Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island and New Zealand, but was separated from Australia and New Guinea. No date is given to this island-continent, but it is supposed to be later than the "Australian Tertiary and Mesozoic beds": later, therefore, than the Antarctic land. In 1895, Mr. Hedley returned to the subject in a paper to the Royal Society of N.S.W. called "Considerations on the surviving Refugees in Austral Lands of ancient Antarctic Life." Here he advocates an Antarctic continent, which was a very unstable area, " at one time dissolving into an archipelago, at another resolving itself into a continent." He thinks that snakes, frogs, monotremes and marsupials passed across this continent, from S. America to Tasmania, during a warm, Mid-tertiary period. He also now thinks that the southward extension of New Zealand, mentioned in his former paper, was synchronous with its northern extension to the Melanesian plateau; that is, it was late instead of early Tertiaiy date. This short historical sketch will, I think, make it clear that a considerable amount of ingenuity has been expended in trying to solve the interesting problem of the distribution of southern faunas. The differences of opinion are due partly to some of the authors having taken only a small number of the known facts into consideration, and partly to constant additions to our know- ledge; either by the discovery of new facts, or by the correction of old errors. No doubt our knowledge will still increase, but it seems hardly possible to make any more theories. The problem is a very intricate one, and we may be sure that the true solution is not simple. * Called Antipodea by Dr. Forbes. 42 DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTHERN FAUNAS, It is evident that in any large district, like Australasia, there is no reason to suppose that the ancestors of the animals and plants now inhabiting it all came from the same direction or at the same time : consequently the first step to take is to try to separate the fauna and flora into groups which find their nearest relations in different directions. Thus in Australasia we have — 1. An Australasian fauna and flora which have no near relatives now living. 2. A northern fauna and flora related to the Oriental fauna and flora of the present day. 3. A south-tropical or sub-tropical fauna and flora whose nearest relations at present are either in S. Africa or in S. America north of 40° 8. That the differences between these countries are far greater than their resemblances does not do away with the existence of these resemblances, but rather accentuates them. They are vestigial remains with all the importance that vestigial remains always possess. 4. A south-temperate or cold-temperate fauna and flora, with relations to plants and animals in Patagonia or Chili and the Antarctic Islands. This is usually called the Antarctic element. Judging by the relative closeness of the relationship of these different fauuistic elements to their foreign connections, we must conclude that the first and third are much older inhabitants of Australasia than the second and fourth. . The second element, which is best developed in north-eastern Australia, presents no difficulty and everyone is agreed as to its origin. The fourth element, which is better developed in New Zealand than in any other part of Australasia, consists of marine animals with a few migratory fresh-water fishes and possibly some land mollusca and worms; and there is a general consensus of opinion that these spread by means of a greater development of land in the Antarctic region. This may have been as late as the Older Pliocene, but not later, as considerable changes have taken place in the animals since it occurred. Also, as pointed out in the first paragraphs of this paper, this land could not have been continuous between S. f BY CAPTAIN F. W. HUTTON. 43 America and Austi'alasia, for in that case there would have been a far greater commingling of the land faunae and floras. It is the origin of the first and third elements which has given rise to such difl^erences of opinion. These are developed far more strongly in Australia and Tasmania than in New Zealand; and the explanation of the third will probably explain the first also. I will, therefore, briefly review the three hypotheses (variously modified) which have been proposed. 1. The first explanation is that the different groups of animals and plants in question have migrated from the northern hemisphere into the southern by the present continents and have since then become extinct in the north. With regard to the South African connection, this explanation will be readily accepted. The fact that Proteaceous plants -now almost confined to S. Africa and Australia — wei'e formerly abundant in Arctog«a is a proof, so far as they are concei'ned; and we may accept the same explanation for the occurrence of the Baobab-tree ( Adansonia) in W. Australia and the Fern-bird (Sphenmacus) in New Zealand. This theory also explains the occurrence of the curious genus of wingless locusts — Anostostoma — in Madagascar and Australia and the connection of some birds of Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands with others of New Zealand and Polynesia. It will also explain the abundance of parrots in Australia and S. America, for these lived in Europe in the Miocene period, as well as the occurrence of tapirs and trogons in Central America and Malaya- for these, like the large carnivora, must have passed from one continent to the other by a northerly passage. Probably also it will explain the relation of the curassows of S. America to the megapodes of Australia and Polynesia, and the connection between the lower passerine birds of both continents, as these relationships are all very distant. But, however this may be, there are certain facts of distribution which this theory cannot solve. A typical case is the distribu- tion of the tree-frogs belonging to the genus Hyla. This contains 83 species in S. America, 28 in Australia, 17 in N. America, and one each in India, China, and Europe; while Hylella is found 44 DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTHERN FAUNAS, only in Australia and tropical America. Again the fresh-water tortoises belonging to the family Chelydida; are restricted to Australia and S. America. The fresh water fish Osteoglossum is represented by species in S. America, Queensland, and Borneo; and the South American beetles are more closely related to those of Australia and Africa than they are to those of N. America. Indeed the connection between 8. America and Australia is .so marked in the Buprestidcc and Longicornia that Mr. Wallace, who as a general rule strongly supports the northern route, says that " there must probably once have been some means of com- munication between the two regions better adapted to these insects than any they now possess." And as several of the Eocene mammalia of Patagonia were closely allied to those now living in Australia the evidence for a former land passage between the two countries may be considered as conclusive. The northern route therefoi'e fails to give a full and satisfactory account of the whole of the facts, and we must look to some other route to supplement it. The portions of the faunas unaccounted for are all old forms of life, and consequently we must conclude that the means of communication used by them has been long ago destroyed ; for if not it would also have been used for modern groups. 2. Turning now to the proposed southern route by an Antarctic continent, it has this in its favour that, as the greater extension of Antarctic land in the late Tertiary era has been allowed, it is not difficult to suppose that at a still earlier time, that is in the Mesozoic era, a large continent might have existed there. One difficulty is in the climate. How could tropical, or sub-tropical, snakes, insects, and fresh-water tortoises and fishes pass through such high latitudes '? The example of Greenland is pointed to, but in Greenland the climate indicated is temperate only, not sub-tropical or tropical. Again it is stated, in explanation, that there is evidence of a much warmer climate having obtained in the southern hemisphere in Miocene times than now. But this appears to have been a period of depression throughout southern Australasia, and it does not follow that the climate would be equally mild when an Antarctic continent existed. I do not BY CAPTAIN F. W. HUTTON. 45 think that the climatic objection is fatal, for we cannot tell what the climate may have been in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, but it is a difficulty, and I cannot go so far as Mr. Hedley, who supposes that venomous snakes, frogs, monoti'emes and marsupials passed round the head of a deep bight of the Pacific Ocean which "stretched within a few degrees of the pole." A far greater difficulty remains for consideration, which is this: Aplacental Mammals — both Multituberculata and Polyproto- dontia — existed in Eui'ope and N. America in the Triassic and Jurassic periods, and these Polyprotodontia were, no doubt, the ancestors of the living Polyprotodontia of Australia. In the Eocene strata of Patagonia remains of a large number of Poly- protodontia have been found which are far more closely related to the Polyprotodontia of Australia than to the Mesosoic forms of Europe and N. America; consequently a direct land communica- tion must have existed between these two southern countries. Now there is strong geological and pala^ontological evidence that no land I'idge existed between N. and S. America during the Mesozoic and early Cainozoic eras; consequently we must assume that the southern forms migrated through the Malay Archipelago; and, if they went to Patagonia by means of an Antarctic conti- nent, they must have passed through Australia. But mingled with the Eocene marsupials of Patagonia there are a number of Eutheria of typically South American character — Edentata, Toxo- doiilia, TypotJieria, Perissodactyla, Rodeyitia, and even Platyrrhine monkeys — without any northern forms of Artiodactyla, Carnivoya, or Insec.tivora; and it is hardly possible that these should have passed through Australia without leaving any record behind. This is, to me, a fatal objection to the theory of migration by means of an Antarctic continent. 3. The theory of the former existence of a South Pacific Mesozoic continent seems to be the onl}^ theory left; but it has been objected to both on account of the present depth of the ocean and because, it is said, no record has been left in the Polynesian Islands of the supposed passage of the plants and animals. Both these objections apply eciuall}^ to the former 46 DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTHERN FAUNAS, existence of an Antarctic continent. According to the latest maps the ocean south of Tasmania, and the Pacific below 45° S., are considerably deeper than the Pacific between 10° and 30° S,, and the answer in both cases is that this continent existed a very long time ago. The answer to the second objection is that no record has been preserved of the fauna and flora on the Antarctic continent because of a change in climate, and in the Polynesian Islands because the continent disappeared entirely below the sea, the present volcanic and coral islands being merely outgrowths on its submerged back. But the statement that no record exists in the case of the Pacific continent is not quite correct, for the Iguanas of Fiji can hardly be explained in any other way. The theory of a Mesozoic South Pacific continent not only explains the origin of the Australian and S. American marsupials, but also the almost simultaneous appearance of different Eutherian mammals in North and South America. We must suppose that this continent threw oif first New Zealand, then Australia, then Chili, and finally disappeared under the waves. The reasons why we must suppose New Zealand to have been at one time attached to the continent are the existence in that country of Sphenodon, Unio, and Astacidfe, none of which are found in truly Oceanic islands*. At a later date, as I pointed out in my former papers. New Zealand must have formed part of a large island joined to New Caledonia, but not to Australia. This has lately been called Antipodea by Dr. Forbes, and the Melanesian Plateau by Mr. C. Hedley. Still later again, New Zealand must have stretched south and obtained its Antarctic fauna and flora from Patagonia through a number of islands. From a biological point of view I see no reason to object to this theory. The objections are geological, and most geologists at the present day would, I think, say that the doctrine of the persistence * It is also hardly possible to account for the distribution of frogs, slugs, wingless and feebly flying insects, eartli-worms, inyriapods, and fresh water animals generally, except by the supposition of land passage. BY CAPTAIN F. W. BUTTON. 47 of continental and oceanic areas negatives it. This doctrine — which is not accepted by all geologists* — is founded on the undoubted fact that the principal mountain ranges in the northern hemisphere, and, perhaps, in Australia also, are formed of shallow water sediments representing all periods from the Silurian upwards; consequently land must have existed in their neighbourhood all that time; and from this it is inferred that the present oceanic areas have always been sea. The proof, however, is far from being complete, and no explanation has, as yet, been given either (1) of the remarkable submarine plateaux found in the basins of the S. Pacific and S. Atlantic Oceans; or (2) of the sudden irruption of mollusca, bony-fishes and dicotj'ledons into N". America during the close of the Cretaceous period, followed by a host of Eutherian mammalia in the Eocene; or (3) of the place of origin of the peculiar S. American mammalia. The former existence of a Mesozoic Pacific continent seems to me, as it did to Professor Huxley, the simplest explanation of all these difficulties; we can never expect to attain certainty in the matter, but I think that the weight of the evidence is in its favour. * Gardner, Geol. Mag. 1882, p. 546 ; Hutton, N.Z. Journal of Science, Vol. I. p. 406 (1883) ; Blandford, Q.J.G.S. XLVI. Proceedings, p. 59 (1890); Oldham, Geol. of India, 2nd Ed. p. 211 (1893). 48 REPORT ON A BONE BRECCIA DEPOSIT NEAR THE WOMBEYAN CAVES, N.S.W. : WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW SPECIES OF MARSUPIALS. By R. Broom, M.D., B.Sc. (Plates vi.-viii.) About 18 months ago I discovered a small bone breccia deposit in the neighbourhood of the Wombeyan Caves. The deposit is situated in a small depression near the top of the hill above the present caves and no doubt is portion of the floor of an older cave whose walls and roof have long since been weathered away. The deposit consists of a rather hard light brown calcareous matrix containing imbedded in it innumerable small bones. In some parts the bones are almost all small and packed together so closely that there is very little matrix; in others the matrix is comparatively free from bones, only containing a few of the larger forms. As the deposit is unquestionably old and contains some forms new to science — two of which I have already described* — I have thought it well to give a detailed account of the forms found, as it will give a fair idea of the smaller animals living in later Tertiary times. Macropus (Halmaturus) wombeyensis, n.sp. (PI. VI. figs. 1-3). Though the deposit is essentially one of small bones, there are a number of bones of a species of Mdcrojvis. Besides a number of vertebne and long bones, I have succeeded in finding three imperfect fragments showing the upper molars, and four moderately well preserved lower jaws— two of which are pre- sumably from the same individual. In size the form was apparent!}' * Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. (2) Vol. x. (Pt. iv. 1S95). BY R. BROOM. 49 about that of .Ifaoroptis ualibatus, but the dental details are decidedly different. Of existing species the only one to which it comes at all close is M. ayilis; but from this species it differs in the narrowness of the molars and in the jaw being considerably thinner. Among extinct forms the only ones approaching it in dental details and measurements are some fragmentary specimens from Queensland, referred to by De Vis.* Thinking my form might possibly belong to the same species as one or other of the fragmentary Queensland specimens, I submitted a specimen to Mr. De Vis, who kindly writes me as follows :— " I have com- pared the Halmaturus jaw with my types — it agrees with none of them. In size and general features it is like H. agilis, but appears to me to be quite distinct from that species." As my specimens thus appear to differ from all existing or previously observed extinct species, I have conferred on it the above dis- tinctive name from the locality in which the form has first been observed. In general form the lower jaw resembles that of the larger Wallabies; there is, however, a greater disparity between the anterior and posterior depth of the jaw than is usually the case in existing forms. The dental portion of the jaw is comparatively narrow — more so than in any of the existing larger Wallabies. The angle is more inflected than in the Wallabies, closely resembling the condition in the Rock- Wallabies. The premolar (p*) is well developed, rather narrow without internal cusp. It is slightly ridged, there being three very shallow vertical grooves. In the specimen figured (PI. vi. fig. 3) there are also on the outer aspect two small horizontal furrows. The molars resemble very closely those of M. ualahatus — the crests being curved and the links well developed. Though two specimens illustrate the palatal region, in neither are the teeth well preserved. The upper premolar (p*), however, appears to have had a moderate internal cusp. One point of ^reat interest is the presence of large palatal vacuities. In this * Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. (2) Vol. x. (Pt. i. 1895'. 4 V. -.^/ :% > 50 BONE BRECCIA DEPOSIT, the form agrees with the smaller Wallabies and Rock-Wallabiess and differs from the larger sorts. Though the form thus equals in size the larger Wallabies, its affinities are probably more with the smaller sorts, and in some respects it seems to come very near to the Rock-Wallabies (Petrogale). The following are some of the principal measurements : — Depth of mandibles behind p* (4 sp.), 17, 18, 184, 18-4 mm. „ infrontofm* (3sp.), 154, 16-9, 16-9mm. Length of p* (2sp.)... 6'8 mm. (worn), 74mm. (unworn). „ m^-m- (2 sp.)...134, 13-5 mm. m^-m"' (2 sp.)...21-8, 21-9 mm. ,, m"-m* (2sp.)...25, 26 mm. m^-m* (3 sp.)...29-2, 30-8, 314 mm. m-''-m* (3 sp.)...17-8, 18-, 18-8 mm. p*-m-^ (3 sp)... 36-5, 37, 374 mm. Width of nr^ (3 sp.)...5-7, 5-8, 5-8 mm. Thickness of mandible below nr"*, 9-3 mm. PoTOROUS TRiDACTYLUS, var. ANTiQUUS, n.var. In the deposit are the remains of a small Potorous. Though not abundant a numljer of specimens have been obtained. As I have been unable to obtain a skull of the existing Potorous tridactylus I am in some doubt as to the exact position of the fossil form. Polorous tridactylus, as defined by Thomas, is apparently a very variable species, and it seems probable that the fossil form is but a variety. As regards the premolar of this species Thomas (Brit. Mus. Cat. Marsup.) sa3'^s: — "P^ very variable; in the large Tasmanian form {' apicalis ') 7 or 8 millim. long, with four distinct grooves; in the smaller New South Wales examples, and in the still smaller Tasmanian form described as ' rufus ' 6 or 7 millim. long with only three grooves." In the fossil form the upper premolar measures 64 mm., but has four grooves. The three anterior grooves are well marked, but the fourth, thougli well marked at the edge, does not extend so far up the tooth as the others. In the deciduous p^ there are but three grooves. In the lower p* there are four grooves, all well developed. BY R. I5R00M. 51 Dental Measurements. Length of upper p* ...6"1 mm. ,, „ dp*.. .3-4 mm. „ „ m^ ...4-8 mm. ., ,, m- ...4-9 mm. ,, lower p* ...5- mm. BuRRAMYS PARVUS, Broom. (PI. VII. figs. 1-2). This most interesting little form which I recently described before this Society * occui's in the deposit pretty abundantly, but from its minute size and the obliquity of the large premolar it is difficult to extract perfect specimens. Since I described the form I have succeeded in discovering a few more points in its structure. In my paper on this species I expressed the opinion that it forms a connecting link between the Phalangers and the Kangaroos, finding in the large grooved premolars a relationship with the Rat- Kangaroos and in the entire masseteric fossa, and the small teeth between i^ and p* an affinity with the Phalangers. No perfect specimen has yet been discovered of the upper jaw, but a few fragmentary specimens enable us to almost complete the dental formula. Within the upper large premolar and a little in front is a minute two-rooted premolar similar to p"^ in the lower jaw. In fi^ont of this is a very considerable diastema where the palate has a rounded edge somewhat like that in Macropus, and with apparentl}' no anterior premolars. In front is a small but well formed canine implanted in the maxillary more after the manner of the small Macropods than of the Phalangers. The dental formula so far as known would thus appear to be, in the notation used by Thomas : — ... 1 0 0 ■; -I 1230 I C - P M 0 0 1 0 ■'. i 1-234 * "On a small fossil Marsupial with large grooxed premolars." I'loc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. (2) Vol. x. (Ft. -4, 1895). 52 BONE BRECCIA DEPOSIT, There appears to be no upper ni'*, while the rudimentary lower m* is apparently variable. The dental formula shows much resemblance to that of Hypsijirymnudon as regards the upper teeth, but in the possession of the two small teeth between i^ and p'' there is considerable difference in the lower jaw. As regards the number and arrangement of the teeth in the lower jaw the agreement with some of the smaller Phalangers is very marked; Dromicia nana, for example, having an entire dental formula almost exactly like that of BarramyH. To Drumicia nana there is also a marked resemblance in the lower minute teeth and some resemblance in the molars. A considerable fragment of the skull gives a fair idea of the outline, but adds little to the settlement of the affinities of the genus. The skull has been apparently sharp-snouted as in Petaurus or Dromicia. The lacrymal foramen is placed distinctly in front of and beyond the orbit. The infraorbital foramen is large, and placed in front of the large premolar — in this resembling the condition in the Phalangers and differing from the normal Macropod arrangement. The interorbital region of the skull is comparativel}'^ broad, but there is no distinct supraorbital ridge. The olfactory lobes of the brain have been well developed, and the whole brain appears to have been relatively large. The zygomatic arch passes out from the maxilla in the usual manner: it arises near the posterior part of the large premolar and is com paratively slender. Petaurus breviceps, Waterh. Some time ago I found an imperfect fragment of a lower jaw, with the roots of three teeth in position. Though the fragment Avas manifestly that of a Petaurus and in. size agreed with P. breviceps, I hesitated to refer it definitely to that species on such imperfect evidence. Since then I have found a fragment of the cranium with the frontal bones almost perfect, and from the size and the formation of the supraorbital ridges, there is no doubt in referring the specimen to P. brevicejjs, and there is little doubt but that the lower jaw fragment also belongs to this species. BY R. BROOM. , 53 As these are the only remains found the species must liave been very rare in the district at the time of the deposit. At present the species is found in the district and may be regarded as not infrequent, though I am led to believe that 50 years ago it was very abundant, the present scarcity being due apparently to the havoc made amongst them by domestic cats. Pal^opetaurus elegans, Broom. (PL VII. fig. 3). This small Petaurus-like Marsupial I recently described* from some jaws and a well preserved specimen with the maxillary teeth. Since then I have found besides numerous jaws a moderately good portion of the skull (Plate , fig. 3) and a number of other fragments. The frontal bones differ from those of Petaurus, and agree apparently with Gymnobelideus in being without supraorbital ridges; and the hinder part of the frontals is considerably broader and flatter proportionally than in Petaurus. The snout though narrow appears somewhat broader than in Gi/in)iobeU,deus judging by the figure. In one of the type specimens the upper p^ was found to be single-rooted, or rather its two roots were united together. This, too, appears to be rather variable as in two other specimens one is found with the roots close together but distinct, while the other has the roots somewhat apart. In all the observed specimens, however, p^ is double rooted. Dromicia nana, Desm. One of the most interesting discoveries is that of Dromicia 7iana, of which I have found a large number of both lower and upper jaws. There can thus be little doubt but that in later Tertiary times Dromicia iiaaa was very common in New South • "On a small fossil Petiunis-like Marsupial," Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W_ (2) Vol. X. (Pt. 4, 189.5), 54 BONE BRECCIA DEPOSIT, Wales. From the existing species being believed to be confined to New Guinea, Tasmania, and West Australia, Thomas regards it as practically certain that Dromicia existed in former times in Eastern Australia. The correctness of this conclusion is now established. The fossil form so far as known does not differ from the existing D. iiana. As regards the present distribution of this species Thomas con- siders it to be exclusively contined to Tasmania. In this, however, it is probable that he is in error. For though the species must be excessively rare in New South Wales it most probably still survives, as it is quite certain that it existed within ver}' recent years. In the Grand Arch at the Wombeyan Caves there are near the entrance numerous ledges of rock frequented by Rock Wallabies, and on which the animals leave quantities of their excrement. Mingled with the dry and decomposing dung are to be found quantities of small bones — chiefly those of Pliascologale flavipes, Fetaurus breviceps, and of the Bush Rat (Mus sp.), but with also a few of PaendocJiiruspf.regrinus, Feraiueles obesula, and of small birds and snakes. While searching among these I dis- covered, to my surprise, two jaws of Dromicia nana in tolerably good preservation. It is hard to say what may be the age of the bones, but as the ledge is quite exposed to atmospheric influences and as the bones show little sign of weathering, it cannot well be more than a very limited number of years since the animals died. Considering the wild region in which the caves are situated it is very probable that the species still survives in the district, though I have sought it in vain. On mentioning my discovery to Mr. J. J. Fletcher, he kindly called my attention to Krefft's dis- covery of Dromicia uidcolor [= D. iiniia'\ at North Shore, Sydne}', in 1863, and to the fact that Thomas regards the specimens as almost certainl)^ Tasmanian specimens which had escaped from captivity. Such an explanation will not do for the recent bones found at the Wombeyan Caves, nor is such a theory now required for even Krefft's specimens, considering that in former times Dromicia nana was one of the commonest of New South Wales marsupials. BY R. BROOM. 55 PSEUDOCHIRUS ANTIQUUS 11. Sp. (PI VII. Figs. 4-6). One of the comiiioiiest forms whose remains are found in the deposit is a species of Pseudochirios. In size and structure it much resembles the common ring-tailed Phalanger (P. j^eregritius), but the careful study of a large series of specimens has satisfied me that the remains are those of a distinct and new species. In average size the teeth are appreciably larger than in P. pei-egrinus, yet on the whole the form comes nearer to that species than to either P. cuoki or P. orientalis. The following table illustrates the features so far as known and the points distinguishing the fossil form from P. pereyrimcs. P. perey7-iniis. Upper p^ small, about 1 mm. in front of p'^ Length of m ^ -m ^ — 11 -2- 1 2 6 mm. Cusps of upper and lower molars moderately developed Post. Ext. Cusp of upper ra'^ (4 sp. ) mill. 1-7, max. 2*0, average 1"85 Ant. Int. Cusp of lower m* (3 sp.) min 1-6, max. 1-8, average 1-7 Palate with a distinct lateral depression in region of p^ and p* Angle of jaw produced well backwards. P. antiquus. Upper p^ moderate size, j)laced close to p'^ m^-m'^ in only three specimens, showing complete series — - 12.7, 12-9, and 13- mm. Cusps of upper and lower molars well developed Post. Ext. Cusp of upper m^ (5 sp ) min. 2-1, max. 2-3, average 2 -2 2 Ant. Int. Cusp of lower m^ (3 sp.) min. 2-3, max. 2 5, average 2*4 Palate moderately flat, no dis- tinct lateral depression in region of p'^ and p* Angle of jaw relatively small and passing backwards but a short distance 56 BONE BRECCIA DEPOSIT, It is unfortunate that I have not succeeded in getting any specimens with the upper p^ in position, and only one specimen (PI. fig. 4) showing the socket. From this specimen the tooth appears to have been almost double-rooted and placed much closer to p'^ than in P. peregrinus, and in this I'esembling more P. cooki. Perameles wombeyensis, n.sp. (PI. VIII. figs. 1-8). The above name I propose for a species of Perameles which must have been very common at the period when the bone deposit was formed. Though from the nature of the matrix I have been unable to develop a single perfect jaw, yet I have succeeded in finding sufficient fragmentary specimens to enable me to give almost all the important details of dentition. The species seems to have been a form a little larger than P. obesula, and to have resembled it in being short-nosed. The upper incisor teeth are unknown, the premaxillary being absent from all the upper jaw specimens I have. The canine is moderatelydeveloped and rather largerand flatter than in P. obesula. 'P^ is considerably larger than in P. obesula, and directed some, what forward. It is placed about 2 mm. behind the canine. P"^ is about equal in size to p^ and placed a little less than 1 mm. from it. It has a distinct anterior secondary cusp and a less marked posterior one. P""^ is unknown. The upper molars resemble those of P. obesula in being soon worn down, and in old specimens leaving no trace of the cusps. In shape there is considerable agreement with those of P. obesula, the section of the worn tooth being quadrangular, with rounded angles. M* is unknown. The lower jaw bears more resemblance to P. obesula than any other existing form. The anterior edge of the coronoid process is straight and the process itself passes back obliquely. The angle seems less produced than in P. obesula, though it is possible a por- tion of the slender tip may have been broken off" in the figured specimen (PI. fig. 1). The lower incisors are absent, but in fig. BY R. BROOM. 5,7 3 the anterior part of the jaw is seen. The canine appears to be small, though as the specimen figured (PL viii. fig. 3) is from a young animal, the canine has probably not attained its full size. P^ and p"^ resemble the upper teeth in size, and are both fur- nished with small anterior and posterior secondary cusps. P* is relatively large. Lower molars resemble those of P. ohesula. The following are some of the principal measurements : — Height of canine Length of p^ ... ,, unworn m^ „ worn m- ,, worn m'^ Estimated length of unworn m^-m" Lower p^-m*, aged specimen ... Estimated upper c-m* ... 3'1 mm. 2 8 mm. 40 mm. 3'G mm. 34 mm. 11-3 mm. • 21 3 mm. 28-28-5 mm. Thylacinus cynocephalus, Harris. Of this species I have found two teeth — a perfect lower canine and a perfect lower premolar — but no bones. Phascologale flavipes, Waterh. This small pouched mouse is represented by a very large num- ber of jaws and other remains. It appears to be the commonest species in the deposit with the exception of the Bush Rat. So far as I have been able to make out, the fossil animal in no way differs from the existing species. Phascologale jiavipes is still found in the district, and though it is very rare if not extinct in the settled parts, in the wilder regions it is fairly common. Phascologale pexicillata, Shaw. This species though met with is distinctly rare. I have only found one complete lower jaw, a fragment of a second, and two fragments of the upper jaw. The anterior premolars and canine are a trifle larger than in the recent skull in my possession (a female), but there is no doubt that the remains belong to the 58 BONE BRECCIA DEPOSIT, existing species. The form is still met with in the district, though by no means common even in the mountainous regions, while in most of the settled parts it appears to be extinct. Echidna sp. (PI. VIII. figs. 9-10). A number of bones of a large Echidna have been found, and which in all probability belong to the described form Echidna oiveni, Krefft. The specimens are, however, too fragmentary to enable me to refer them definitely to this form. The remains comprise the greater portion of the left ilium, with a fragment of the sacrum attached, the lower portion of left femur, the articular head of the femur, two vertebral centra, and a number of fragments of long bones. The femur differs in one or two respects from E. acuJpMta. The constriction of the shaft immediately above the condyles is much less marked, and the shaft at this part is more flattened than in the common existing species, while the depression above the patellar surface is more marked and broader. The ilium is very considerably stouter proportionately than in JC. aculeata. From the union by complete anchylosis of two small fragments of the sacrum with the ilium it is evident that the extinct species agrees with the living in the complete anchylosis of the sacrum with the ilia. Max. width across lower end of femur ... ... 32"5 mm. ,, ,, ,, . in E. ocideatci (adult male) ... 22'5 mm. Oblique measurement from outer depression of shaft to inner condyle ... ... .. ... 26'4 mm. Oblique measurement in E. acnleatd ... ... 17 "8 mm. Trans, measurement above patellar depression ... 24* mm. ,, ,, ,, in E. acn/enta ... ... 145 mm. Besides the above forms there are a few remains too fragmentary for certain identification. Two fragmentary teeth probably repre- sent Thylacoleo, while a detached molar belongs to a small species BY R. BROOM. 59 of Macropus. There are also innumerable remains of Bush Rats (}fus sp.) which I have not had an opportunity of identifying with certainty. Of birds there have been found the perfect cranium of one about the size of a Sparrow and some small bones, while of lizards there occur the x'emains of a moderate sized member of the Sciticidc/'. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. Though a few of the forms found in the deposit are still surviving, the general character of the fauna is very diflferent from that of recent times. With the exception of Thylacinus, the Macropus and the Echidna, the animals may almost all be classed as feeble and defenceless, and have apparently flourished owing to the absence or scarcity of natural enemies. Di'omicia, Falceojjetaurus and Biirramys were probably all of very similar habits, the conditions suitable to the one being equally so to the others, while those inimical to any would probably tend to the destruction of all. The two species of I'hascologale, though probably suffering from the same adverse condition which has destroyed the small Diprotodonts, have been less affected and able to survive. The cause of the destruction of the smaller forms is probabl}' to be found in the introduction into their midst of some common enemy. A glance at the recent fauna of the district suggests a not improbable explanation of the change. To-day the forms which may be said to be numerous are Tricho- surus vafpeciila, Phascolarctus cinereun, Dasyurus viverrmus, D. mactdatus, and Macropus iialabatus. All these are absent from the deposit, and though their absence does not prove that they were not then in the district, it may safely be taken to indicate that they were at least rare. The absence of the common Phalanger for example could not have been due to unfavourable conditions, as the abundant remains of the species of Ring-tailed Phalanger show there must have been plenty of suitable trees. The conclusion thus seems probable that 'I'richosn.rus is a com- paratively recent addition to the local fauna. If it could be proved that with it came the Dasyures we would have at once a 60 BONE BRECCIA DEPOSIT, satisfactory explanation of the disappearance of the small Dipro- todonts. It is at present, however, impossible to say more than that at the time of the deposit Dasyures were absent or rare, that in more recent times they have become numerous in the district, and that their introduction or increase has been the probable cause of the destruction of the smaller forms. The fact of Pfitaurus breviceps having not only survived but increased, while the closely allied Dromicla has been all but exterminated, seems to suggest that the former with the parachute expansions was able to escape from some enemy to which Dromicla fell a prey. Pala',op'',lanrus, if we may assume, as is quite probable, that it resembled GumaohdldeuH in being without lateral expansions, would fall as easily a prey as Drom'cia. I must acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. J, J. Fletcher, Mr. R. Etheridge, Junr., Mr. De Vis, and to my father for kind assistance they have rendered me. EXPLANATION OF PLATES. Plate VI. Macropus ivombeyensis. Fig. \. — Right jaw — nat. size. Fig. 2. — Right lower teeth — nat. size. Fig. 3.— Lower p^ ( x 3). Potorous tridacfylus, var. antiquum. Fig. 4. — Left upper molars ( x 4'5). Fig. 5. — P3 (left upper ?) ( x 4-5). Fig. 6.— Left upper p (4'5). Fig. 7.— Right lower p^ ( x 5). Plate VII. Burramys parvus. Fig. \. — Side view of skull of ( x 3 '4). The lower jaw is seen somewhat obliquely to represent its true side view when placed in the skull. Fig. 2. — Upper aspect of fragment of skull ( x 3*4). BY R. BROOM. 61 Palmopetcmrus elegans. Fig. 3. — Upper aspect of fragmeut of skull ( x 2). Pseudochinis antiquus. Fig, 4. — Upper premolars ( x 3*6). Fig. 5. — Lower m'* ( x 4). Fig. 6. — Back part of lower jaw — nat. size. Fig. 7 — Exactly similar aspect of lower jaw of Pseiidochirub peregrimcs. Plate viii. Perameles luomheyensis. Fig. 1. — Back part of lower jaw with m* ( x 2). Fig. 2. — Anterior part of upper jaw ( x 2). Fig. 3. — Inner view of anterior part of lower jaw of young — nat. size. Fig. 4. — Inner view of adult lower jaw — nat. size. Fig. 5, — Right upper m^ unworn ( x 4), Fig, 6. — Left upper m^ somewhat worn ( x 4). Fig. 7. — Inner view of lower m* ( x 5*5), Fig. 8. — Outer view of lower m* ( x 5'5). Echidna sp. Fig. 9.- Fig. 10.— 62 ON A GALAXIAS FROM MOUNT KOSCIUSKO By J. Douglas Ogilby. At tlie meeting of this Society in March, 1882 (Vol. vii. p. 107) the late Sir William Macleay read a paper descriptive of a species of Galaxias which had been forwai-ded to him by Baron von Mueller to whom examples had been sent by Mr. S. Findlay, who found them inhabiting the streams which drain the southei'n slopes of Mount Kosciusko and form a section of the watershed of the Snowy River; for this form he proposed, at the request of Baron von Mueller, the name of Galaxias jindlayi in honour of its discoverer and collector. With the exception of its inclusion in the " Supplement " to Macleay 's "Descriptive Catalogue of Australian Fishes" there does not appear to be any further published information respecting the Kosciusko Galaxiid, nor do«.ny specimens from that district seem to have been collected until the autumn of 1889, when a few examples were secured and brought to Sydne}^ by Mr. Richard Helms on the occasion of his visit to that mountain, a short account of which is published in the Records of the Australian Museum, Vol. i. pp. 11-16. These specimens were also obtained from streams flowing into the Snowy River, and writing of their distribution Mr. Helms observes (p. 13) : — '■'■ The absence of Galaxias at this elevation" (Wilkinson's Valley) "struck me as peculiar. It is, however, remarkable that on the Snowy River side these fishes are met with almost everywhere." The paragraph from which this quotation is taken is not clear, but the most reasonable deduction from it is that, in Mr. Helms' opinion, Galaxiids were scarce or even absent on the Murrum- bidgee slope. Pressure of business prevented a full examination of these specimens being made at the time, and they were put on one side and neglected until the commencement of the current year, when Mr. Helms requested me to furnish him with a report on these fishes, and it was then discovered that owing to the changes BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 63 which had taken place in the Museum and the consequent shifting of specimens from place to place the examples in question were not immediately forthcoming. In default of these the next best thing to do was to endeavour to get other specimens from the same locality, and an opportunity for effecting this occurred through the visit in January last of the Rev. J. M. Curran and Mr. C. Hedley to Mount Kosciusko, and the writer thereupon called the attention of the latter gentleman to the subject in the hope of procuring a good working series for examination; however, the specimens thus obtained, two or three in number, were, on Mr. Hedley's return, handed to the authori- ties of the Australian Museum, and became, therefore, unavailable for the purpose required, which included such an exhaustive examination as the difficulty of determining the species of this intricate genus and the interest attaching to this particular form as an inhabitant of a greater altitude than is reached by any other Australian fish warranted. In this unsatisfactory state our knowledge must again have been indefinitely left but that, the Rev. Mr. Curran having occasion to return almost immediately to Kosciusko, the writer took advantage of his going to request him to collect sufficient material to enable the complete examination which was deemed necessary to be made. So well was this request acceded to that on the return of that gentleman from his second trip I received a fine series numbering no less than sixteen individuals in perfect condition, and this collection was afterwards supplemented by a further contribution of eleven, and I take this opportunity of acknowledging my obligations and tendering my grateful thanks to that gentleman for the trouble which he took in procuring so fine a series of specimens. A critical investigation of these examples reveals facts which greatly invalidate certain apparently well established characters which have hitherto been considered of sufficient importance to justify specific separation. As an instance, it will be remembered that the fishes of the genus Galaxias have naturall}^ fallen into two groups, characterised — the one by a short, stout l)ndy, uf 64 GALAXIAS FROM MOUNT KOSCIUSKO, which group truttaceus may be taken as typical, the other by a long, slender body, to which atlenuatus and its allies are to be referred; yet in this one small species I am confronted with individuals varying from one-fifth to one-eighth in the propor- tionate measurement of depth to length, and with a corresponding difference in colour from a dull dark brown without or with but very slight indications of markings to bright golden beautifully blotched, spotted, or barred with black. These differences, how- ever, great as they appear to a casual glance, are entirely attributable to the nature of the locality and the water which the individual fish inhabits, the stout, sombre-coloured form being found in the deep still pools and small subalpine tarns, the slender brilliant one in the more rapid gravelly or sandy shallows where it is exposed to the sunlight; but between these twolimital forms every conceivable variation, both of contour and colour, may be found. The distribution of GalaxUts, comprising as it does the southern extremities of the three great continental areas which converge upon the Antarctic Circle, is unique among fishes, though the Marsipobranchians. of the genera Geotria and Caragola and the recent members of the clupeoid genus Diplomijsius* somewhat * The genus Diplomt/itus was instituted by Prof. Cope (Bull. U.S. Gaol. Survey Terr. 1877, p. 808) for the accommodation of certain fossil forms of Tertiary Clupeids from the Green River portion of the Wasatch Beds, which are situated in the central region of the United States, where it is numerous both in species and individuals. Three recent species are known, two of which — no'-u' hollandue and apraffeUldex—^ttilong to the fauna of south- eastern Australia, and the third (Clupea nofarcDifhiis, Gi'inth. )jto that of Chile. Not being aware of its earlier severance by Cope, I proposed (Records Austr. Mus. ii. p. 24, 1892) to separate, under tjie name Hi/])erlophm, all those Herrings in which a predorsal serrature was present, but, my attention being kinilly drawn thereto by Dr. Smith Woodward, I used Cope's name for Valenciennes' Meletta novce-hollandiai in a subsequent work (Edible Fish, and Crust. N.S Wales, p. 184, 1893). At present, however, lam uncertain ■whether Diplomy>itus can properly be retained for these forms, as Dr. Eigenmann in 1891 diagnosed the family Diplomystidce—oi which presum- aljly the central genus is Diplomyslm — for certain South American Nema- tognaths, and I have not as yet been able to learn the date of this genus; if, however, it is prior to Cope's the clupeoid fishes must take the name Hyperlophus. BY .7. DOUGLAS OOILRY. 65 closely approach it, but in other biological Classes a much more intimate geographical relationship between these Regions may be discerned.* Several theories have been enunciated to account for this singular disti'ibution of a family of fresh-water fishes in such widely separated regions as western South America, south-eastern Australia, and South Africa. Apparently the most favoured of these theories, as it is also the most natural and the most strongly supported by recent facts, is that, at- some remote period of the world's history, there existed a great austral continent, which has now largely disappeared beneath the surface of the ocean and which extended northwards on the one hand through Tierra del Fiiego to the southern and south-western parts of South America, on the other through Tasmania to south-eastern Australia, and possibly also to New Zealand and South Africa. So far as Australia and America are concerned I see no reason to doubt that they were at one time connected at their southern extremitfes by a belt of land stretching across the south pole, and that the antarctic continent so formed enjoyed a mild and equable climate, and supported a large and varied flora and fauna, the remains of which are abundantly visible in both to the present day, but especially in Australia, where forms of animal life, elsewhere extinct or nearly so, still constitute characteristic features in the faunic aspect, among which may be mentioned the MarHupialin among Mammals, the Struthionids among Birds, certain Lizards such as Chlamydosaurus, and Fishes such as Neoceratochis. With regard to the claims of New Zealand and South Africa to a post-mesozoic junction with Antarctica the testimony is by no means so convincing, in fact the weight of evidence clearly points to the conclusion that at no more recent time was there any intimate connection between them, while tliei'e are manj'^ indications that the distance separating them was not so wide as * For references see Hedley, Proc. Koj'. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1S95, p, 3, note 1. 5 60 a A LA XI AS FROM MOUNT KOSCH'SKO, to preclude the possibility of many plants and animals finding their way across "either by flight or drift."* In the case of Galaxias the ova might easily have been carried across on the feet or plumage of water-birds, or, as seems to me a more simple and natural solution, some individuals having been swept out to sea by floods in their native rivers, have survived the passage across the intervening belt of ocean and successfully colonised the shores to which they wandered, f Galaxias findlavi. Galaxias Jindlnyi, Macleay, Proc. Linn. 8oc. N. S. Wales, 1882, vii. p. 107. B. ix. I>. 12-13. A. 11-12.+ V. 9. P. 16. C. 16. Vert. 37-38/23. Body stout to slender, the head broad and depressed. Length of head 41 to 51, depth of body 5i to 8 in the total length; width of body equal to or a little less than its depth, 1^ to If, of interorbital region 24 to 3i, diameter of eye 4 to 5f in the length of the head ; snouth obtuse, from three-eights to three-fourths of a diameter longer than the eye, which is very small. Lips thick and fleshy ; the maxillary reaches to the vertical from the middle of the eye or not quite so far; lower jaw included. Seven or eight gill-rakers on the lower branch of the anterior arch. Jaws with a single series of moderate hooked teeth of somewhat irregular size; palatines Avith a similar series along their inner border directed inwards and backwards; a series of five strong hooked teeth on each side of the tongue and a single median tooth in front; vomer toothless. Dorsal fin obtusely pointed or rounded,.!^ * Hedley, I.e. p. G. ■t For an analout>us example of colonization see Ogilljy, Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc. 1885, p. 529, re Coregonus poUan. X The small rod-like rays in front being variable in number are not included, the computation being made from the first normally articulated ray. § In tiie largest example all the fins are rounded except the caudal. BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 67 the space between its origin and the base of the caudal 2| to 2i in its distance from the extremity of the snout; the fourth and fifth rays are the longest, 14 to 2 in the length of the head; the base of the fin is l^iy to li in its height and U to I'i in the space between its origin and that of the anal: the anal fin is similar in shape to and originates beneath the last fourth of the dorsal; the fifth and sixth rays are the longest, as long as or a little longer than the dorsal rays; its base is ly'„ to 11 in its height, and 1 to 1^ in its distance from the caudal: ventral inserted nearer to the anal than to the base of the pectoral, not reaching to beneath the dorsal fin; the distance between its origin and the base of the caudal is 1— to 1| in its distance from the tip of the snout; the middle rays are the longest, li to If in the length of the head and 2 to 2\ in the distance between its origin and the anal: pectoral cuneiform, 11 to Ih in the head and 2|- to 2|» in the space between its origin and the ventral: caudal slightly emargi- nate with the lobes rounded, li to Lj in the length of the head, the peduncle rather slender and compressed, its depth 2"g to 3i in its length. Colours variable: from dark greenish-brown above and yellowish- brown below, the sides with more or less distinct darker markings, which may take the form of irregular transverse bands, or of minute spots, which again may be concurrent so as to form blotches or may be distributed so as to almost obliterate the ground-colour, generally with a more or less well defined series of dark spots along the middle of the body, with the fins shading from yellowish-brown Ijasally to orange distall}^; to golden with regular transverse bands or large blotches of a black or dark chestnut colour, with the tins yellow. Irides silvery. In addition to the above, the Rev. Mr. Curran tells me that there is in the living fish " over the eye a crescent-shaped area coloured reddish like metallic copper " ; that the opercles " are metallic gold and green," and that the sides are irradiated with " peacock hues." As to its habits he reports it as being " very sprightly and lively," and hiding cunningly under stones or in holes in the bank when jjursued ; also that it leaps to the fly, and 68 GALAXIAS FROM MOUNT KOSCIUSKO, can be easily caught in this way." " I saw some stockmen amusing themselves in this manner, the whole outfit consisting of a piece of black thread, a bent pin, and a fly." Distribution : — Streams and tarns on Mount Kosciusko and the neighbouring uplands, including the head waters of the Snowy River and its tributary, the Crackenback, where they were obtained by Messrs. Curran and Hedley. Later on the former gentleman obtained specimens from the streams draining the northern and western slopes of Kosciusko and flowing into the Murrumbidgee. Spawning in February. Eleven specimens measuring from 63 to 105 millimeters, were utilised in drawing up the above description. Appended is a list of the species of Gulaxias at present known, arranged in chronological order : — 1801. alepidotns, Forster, Bloch and Schneider, S3rst. Ichth. p. 395; New Zealand. 1817. tviittacetis, Cuvier, Regne Anim. ii. p. 283; Tasmania and Victoria. 1842. fasciatus, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 73; New Zealand. 1842. maculatus, Jenyns, Zool. Beagle, Fish. p. 119, pi. xxii. f. 4; Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego. 1842. alpinus, Jenjais, I.e. p. 121; Alpine Lakes of Hardy Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego. 1842. attenuatus, Jenyns, I.e. pi. xxii. f. 5; New Zealand, Tas- mania, Victoi'ia, Falkland Islands, Western South America northwards to Peru. 1846. scriba, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. xviii. p. 347; Port Jackson, New South Wales. 1864. gracillimiis, Canestrini, Arch. Zool. Anat. e Fisiol. iii. p. 100, pi. IV. f. 2; Chili. 1866. ocellatiif), McCoy, Intern. Exh. Ess. p. 14; River Yarra, Victoria. BY J. DOUGLAS OOILBY. C9 1866. olidas, Giinther, Catal. Fisli. vi. p. 209; New Zealand. 1866. kreff'ti, Giinther, I.e. p. 211; New Sauth Wales. 1866. p'lnctuiis, Giinther, I.e. p. 213; New South Wales. 1866. brevlpinnis, Giinther, I.e.; New Zealand. 1837. witerhoasei, Krefft, Proc. Zool. So3. Lond. p. 943; South Australia. 1869. achoinburgkii, Peters, Monatsb; Ac. Wiss. Berlin, 1868. p. 455; Adelaide, South Australia, 1872. rostratas, Klunzinger, Arch. £. Nat. p. 41; Murray River. 1872. versicolor, Castelnau, Pro3. Zool. Sos. Vic. i. p. 176; Marsh near St. Kilda, Victoria. 1872. cijlitidricas, Castelnau, I.e. p. 177; Lower Yarra, Victoria. 1872. delicatulus, Castelnau, I.e. p. 178; River Yarra, Victoria. 1872. ammnus, Castelnau, I.e.; River Yarra, Victoria. 1873. oraatus, Castelnau, I.e. p. 153; Cardinia Creek, Victoria. 1880. campheJU, Sauvage, Bull. Soc. Philom. (7) iv. p. 229; Campbell Island. 1880. coxi, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soe. N. S. Wales, 1880, v. p. 45; Mount Wilson, New South Wales. 1881. coppingeri, Giinther, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. p. 21; Alert Bay, Straits of Magelhaen. 1881. planiceps, Macleay, I.e. vi. p. 233; Rankin's Lagoon, Bathurst; New South Wales. 1881. bongbony, Macleay, I.e.; Mossvale and rivers at Bongbong; New South Wales. 1881. nebulosa, Macleay, I.e. p. 234; Long Bay, Sydney, New South Wales. 1882. Jindlaiji, Macleay, I.e. vii. p. 107; Streams on Mount Kosciusko, New South Wales. 1882. auratus, Johnston, Proe. Roy. Soc. Tas. p. 131; Great Lakes, Tasmania 70 GALAXIAS FROM MOUNT KOSCIUSKO, 1882. iveedoni, Johnston, I.e.; Mersey River, Tasmania. 1882. atkinsoni, Johnston, I.e.; Pieman River, Tasmania. 1886. kayi, Ramsay and Ogilby, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales (2) i. p. 6; Fifth Creek, Adelaide, South Australia. 1888. iadicus, Day, Fish. Ind. Suppl. p. 80G, fig.; Littoral districts of Bengal and Madras. 1892. nigothoruk, Lueas, Proe. Roy. Hoc. Vic. (2) iv. p. 28; Lake Nigothoruk, Gippsland, Victoria 1894. C'lpo-nais, Steindachner, Ichth. Beitr. (xvii.) p. 18; Lorenz River, South Africa. There can be little doubt that man}^ of the species, 32 in num- ber, here catalogued are merely nominal, but, though detailed descriptions of each would doubtless prove of great assistance in indicating the various degrees of affinity which connect the local forms with their antarctic progenitors, it is plainly impossible to even approximately delimitate the species in a satisfactory manner, until a full series of each variety or subspecies shall have been brought together for examination. The local variations in the same form inhabiting the same little subalpine runlets is shown to be so great, as is manifest by the study of the present species, that the wonder is, not that so many nominal species have been created, but that there are not infinitely more. This perplexing number of local varieties finds its analogue in the common Brook Trout of the North of Ireland,* where every angler is well aware that the Trout from each stream differ so wreatly in outward appearance from those inliabiting the next, * I only mention this locality because it was there that I observed the local ilifterences iii Salmo fario, but no doubt sportsmen from other districts can testify to the accuracy of the above remarks. Salmon also vary much in dilierent rivers, and even when taken in nets set in the sea many miles from the mouths of the rivers in which they spawn, the individuals belong- ing to each water way can be unhesitatingly selected {ride Ogilby, Proc Roy. Dublin Soc. 1S85, p. 526). BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 71 that, to any one who knows the watei's, the tish from any given stream may be selected at a glance from those of a dozen other streams, but no one now-a-days would venture to assert that they were of different species, even were it not well known that on being transferred from one stream to another the colonists soon assume the characteristics of the local race.* These variations are attributable (in both genera, Oalaxias and Salmo) to similar local causes, such as the depth, stillness or rapidity of the water, the quality and the supply of food, the character of the bottom, the composition of the water, &lc.; indeed as to the latter trout taken from streams fed from limestone springs are as different from those residing in waters which have their origin in peat mosses as G'a/axias tnittaceus is from G. alteniiahcs. As to the atiinities of the species, it is useless in the present state of our knowledge to attempt any generalisation, j^nd it is only by obtaining a series of specimens from the localities whence they were originally described that such species as Castelnau's and (in a less degree) Macleay's can be with certainty identified; nevertheless the following corrections and suggestions may be of use : — - Galaxias olidu^, Giinth., doubtfully attributed by that author to Queensland, proves to be a New Zealand species, and must be erased from the number of Australian fishes. Galaxias ivaterhousei, Kreff't, is a variety of G. attenuatas according to Klunzinger, as is also G. ohlusus, Klunz. (Sitzb. Ak. Wiss. Wien, 1879, Ixxx. i. p. 412). I mention this latter fact because Lucas includes both attenuatus and obtiisus in his "Census of Victorian Fishes, 1889 ";t although ^Klunzinger had himself pointed out his own error (^.c), while he omits hnUlacHihs which that author had received from " Port Phillip." G. nchomburg/iii, Peters, and G. hai/i, R. and O. are possibly varieties of 'Waterlioiisei. This does not apply with equal force to the anadromous Saljiioiiids. t Proc. Ejy. 8oc. Vic. 1889, pp. 15-47. 72 GALAX/AS KR(J.M MOUNT KOSCIUSKO, 'jcdaxiaa nebidosa, Maoleay, is probabh^ the same as G. scribe, Val. The variation in the number of the dorsal and anal rays cannot Vje considered of any value in this genus if the small unar- ticulated anterior rays be included, the number of these being extremely inconstant; there is no other character of sufficient consequence to warrant tlieir separation except the size of the eye, which is stated by A^alenciennes to measure " two-fifths of the length of the head,'' a proportion which is quite unknown among the members of the genus, and is very unlikely to be correct. G. rostratus, Klunz., should also be compared with scriba. Galaxias auratus, Johnston. Through the courtesy of Mr. Alexander Morton of the Tasmanian Museum, I have had an opportunity of examining two fine examples — 225 and 185 milli- meters in length — of the form inhabiting the Great Lakes, Tas- mania, which lie at an altitude of 4000 feet above the sea level. These specimens I believe to be mere varieties of G. triUtacens, modified by their surroundings. Galaxias iiulicus, Day. From the first I looked with distrust on the possibility of the occurrence of a species of this genus in Indian waters, and I am, therefore, pleased to find that Dr. Gill not only shares that distrust, but has had the courage to publish his disbelief (Nature, liii. p. 366). Should the species on further examination prove to be a true Galaxias, its pi-esence in the Indian littoral would seriously interfere with the theory of an antarctic origin for these fishes. It will be observed that no less than seven species {truttaceas, altennatus, ocellatus, cersiculor, cyUiidricus, ddicatukis, and amoe.nus) are said to be resident in or in the immediate neigh- bourhood of the Yarra, and since the two first are well known to be of wide distribution and variable appearance I must be per- mitted to doubt the specific value of all or most of the residual forms, for none of which have their authors pointed out such distinctive characters as would enable one, from a study of the descriptions alone, to determine their specific value. Too much BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 73 importance has evidently been placed by Australian authors (I might perhaps with equal truth say by all authors) on the shape and colour of these fishes, both of which characters I have shown above to be quite worthless in distinguishing the species. Finallj^ I am not satisfied, notwithstanding my scepticism with regard to the number of Austrahan species, to accept as proved the identity of the New Zealand and Tasmanian attenuatus with the Falkland Island and Peruvian forrn, referred to by Giinther under the same name, nor am I prepared to go as far as Macleay in considering that " it is more than probable that they " — all the known forms of Galaxias — "ai-e one and all only permanent local varieties of the same fish." THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THE GRASS-TREES (XANTUORRH(EA}. Bv Walter W. Froggatt. (Plate IX.) Four species of Xanthorrhxea are recorded from the County of Cumberland, within the limits of which all my entomological specimens have been collected; as their general structure is similar, it is not sui'prising that the same species of insects are to be found frequenting all four alike. At first sight a grass-tree might not appear to be a profitable field for investigation by the entomologist; yet whether alive or dead it is the home of a considerable number of interesting insects, some of which are born and die in it, while others are only passing visitors. A grass-ti'ee presents three distinct parts, each with its special frequenters; fii'st the stout cylindrical stem or trunk, generally two or three feet high, and consisting of a tubular sheath compos'ed of the basal portion of the fallen leaves matted together into a solid ring, and thickly impregnated with the yellow resinous gum, and in which nothing lives; this encloses the caudex, composed of close fibrous matter, which in a living tree contains nothing, but after death it decays very rapidly, and soon becomes the abode of much insect life, for which the outer covering or sheath forms a protection. Secondly, there is the coarse grass-like foliage which is the resort of many small beetles, spiders, cfec, which lurk about the bases of the stalks; it is also eaten by several beetles and is visited by others. Thirdly, the flower-stalk and scape which both alive and dead furnishes food or a home to certain beetles, bees, and ants. As the grass-trees generally thrive best in poor sandy country covered with low scrub, great numbers are scorched up by the bush fires every season. It is in such burnt patches that most of the grass-trees examined by me occurred. BY WALTER W. FKO(i(;ATT. ( 0 COLEOPTERA. MicROPCEciLA BREWEin, Jauson. Larva about H~ inches in length; white, rather elongate and cylindrical; head reddish-brown, rugose, rounded behind, slightly impressed in the centre with a wavy line running across on either side to the base of the antennse; stout black jaws armed with three .small blunt teeth; a broad elongate brown patch on either side of the first thoracic segment, above the first spiracle; legs long, covered with long ferruginous hairs; thoracic segments and first seven abdominal segments furrowed into three ridges covered with short dark spiny bristles, together with a transverse I'ow of longer hairs across the tip; 8th segment smooth and shining, covered with scattered short spines, and tinged with blue from the internal food, the anal segment rounded at the tip. Beetle lOi^ lines in length, all the underside, legs, head, the centre of the thorax and elytra smooth, shining black, with a broad marginal band encircling the thorax and elytra dee]) orange yellow; sides of the wing-covers showing shallow punctured parallel strise. Near Hornsby I obtained a large number of larvfe early in Jul)' fi'om a patch of dead grass-trees in which they were living in the rich black vegetable mould into wliich the inner portion of the caudex had been transformed l)y the action of the weather and their jaws. Towards the beginning of May they began to form earthy oval cocoons on the bottom of the tin, where they remained until the end of Noveml^er, when the beetles began to come out. The beetles are found with many others feeding upon the flowers of the dwarf Angophora. CiSSEIS 12-MACULATA, Fab. T have never found the larva of this pretty little buprestid, and do not know anything about its life-history, but the beetle is common about Sydney in early summer, feeding upon the 10 THE ENTOMOLOGY OP THE (JRASS-TUEES, leaves, clasping the foliage with its legs, but dropping to the ground at the least alarm. Beetle 5 linens in length, with the head bright metallic green, thorax and elj^tra of a much darker tint, the whole deeply and closely punctured; sides of the thorax ornamented with a pale buff patch on either side, with four transverse ruws of the same coloured oval spots, the first and last containing two and the middle ones four each; undersurface of a bright metallic green, with a patch of buff below the hind legs, and at the margin of each abdominal segment. Tkigonotarsus rugosus, Boisd. (Plate IX., figs. 1-3.) Larva with smooth castaneous head; thoracic segments pale reddish-brown and not more than lialf as thick as the centre of the pale yellow abdominal ones, which are generally arched up behind the head; length in repose about an inch, but when moving about it extends its body half as far again; thoracic segments rather flattened upon the dorsal surface, with the abdominal ones of a uniform length and very much wrinkled; anal one terminating with two short truncate tubercles of a reddish-brown colour, with several smaller ones round them. The larva? bore holes into the fibrous caudex near the bottom of the trunk of the grass-tree, where they must feed for some time, as I have taken the larva", pupa*, and beetles in the same tree about the middle of the year. Pupa 14 lines in length, white to dull yellow in colour; snout very thick, and curved straight down over the breast, both it and the rest of the head lightly clothed with stout bristles, which also extend over the sides of the thorax; wing-cases drawn round the shoulders, short, and rounded at the tips, and deeply and regularly striated; thoracic segments bearing a transverse ridge of coarse irregular spines across the centre of each segment except the anal one, which is ornamented with a crescent-shaped mark turning downwards, clothed with a few scattered hairs. BY WALTER W. FROOGATT. /7 Beetle is IG lines in length, stout and rather flattened on the hack, of a uniform hlack colour, with the broad head and thorax finely rugose, the elytra being deeply ridged with regular punctured stria3. The curious form of the tips of the tibise which terminate in a long slender spine projecting beyond the tarsi enables it if touched to cling very tightly to anything when laid upon its back . ACANTHOLOPHUS MARSH AMI, Kirby. This is the common Amycterid about the neighbourhood of Sydney. Most of the members of this large genus live upon the grass, but this one climbs up the leaves of the grass-tree, and clinging round them gnaws pieces out. Beetle slightly under an inch in length; of a sooty-brown colour; the head stout, an angular spine on either side between the antennpe, a stout double pointed knob in front of each eye, and the antenme and mouth parts hairy; thorax i-ather oval, tlattened on the summit but very rugose, with three stout conical spines along the outer margins, and two irregular lines of shorter ones divided by the stout median suture; legs stout, with tibiai and tarsi hairy; elytra broad, flattened on the summit, the sides transversely corrugated, the upper margins ornamented with an irregular line of large conical spines and numerous smaller ones covering the whole of the back; abdominal plates beneath covered with fine silvery scales or hairs. Tranes sp. Beetle 6 lines in length, all black; head small; snout long and stout; antennae thick at the tip; thorax rounded in front, the sides flattened on the summit and thickly covered with fine circular punctures; legs short and strong; dark ferruginous, with the tarsi lighter coloured; elytra much broader than thorax, which is arched slightly in front, flattened on the back, and thickly ribbed with parallel deeply punctuate striae. This beetle is not very common; it occurs towards the base of the flower stalk and the young leaves. My specimens were obtained from trees at the Hawkesbury. 78 THE KNTOMOLOC.Y OF THE GRASS-TREES, Symphvletes solandri, Fabr. The life-history of tliis tine longicorn is given by me in detail in the Proceedings of this Society (Vol. ix. (2), p. 115, 1894). Though not generally a very common beetle unless in an excep- tional season, it is one that is very easily bred from infested flowerstalks if kept in a box. Xantholinus erythropterus, Erichs. (Plate IX., figs. 4-5.) Larva slendei", flattened, 7h lines in length, with the head, prothorax, and legs ferruginous, the rest of the thoracic and all the abdominal segments pale yellow, lightly fringed with hairs; head longer than broad, rounded behind, and armed with long slender black jaws; antenna? 4-jointed, 2nd and 3rd joints long, slender, and swollen at the apex, 4th shorter and rounded at the tip; prothorax rounded in front, truncate behind, both head and thorax with a slight median suture; legs short and thick, with slender tarsal claws; abdominal segments uniform with meta- thoi'ax, the anal one tapering to the tip and armed with a slender hairy appendage on either side. Pupa is a tightly swathed ferruginous bundle, the thoracic portion forming a roof-like covering over the turned down head, the legs in front, the hind pair forming a rounded projection in front of the upper abdominal segments, which are round and cylindrical to the tip. Beetle six lines in length, all smooth, shining, black, except the wing covers, which are bright reddish-brown; head rounded, much broader than the thorax, deeply impressed above the long sickle-shaped jaws, and lightly fringed in front with reddish hairs; antennse with brownish pubescence, the terminal joint of palpi ferruginous; thorax broadest in front, sloping on either side, and rounded at apex, lightly fringed with blackish hairs; legs short and spined, thickly covered with blackish hairs; elytra finely punctuate, broadest at apex, truncate; abdomen rather BY WALTER W. FROGGATT. 79 short, thickly fringed and lightly covered upon both sides with long blackish hairs; first four segments of uniform size, fifth nearly twice as wide and tapering to the small anal segment. The larvfe are plentiful in spring between the sheath and the caudex, preying upon the many minute creatures attracted by the decaying matter. Like others of the Staphylinidce, the beetles are ver}' active, and are found in the same stumps with the larvcv; the pupa bred out in the Museum under glass in some damp earth. HoLOLEPETA SI XENSis, Marsham This is one of the commonest beetles found in the top of the decaying caudex, or between it and the outer sheath. Though I have examined great numbers of the stems at all seasons of the year, I have never come across the larval or pupal forms. Beetle half an inch in length, smooth, shining black, broad and flat; the head armed in front with two curved stout pointed horns projecting in front of the eyes and touching at the tips, hollowed out in front at base of horns, with an excavation behind the eyes, and a small blunt spine on the side; thorax with a faint impressed line in the centre, and along the outer edges slightly pitted with small punctures; elytra without any punctures, but a slender purse-like cavity on either margin caused by the edge of the elytra turning upwards; chitinous plates covering the apex of the abdomen impressed with larger rounded punctures on their edges: underside except the central plate between the legs also finely punctured. I have never collected this species any where else, though others in the north are often found crawling on tree trunks. Platysoma sp. 1 This beetle evidently passes through all its transformations in the decaying caudex, but after examining a great number of plants in all stages of decay, and at all seasons of the year, I have never been able to identify the larva, though once or twice I have found the pupa Just ready to turn into the perfect insect, luji LIBRA R Y 80 THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THK GRASS-TREES, from whicli it only differs in colour, being dull white. The beetles are often very numerous, twenty or thirty being obtained from one stump. Beetle 1^ lines in length, broad and oval, black and shining; head small, round in front; thorax smooth, truncate behind; elytra smooth in the centre, with four very distinct strife on each side, and truncate at the apex; the tip of the abdomen sloping downwards. Allecula subsulcata (?), Macl. Larva is a typical heteromerous wire worm; slender, cylindrical, smooth, and shining, about an inch in length, of a uniform ochreous colour; head and tip of the abdomen ferruginous, and an apical narrow band round the abdominal segments dark brown; head small, rounded in front, with slender sickle-shaped jaws, short antennse, and long drooping palpi; legs are comparatively long, with slender tarsal claws. They are very active little creatures, living in the rich black mould left by the decaying caudex; sometimes they are very numerous; common in July and August. Pupa pale yellow, short and angular, with the head drawn down over the thorax, antennje curling round under the fore legs, and coming over the hind ones, labial palpi projecting over the fore legs and showing the peculiar axe-shaped terminal joint; outer edges of the abdominal segments flanged and finely serrate, the anal one terminating in two fine spines, wing cases short and wrinkled. Beetle 7 lines in length, all black, except the last three joints of antennte and last two joints of the tarsi, which are pale ferruginous; head and thorax closely and finely punctured; antennae 11-jointed, long, slender, and cylindrical, 2nd joint very short, 3rd longest, apical joint of the labial palpi large and axe- shaped; legs long, apex of tibia? and the tarsi clothed with fine reddish hairs; elytra rugose and deeply grooved with parallel striae, thickly and deeply punctured; all the ventral surface closely punctured. BY WALTER W. FR0C3GATT. 81 The beetles began to emerge from the earth, in which the larv« had buried themselves, about the middle of November. They are often found in the summer time hiding among the dead leaves among the bushes or clinging to the twigs. HYMENOPTERA. Lestis bombiliformis, Smith. This beautiful carpenter bee forms its nest in the flower stalks of the grass-trees found about Sydney, after they have borne the flower and have become dry and hard. It begins by boring a cir- cular hole, 3^ lines in diameter, about three or four feet up the stalk, in towards the centre, when it turns downwards, excavating nearh^ all the pith out for a distance of about four inches down, then working upwards, so that the tunnel is about eight inches from end to end, with an average of half an inch in diameter. The cells are made about half an inch in length, with a ball of bee-bread and an egg deposited in the far end, each being partitioned off from the other by a stout pad or wad of triturated pith. I have never found the whole length of the chamber filled with bee larvae, a space being usually left unoccupied in the centre. Larva a dull white-coloured grub of cylindrical shape, attenuated towards both extremities, about half an inch in length when full grown. They can be found in all stages about November. (J. Bee 7^ lines in length, bright metallic green, with the face yellow, eyes brown; antennae, ocelli, and mouth parts black, sides of the face, back of head, thorax and legs thickly covered with short golden yellow hairs, with three dark parallel bars of blackish hairs crossing the centre and on either side; above the Avings clouded with brown, covered with fine brown spots over the marginal cells, and having fine metallic purple iridescence; upper surface of the abdominal segments finely rugose, without hairs; under surface covered with dark brown hairs, the tip with black. Q. Bee 9 lines in length, of a brilliant metallic blue colour, with the abdominal segments showing coppery tints, face and 6 82 THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THE GRASS-TREES. head behind the eyes covered with greyish white hairs, thorax, legs, and under surface of abdomen thickly clothed with black hairs except the sides of the anal segments, which are fringed with white hairs; wings darker than in the male. Mr. F. Smith gave a short account* of the habits of this bee, communicated to him by Mr. Ker, who stated that it inhabited the hollow stem of a Zamia or grass tree, the entrance to the tube being rounded like the mouth of a flute. DoLiCHODERUS DORi^, Emery. These ants are very common about Hornsby, and are very fond of the sweet sugary lerp formed upon the leaves of the Eucalypts by the larvje of several species of Psylla, so that where the lerp is plentiful the leaves are often covered with them, all intent upon the enjoyment of their sweet food. They form their nest between the caudex and dry outer sheath of the dead and dry grass trees, often in such numbers that the cavity between the caudex and the outer mass is a living mass of ants. Ant 9, 4 lines in length, head and thorax black, very rugose, the latter armed with a pair of stout spines projecting in front of the pro thorax, with a similar pair at the base of the metathorax, longer and pointing downwards; antennae and legs ferruginous, the node short but stout; abdomen black, covered with a brownish pubescence, heart-shaped, hollowed out in front down the centre, with the outer margins rounded and forming regular rounded tips. Iridomyrmex gracilis, Lowne. A small slender black ant that makes its nest in the dead flower stalks of the trees, hollowing out the interior in irregular parallel passages, a large nest of them often occupying the whole stalk. 9. Ants are under 3 lines in length, pitchy brown, with very long slender legs covered with a very fine grey pubescence; head * Notes on the Habits of Australian Hymenoptera, Trans. Ent. Soc. London, Vol. i. (2nd ?er.) p. 179, 1850. BY WALTER W. FHOGGATT. 83 large, smooth, and shining, truncate at the base, and rounded towards the jaws; thorax narrow, smooth and shining; abdomen short, rounded and pointed towards the tip. DIPTERA. Orthoprosopa nigra, Macq. (Plate IX., figs. 6-8.) Larva 8 lines in length, dirty white to brownish, rounded at the head, widest about the centre, tapering towards the tip of abdomen which is produced into a stout horny ochreous appendage truncate at the tip and armed at the base with a short fleshy spine on either side. The maggots, frequently in great numbers, are found living in the slime and putrid water which accumulates between the outer shell and the caudex of the dead stem, about midwinter; numbers kept under observation remained about six weeks before changing into pupje. The latter were simply the skin of the maggot hardened into a brown oval case covered with particles of earth attached to it, and the anal appendage shortened and retracted. This handsome fly (one of the Syrphidce) is 7 lines in length, shining black, with the antennfe and face bright yellow; thorax covered with a very short fine blackish down and ornamented with a pair of rounded naked black spots in the centre; wings slightly fuscous, legs black; abdomen stoutest at the base, rounded towards the tip. Orthoprosopa sp. (Plate IX., figs. 9-11.) Larva dirty white, 10 lines in length, but able to I'etract or extend its segments considerably; head rather truncate in front, with the sides round, narrow, with segments of uniform size, tapering towards the tip which is produced into a slender fleshy tail; two-thirds of the length of the whole of the body terminating in a slender horny tube or spine, truncate at the tip. 84 THE ENTOMOLOGY OP THE GRASS-TKEES, The larvjB live in the decaying wood and putrid water that has accumulated between the caudex and the sheath, crawling about mixed up with the maggots of the last described species, sometimes in considerable numbers. Specimens kept in a damp jar pupated among the rotten wood at the bottom about three weeks after they were taken. Pupa case light brown, covered with bits of dirt; the apex and sides rounded, oval, with the long slender anal segment produced into a slender tube curving sharply round, and retaining the anal tube at the tip. Fly 5 lines in length, steely blue, thorax and abdomen smooth and shining; face and antennae covered with fine hairs, the latter short with the last segment oval and flattened, ornamented with a fine bristle; legs piceous, covered with fine hairs; wings hyaline, very slightly clouded. Ephippium albitarsis C?), Bigot. (Plate IX., figs. 12-13.) Larva 8 lines in length, 2 in width, varying from greyish- brown to black; head much narrower, slender, horny, broadest at the base, sloj^ing up to a truncate tip, with an eye-like spot on either side, and several short bristles along the sides, the mouth concave; thoracic and abdominal segments broad, convex on both dorsal and ventral surfaces, the hind margin of the first five sloping back, first arcuate behind the head, narrow, the following ones gradually increasing in size to the fourth, and of a uniform width to the ninth, tenth smaller, the last spatulate, with a round impression on the dorsal surface; outer margins of each segment fringed with two long bristles, a few scattered ones over the dorsal surface. The pupa undergoes its transformation in the larval skin, the fly emerging from the base of the head. They are plentiful in decaying stems between the caudex and sheath, living among the rotten matter, and are very sluggish in their habits. Specimens I collected remained among some rotten wood and mould for BY WALTER VV. PROGGATT. 85 ;il)out three months before the flies began to emerge about the end of September. Fly varying from ih to 3 Unes in length, all black except the white tarsi; head broad, rugose between the eyes; antennae spindle-shaped, pointed towards the tips, standing straight out, without any terminal bristle; thorax rounded in front, broadest about the middle, finely granulated on the dorsal surface; scutel- lum almost square, the apical edge having a short spine on either side; legs stout; wings dusky, nervures black, the wings creased in the centre and folded down over the tip of the abdomen; the latter constricted at the base, large and round, finely granulated, with the apical segments turning downwards, and the extreme tip truncate. This is a typical form of the family Strati omyiicke, and is, I believe, identical with Bigot's C. alhitarsis, one of the few described Australian species. Another very pretty little fly also lives in the rotten caudex, the larvfe of which I have never observed, but have bred several from the pupaj, which are oval brown cases covered with particles of earth, the front broadest, with a cylindrical short truncate spine on either side, standing out like a little horn, the apical tip rather pointed. The fly, which belongs to the family Trypetince, is often found upon the leaves, moving its wings up and down (as many members of this family do when resting), but is very hard to catch ; common in November. Fly 3 lines in length; head black, narrow; last joint of the antennae large and circular, terminated with a stout bristle; head and thorax hairy, the latter steely blue; scutellum large, yellow, with black markings on the apical edge which is truncate and fi'inged with hairs; legs long, pale yellow; wings hyaline, thickly mottled with irregular black blotches over the apical half; abdo- men broad, heart-shaped, pale ochreous yellow, rounded on dorsal surface, with a curious imprinted brown mark in centre; thin and flat on the underside, tinged with black towards the tip, and tufted with silvery white hairs on the sides. 86 THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THE GRASS-TRtES, LEPIDOPTERA. Aphomia latro, Zeller. Larva half an inch in length, dark brown to l)lack upon the dorsal surface, with lighter parallel stripes down the centre of back, and along each side; head large, smooth, shining, and divided in the centre by a suture; prothorax rounded and large; other thoracic segments uniform with the abdominal ones; legs moderately stout, with small pointed tarsal claws; ventral surface pale yellow. The larvje live in small communities, feeding upon the scape of the flower stalk, gnawing up all the undeveloped Vjuds, which become matted together with their loose web. They move about very rapidly, and pupate on the flower head, forming elongate white silken cocoons. Pupa long and slender, reddish-brown, with the wing-cases curving round in front and covering the first five segments; a raised ridge running down the centre of back; anal segment armed with a number of short conical spines. Moth 1| inches across the wings, which are long and slender, and rounded at the tips; creamy buff colour shot with fine black spots, and divided down the centre with a broad parallel stripe of white. Hind wings silvery grey, thickly fringed with long semi-opaque hairs along the tips and lower margin; body slender, apical segments darkest. Mr. Ernest Anderson, who identified this species for me, says that it is common in Victoria, where it also feeds upon grass-trees and stems of rushes. Bred in the Museum al)out the end of October, from infested flowers received from the Curator. HOMOPTER.A.. AsPlDlOTUS ROSSI, Mask. The foliage is often quite discoloured with the number of black scales (adult females) infesting the leaves, often overlapping each other like a lot of oyster shells. BY WALTER W. FROGGATT. 87 Chioxaspis eugenic, Mask. I found this scale very plentiful upon the leaves of a patch of grass-trees last March at Botany, but it is more generally found upon Lejjtosjjermum, Melaleuca, and Eugenia. The adult female coccids are pale yellow at the tip, with the long slender test pearly white, and are attached along the outer edge of the under- surface of the leaves. EXPLANATION OF PLATES. Trigonotarsus rugoHun, Boisd. Fig. \. — Larva (nat. size). Fig. 2. — Larva — front view of head (enlarged). Fig. 3. — Pupa (nat. size). Xantholinus erythropterui-,, Erichs. Fig. 4. — Larva (enlarged). The line beside shows the length. Fig. 5. — Pupa (enlarged). The line beside shows the length. Orthoprosopa nigrn, Macq. Fig. 6. — Larva (enlarged). Fig. 7. — Pupa (enlarged;. Fig. 8. — Fly (enlarged). Orthoprosopa sp. Fig. 9. — Larva ^enlarged). Fig. 10. — Pupa (enlarged). Fig. IL— Fly (enlarged). Ephippmm albitarsin (?), Bigot. Fig. 12. — Larva (much enlarged). Fig. 13. —Fly (enlarged). NOTES AND EXHIBITS. Mr. North exhibited the types of the new genus and species of birds obtained by the members of the " Horn Expedition " in Central Australia, and described by him in the July number of "The Ibis" for 1895, also more fully in the "Report of the Horn Scientific Expedition," Part ii. Zoology, just published. The genus Spathopterus formed for the reception of the Princess of Wales' Parrakeet is a most extraordinary one. The fully adult male, of which a beautiful specimen was exhibited, has the end of the third primary prolonged half an inch beyond the second and terminating in a spatulate tip. It is entirely different from the wing of any other bird found in Austi'alia, but the peculiar terminations of the third primaries resemble somewhat the tail-like appendages to the lower wings of the Queensland butterfly Fapi/io ulysses. The new species comprised the following : — Rhipidura albicauda, Xerophi/a niyncincta, Ptilotis keartlandi, Climacteris suj)erciliosa, Turnix leucogaster, and Calamanthus isabellinus, a sub-species of C. campestris, Gould. Mr. Hedley exhibited on behalf of Mr. J. Jennings some living Strombus luhuanus from Vaucluse. As none had been obsei'ved alive for several years it had been feared that this interesting colony, the most southern recorded of this species, had become extinct, a fear happily now shown to be unfounded. Mr. Rainbow showed a Sydney spider { Celceria excavata, Koch) which mimicks the excreta of a bird. Also examples of the egg- bags of the same species, which in appearance resemble the kernels of the Quandong (Fusarius). Mr. Froggatt exhibited specimens of the insects frequenting the four species of Xanthori^hoea to be found in the County of Cumberland, together with drawings illustrative of the life- history of some of them. Also a living specimen of the "Thorny Lizard" (Moloch horridiis, Gray), received by post from Kalgoorlie, W.A. Mr. Froggatt likewise communicated some observations on the habits of this specimen. Mr. Pedley also exhibited a living specimen of Moloch horridus from West Australia. Mr. Lucas showed a fossil fish in Wianamatta Shale from Marrickville. 89 WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th, 1896. Tlie Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Society was held in the Linnean Hall, Ithaca Road, Elizabeth Bay, on Wednesday evening, May 27th, 1896. The President, Henry Deane, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., in the Chair. Mrs. Agnes Kenyon, Richmond, Victoria, was elected an Associate Member of the Society. The Special General Meeting, of which notice had been given, was postponed. DONATIONS. Pharmaceutical Journal of Australasia. Vol. ix. No. 4 (April, 1896). From the Editor. Societe d' Horticulture du Doubs, Besangon— Bulletin. Ser. lUustree. No. 3 (March, 1896). From the Society. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture — Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy — Bulletin. No. 8: Division of Entomology — New Series. Bulletin. No 3. Technical Series. No. 2. From the Secretary of Agriculture: Asiatic Society of Bengal — Journal. N.S. Vol. Ixiv. (1895). Part i. No. 3 ; Part ii. No. 3. From the Society. 90 DONATIONS. Royal Society of Victoria — Proceedings (1895). Vol. viii. (New Series). From the Society. Geelong Naturalist. Vol. v. No. 3 (April, 1896). From the Geelony Field Naturalists' Club. K. K. Zoologisch-botanische Gesellschaft in Wien— Verhand- lungen. xlvi. Bd. Jalirgang 1896. 2 Heft. From the Society. Bureau of Agriculture, Perth, W.A. — Journal. Vol. iii. Nos. 7, 8, 10 and 11 (March-May, 1896). From the Secretary. Pamphlet entitled " Sur la Deuxieme Campagne Scientifique de la Princesse Alice.' Par S. A. S. Albert P""., Prince de Monaco. From the Author. Papuan Plants. No. ix. ; Iconography of Candolleaceous Plants. First Decade (1892). By Baron Ferd. von Mueller, K.C.M.G , M. & Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S. Froin the Author. Museo de la Plata — Anales. i. (1890-91); Seccion de Arqueo- logia. ii.-iii. (1892); Seccion Geologica y Mineralogica. i. (1892); Seccion de Historia General, i. (1892); Seccion Zoologica. i.-iii. (1893-95); Paleontologia Argentina, ii.-iii. (1893-94): Revista. T. i.-v. (1890-94). T. vi. Primera Parte (1894). T. vii. Primera Parte (1895) : Pamphlets entitled " The La Plata Museum.^' By R. Lydekker, B.A., F.Z.S.; and " Le Musee de La Plata." Par F. P. Moreno. From the Director. Gordon Technical College, Geelong, Victoria — -Annual Report for 1894. From the Secretary. Journal of Conchology. Vol. viii. No. 6 (April, 1896 \ Froiti the Conchulogicai Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Entomological Society of London — Proceedings, 1896. Part i. From the Society. Museum d' Histoire Naturelle, Paris - Bulletin. Annee 1896. No. 1. From the Museum. Zoologischer Anzeiger. xix. Band. Nos. 499-500 (March- April) 1896). From the Editor. DONATIONS. 91 Societas pro Fauna et Flora Fennica — Acta. Vol. v. Pars iii , Vols, viii.-x.; Vol xii. (1890-95): Meddelanden. 18-21 Haftet (1892-95): Herbarium Musei Fennici. Ed. 2. Pars ii. (1894). From the Society. Naturhistorischer Verein der preussischen Rheinlande, etc. Bonn — Verhandlungen. Jahrgang li. Zweite Halfte (1894). From the Society. Geological Survey of New South Wales — Records. Vol. iv. (1894-95), Title page, &c.; Vol. v. Part i. (1896). From the Hon. the Minister for Mines and Agriculture. Victorian Naturalist. Vol. xiii. No. 1 (April, 1896). From the Field Naturalists' Clitb of Victoria. Societe Royale de Botanique de Belgique — Bulletin. Tome xxxiv. (1895). From the Society. Perak Government Gazette. Vol. ix. Nos. 7-8 (March- April, 1896); Title page, &c., to Vol. viii. (1895). From, the Government Secretary. Geological Survey of India — Memoirs, Vol. xxvii. Part i. (1895); Paleeontologia Indica. Ser. xiii. Salt-Range Fossils. Vol. ii. Part 1; Ser. xv. Himalayan Fossils. Vol. ii. Trias, Part 2 (1895). From the Director. Cincinnati Society of Natural History — Journal. Vol. xviii. Nos. 1 and 2 (April-July, 1895). From the Society. Field Columbian Museum, Chicago — Zoological Series. Vol. i. Nos. 1-2 (Oct. -Nov, 1895). From the Director. . Nova Scotian Institute of Science — Proceedings and Transac- tions. Session 1893-94. Vol. i. Second Series. Part 4. From the Institute. Tufts College, Mass.^Studies. No. iv. (Sept. 1895). From the College. New York Academy of Sciences — Transactions. Vol. xiv. (1894-95). From the Academy. 92 DONATIONS. American Academy of Arts and Sciences — Proceedings. New Series. Vol. xxii. (1894-95). From the Academy. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia — Proceedings, 1895. Part ii. (April-Sept.) From the Acadnmy. Boston Society of Natural History — Memoirs. Vol. v. Nos. 1-2 (July-Oct. 1895) : Proceedings. Vol. xxvi. Part 4 (1894-95). From the Society. Rochester Academy of Science — Proceedings. Vol. ii. Brochures 3-4 (1894-95). From the Academy. L' Academie Royale des Sciences, Arc, de Belgique — Annuaire Ix.-lxi. (1894-95) : Bulletins. S"'^. Ser. Tomes xxvi.-xxix. (1893-95). From the Academy. Gesellschaft fiir Erdkunde zu Berlin — Verhandlungen. Bd. xxii. (1895). No. 7 : Zeitschrift. Bd. xxx. (1895). Nos. 4-5. From the Society. Societe Helvetique des Sciences Naturelles — 77™® Session reunie a Schaffliausen (July- Aug. 1894) : Actes et Compte Rendu : Mitteilungen der naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Bern, 1894. Frotn the Society. L' Academie Imperiale des Sciences de St. Petersbourg — Bulletin. T. xxxii. Nos. 1 and 4 (1887 and 1888); Nouvelle Serie iii. (xxxv.) Nos. 1-4 (1892-94) : Memoires. vii^ S<^r. T. xxxviii. Nos 9-14 (1892); T. xxxix. No. 1 (1891); T. xl. No. 1 (1892); T. xli. Nos. 1-7 (1892-93); T. xlii. Nos. 1, 3-9 and 10 (1894). From the Academy. Four Excerpts from the " Report of the Horn Expedition to Central Australia. Part iii." — [Phj^sical Geography, General Geology, Palteontology, Botany]. From Prof. R Tate, F L.S. Australasian Journal of Pharmacy. Vol. xi. No. 125 (May, 1896). From the Editor. L' Academie Royale des Sciences et des Lettres de Danemark, Copenhague — Bulletin, 1896. No. 2. From the Academy. DONATIONS. 93 Societe Royale Linneenne de Bruxelles — Bulletin. 21™''. Annee. No. 6 (April, 1896). Fro-m the Society. Department of Agriculture, Sydney— Agricultural Gazette. Vol. vii. Part 4 (April, 1896). Frovi the Hon. the Minister for Mines and Agriculture. Societe Imperiale Mineralogique, St. Petersbourg — Verhand- lungen. Zweite Serie. xxxiii. Band, i. Lief. (1895). From the Society. American Naturalist. Vol. xxx. No. 352 (April, 1896). From the Editors. Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. — Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Vol. xxix. No. 1. From the Curator. Societe Scientifique du Chili— Actes. T. v. (1895) P«., 2.""' et 3™''. Liv.s. From the Society. Canadian Institute — Transactions. Vol. iv. Part 2 (Dec, 1895): Archaeological Report, 1894-95: Inaugural Address (Nov., 1894). By J. M. Clark, M.A., LL.B. From the Institute. American Museum of Natural History, New York. — Bulletin. Vol. viii. (1896). Sig. 3-4 (pp. 33-64). From the Museum. Konink. Natuurk. Vereeniging in Nederl. Indie — Tijdschrift. Deel Iv. (1896): Supplement-Catalogus (1883-93) der Biblio- theek. From the Society. 94 OBSERVATIONS ON PERIPATUS. By Thos. Steel, F.C.S. The following remarks refer entirely to the ordinary New- South Wales Peripaius, the form for which the name P. Leuckarti, var. orientalis has been proposed by Mr. Fletcher.* For some years past I have taken a good deal of interest in this creature amongst other of the cryptozoic fauna of Australia; and having had numerous living specimens of all ages under constant observation in vivaria during a continuous period of over a year, I have thought that my observations would be of interest to naturalists. In the course of a number of visits to the Moss Vale district during the summer of 1894-5, and again in 1895-6, 1 was success- ful in collecting a considerable number of specimens. The most remarkable feature about my collection, apart from the unusually large number of individuals of both sexes secured, is the very interesting range of colour variation which it illustrates. It is not my intention to enter into any details regarding classification or structure, but to give a statement of such facts in connection with the habits and life-history of the creature as I have observed ; together with a few details of the individual range of colour, and the relative proportions of the sexes in the specimens collected. The summer of 1894-5 was remarkable, in the district above mentioned, for the abundance of various cryptozoic forms of life, particularly land Planarians, and the conditions seem to have been peculiarly favourable for Peripatus, judging by the number of individuals which I observed. The total number of adults which I collected in the Moss Vale district during that summer was 579, of which 390 were • P.L.S. N.S.W. (2 Ser.) Vol. x. 186. BY THOS. STEEL. 95 females and 189 males; that is 67 per cent, of the former and 33 per cent, of the latter. Besides these a large number of young, ranging from newly born upwards, were noticed. The summer of 1895-6 having been preceded by a prolonged spell of very dry weather, the organisms mentioned were found to be very scarce. Where in the previous summer I found hun- dreds of land Planarians, only scattered individuals of the more hardy and common species were to be met with, and it was only by diligent searching over a somewhat wide area that I was able to secure a very moderate number of Peripati. Particular spots which I specially remembei'ed as being where I met with plenty of specimens in 1894-5, in 1895-6 I found to be quite deserted or only very sparingly populated by Peripatus, while the other usual forms of life — with the exception of ants and termites, which seem to flourish under any conditions— were equally scarce in proportion. This collection, though a good deal smaller, contained much the same relative proportions of males and females, and a similar range of colour variation, as that made in 1894-5. When collecting in 1894-5, whenever I saw young Peripati under logs I made it a rule to replace them in the position in which I had found them; and as I noted numbers of these logs I was able to examine them again in 1895-6. In many cases where I had left large numbers of young of various ages I found on my second visit not a trace of any, and in others only a few. My friend, Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., informs me that in Victoria, where the summer of 1895-6 was similar to that experienced in New South Wales, he found the land Planarians exceedingly scarce, and in some cases altogether absent, in districts such as Fern Tree Gully, which are known to be usually prolific in these forms of life. Such dry conditions, and the attendant "bush fires," must cause an enormous mortality amongst these lowly creatures, and it is greatly to be desired that as much information about them as is possible should be gained, as many local forms are certain to be now rapidly approaching extermination. 96 OBSERVATIONS ON PERIPATUS, In the favourable summer of 1894-5, the individual adult Peripati ranged very much larger in size than was the case in 1895-6. The dry conditions of the latter period appeared to have stunted the growth of the creature. In 1894-5 large numbers of females were H inches in length when crawling, not counting the antennae, and the males 1 inch; while in 1895-6 the longest female seldom exceeded 1 inch and males aljout | inch. These are the dimensions when crawling naturally, and not when stretched to the fullest extent. What became of the large sized individuals of 1894-5, I cannot say. They may have perished, or could they have shrunk in size as a result of the unfavourable conditions 1 Whatever may be the cause, their absence was very marked. In his account of the Mammalia of the Horn Exj^edition,* Professor Spencer gives exceedingly interesting information on the effect of the prolonged spells of arid conditions on the bodily development of some of the mammals of that region; and of the remarkable manner in which, on the other hand, they respond to the more favourable state of matters when a wet period inter- venes. A somewhat analogous series of observations is quoted in Nature from The Entomologist,^ in which Standfuss, of Zurich, has investigated the effect on the dimensions, and on the patterns and colours of the wings of certain butterflies; of the sub- jection of the eggs, larvae and pupse to various periods of exposure to different conditions of heat, cold, and moisture. Amongst other results arrived at was this, that the effect of abnormal heat on the larva was to hasten the development, but to cause a notable reduction in the size of the wings. A very noticeable peculiarity was the intensely local nature of Peripatus. Considerable numbers would be met with in a very restricted area, and without any apparent cause none at all, or very few, would be found on precisely similar ground adjoining. * Account of the Horn Expedition to Central Australia, Part 2, 1896. t "Nature," Vol. liii., 540, April, 1896. BY TIIOS. STKEL. 97 After a little experience I got to know tlie likely-looking parts, and even the most promising logs under which to search. All the specimens were underneath logs, either on the ground or on the undersurface of the Jog, and in the cracks and crannies in the soil beneath the logs. Small easily rolled logs yield the best results for Peripatus as well as for land Planarians and the other creatures that live under them; large heavy ones lie too hard and close to the ground, and do not give the necessai-y room underneath. The colours of the individuals were exceedingl}'- variable. Adopting a similar method of comparison to that used by Mr. Fletcher* in his description of the collection made by Mr. Helms at Mt. Kosciusko, my specimens very naturally divide themselves into four groups : — a. Black or blue-black, b. Black, sparingly speckled with rufous brown. c. Rufous bi-own with black antenn;^ and with or without visible scattered black spots or specklings. d. Entirely rufous brown or red, including the antennte, and without an}^ visible black. The relative numbers of individuals in each of these classes was : — a. Black or blue-black ... ... 77| per cent. h. Black, speckled with brown ... 6^ ,, ,, c. Brown, black antennae ... ... 10 ,, ,, d. Entirely brown ... ... ... 6 „ ,, In the Mt. Kosciusko collection the proportion of entirely black individuals is very much smaller than the above, amounting to only about 9 per cent, of the whole, the greater number being dark, sparingly speckled with brown. No specimens with antennae and body both entirely brown are mentioned, and indeed, judging from the published descriptions and my own experience, this particiilar form aj^pears to be much less common than the others. Such being the case, it may be well for me here to briefly describe those in my collection. To the naked eye or the microscope there is no trace of black visible. The lozenge-shaped pattern which has been so fully treated of b}'- * P.L.S. N.S.\Y. ('1 Ser.) Vol. v. 471. ^8 OBSERVATIONS ON PERIPATUS, Fletcher and Dendy, while quite distinct, is not nearly so boldly outlined as is commonly the case in P. oviparus, Dendy; it is marked out by alternate light and dark areas of skin, the pattern being entirely due to differences in intensity of the brown pigment. This form of Peripatus is exceedingly beautiful; it is a very striking object, and from its bright colour, much more conspicious than its black brethren. When a number of specimens of the brown form are put in spirit together, I have noticed that the latter acquires a distinct brown tinge, which would show that the colour pigment, like that of land Planarians, is to some extent soluble in alcohol. Most if not all of the specimens which to the eye or the pocket lens appear quite black, under the microscope present numerous scattered skin papillae and minute patches of the skin of a brown colour. The antennte appear to be the last part to lose the black pigmentation or the fii'st to gain it, whichever the case may be. It very commonly happens that the entire body may be brown and the antennae alone black, and I have not observed a specimen having entirely brown antennae which had black on any part of the body. This recalls to my mind a matter in connection with dogs which I have noticed for many years, that they invarialjly have the tip W^ 106 DESCRIPTION'S OF NEW AUSTRALIAN FUNGI. Sporules hyaline, cylindrical, rounded at both ends, on short straight hyaline stalk, with 3 guttules, one at each end and another central or eccentric, 4 x 1 /n. On living leaves of Notelma longifolia, Vent., in October. New ►South Wales (J. H. Maiden). Before the sporules are expelled a yellow plug of matter is extruded, and then the sporules imbedded in a glairy substance. EXPLANATION OF PLATES. Plate X. Meliolafimerea, n.sp. Fig. \. — Portion of upper and under surface of leaf, showing spots and blotclies (nat. size). Fig. 2. — a, bristle (x 115); A, portion of bristle showing septum ( x 600). Fig. 3. — Peritheciuni split and unsplit (.352 fJ- and 310 /x in diameter), with stiff pointed bristles ( x 65). Fig. 4. — Asci with sporidia ( x 600). The sporidia were still pale iu colour, and comparatively thin-walled. Fig. 5. — Asci with sporidia ( x 26-5). a, four sporidia dark brown ia colour; h, pale yellow; c, greyish; d, c, hyaline. Fig. 6. — Two groups of four fully dev'eloped sporidia ( x 265). Cyathns plii-nihagineus, n.sp. Fig. 7. — Peridium (nat. size). Fig. 8. — Section of wall of peridium ( x G5). Fig. 9.— Portion of middle layer of wall ( x 600). Fig. 10. — Sporangia (enlarged). Fig. 11. — Section of sporangium (enlarged). Fig. 12.— Spores ( x 600). Plate XI. Phoma stenoi^pora, n.sp. Fig. 13. — Upper surface of leaf with perithecia (nat. size). Fi;;. 14. — Perithecium with projecting yellow matter ( x 115). Fig. J5.— Sporules ( X 1000). 107 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF ASTRA LIUM FROM KEW BRITAIN. Bv Chakles Hedley, F.L.S., and Arthur Willey, D.Sc. (Plate XII.) The following species was dredged up by one of us in Talili Bay, off the north-east coast of the Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain, in 30-40 fathoms on a shelly floor, in company with species of Xenophoruft, EaneUa, Oniscia, Pleurotoma, Fusus, Nassa, Conus, acked up by a definite ridge on the outer surface of the shell as is the case with normal digitations. The third specimen, from New Guinea (Fig. 3), presented a rather puzzling aspect. The intercalated digitation had a doul)le character, and was not backed up by a prominent ridge on the outer surface. It appeared to have had a distinctly later origin than in the other two cases. Two furrows proceeded from it to the mouth of the shell, one being independent and the other produced by a bifurcation of the furrow belonging to the second normal digitation. The constancy in the position of the above described rudi- mentary intercalated digitation in P. lamhis should be emphasized. 112 VARIATION IN THE SHELL OF PTEROCERA LAMBIS, LINN. It can be identified, I think, with absolute certainty, with one of the digitations of P. miUepeda, Linn., namely, the fourth. I obtained four specimens of P. miUepeda, which has nine labial digitations, from New Guinea. In two of these the fourth digitation was markedly smaller than any of the others, while agreeing in position with that above described in P. lambis. In fact, in 7-*. millejyeda the intercalated digitations are obviously the second and fourth, and probably the seventh. It may also be remembered as indicating the significance of the appearance, by variation, of an extra digitation in P. lambis, that in P. elongata, Swainson, there are eight labial digitations, in P. tnolacea, Swainson, ten, and in P. chirayra, Linn., five. EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES. Fig. 1.— The canals leading into the tubular digitations are still open, the deposition of callus having only commenced. Figs. 2 and 3. —The canals are closed up by callus, their previous existence being indicated by shallow furi'ows. i.d., intercalated digitation. The shell represented in Fig. 1 was the same in which the apex of the spire was imbedded in the posterior digitation as mentioned in the text. P.t.S N.S.W. 18 96 \ .Pmx. p.Pmx a'.l.c. p.Pm,> np.c. p.Pmx n.p.c R-B. del. P.L.S-N.SW. 1896. PI. II. P.L.S.N.S.W. 189 6. PI. III. P.L.SN.S.W. 18 96, Pt.lV. 'L.SN3W 18.9 6. PLS 11 S.W 1396 Pl.Vi, X^^^^. .■/' ^4a-bii,>ts-;_^->gf 31/ - ff.fi. jie/ 3d nat P L.S IN !r.V^. 1896. ^^ -:or Baldioiit Spencer, M.A. University of Sydney — Calendar, 1896. From tlie Senate. L' Academic ' Royale des Sciences, Stockholm — Oefversigt. Iii. Argangen (1895). From the Acri'/emy. Victorian Naturalist. Vol. xiii. No. 2 (May, 1896). From the Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria. Birmingham Natural History and Philosophical Society — Proceedings. Vol. ix. Part ii (1895). From the Society. Hooker's Icones Plantarum. Fourth Series. Vol v. Part iii. (May 1896). From the Bentham Trustees. Societe Royale de Geographic d' An vers — Bulletin. Tome xx. 4""^ Fascicule (1896). From the Society. Department of Agriculture, Sydney — Agricultural Gazette. Vol. vii. Part 5 (May, 1896) From the Hon the Minister for Mines and Agriculture. Museo di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata della R. Universita di Torino— Bollettino. Vol. xi. Nos. 227-242 (Feb.-May, 1896). From the Museum. Royal Society of New South Wales — Journal and Proceedings. Vol. xxix. (1895). From the Society. Australasian Journal of Pharmacy. Vol. xi. No. 126 (June, 1896). Fruin the Editor. DONATIONS. 117 Natural History Society of Montreal — Canadian Record of Science. Vol. vi. Nos. 3-7 (1894-95). From the Socie/i/. Department of Agriculture, Brisbane — Botany Bulletin. No. xiii. (April, 1896). From the Government Botanist. Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, Cam- bridge, Mass. — Bulletin. Vol. xxix. No. 2 (March, 1896). From the Director. American Naturalist. Vol. xxx. No. 353 (May, 1896). From the Editors. American Museum of Natural History, New York — -Bulletin. Vol. viii. Sig. 5 (pp 65-80— April, 1896). From the Museum. 118 A NEW FAMILY OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES. By J. Do CO LAS Ogilby. The family, of which the following diagnosis is given, is in- tended to accommodate those forms of percesocoid fishes in which, among other characters which separate them from the Sphyrcb- nidcB and Atherinidcc, the first dorsal fin is composed of a single pungent and two or more flexible, unarticulated rays, and by the position of the anal fin, which is more elongated and advanced than in the typical Atherinids, and which on account of its anterior insertion pushes forward the position of the anal orifice and of the ventral fins so far that the latter become thoracic, and the family thus makes a distinct advance towards the moi'e typical Acanthopterygians. To Prof Kner and Dr. Steindachner, and suljsequently to Count Castelnau, the claim of these little fishes to rank as a dis- tinct family has commended itself. Prof. Kner, in 1865, alluded to the expedienc}'^ of forming a family, Pseudomugilidce, for the reception of certain small fishes, alleged to have been obtained by the collectors of the Novara Expedition at Sydney, and to which he gave the name of Fseudomugil signifer; he, howe^'er, gave no definition of the proposed family, though during the following year he, in conjunction with Dr. Steindachner, again makes incidental mention of the family while describing a closely allied genus, Strabo; these authors also neglect to formulate a diagnosis. In 1873, Count Castelnau, after describing as new a genus which he named ZantecJa, notices the differences in "its characters from all the families established till now," he being doubtless unaware of the previous discoveries of Drs. Kner and Stein- dachner; this author also places his genus "near the, Atherinidoe,^^ and considers that it " will be the type of a new family, which might be called Zanteclidce." In the previous year the same author, after diagnosing a new genus as Atherinosoma, had suggested that it might prove necessary to form a new family for BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 119 its reception, and again in 1875, having formulated yet another new genus under the name of Neoatiwrina, he returns to the sub- ject and proposes "forming on it a family to be called Xeoatheri- nidce,^^ which was also to contain the genus Atherinosoma. We have, therefore, already three diflferent families — Pseudo- mugilidce, Zanteclidfe, and Neoatherinidoi — proposed for the reception of different genera of these fishes, for not one of which has any diagnosis been even attempted. To prevent confusion with these older undefined names, it has appeared advisable to me to suggest a new name for the family, though for reasons which I give below I am constrained to make that genus typical, which from its slight specialization is the least suitable; nevertheless, since Dr. Gill has already formulated for certain of these fishes a subfamily of the AtherinidcB under the name Jlelanokeniince, I do not feel justified in proposing to change his name for the more suitable one of Rhombatractidie. There are several cogent reasons which point to this course as being the most fitting to pursue under the circumstances. Taking Castelnau's proposed families first : — The use of Zanteclidm is precluded, its typical genus Zantecla being synonymous with and of later date than Mekmokenia, and therefore inadmissible; while JVeoatherinidcp, as well as being the last suggested name and belonging to a less distinctly specialized genus, is formed on a bastard title, the employment of which should be as much as possible deprecated, at any rate so far as the names of families are concerned: besides which it labours under the disaljility of having been associated by its author with a genus which undoubtedly belongs to the Atherinidce proper. My choice, therefore, is restricted to the use of PseudonmgdidcH — the only one of the three proposed names which in the author's opinion, is entitled to consideration — or to the substitution of Melanotceniidfe, and I believe that I am consulting the best interests of science by taking the latter course, for the following reasons : — Pseudo^nugif idee— a,]so a bastard name, and therefore open to the same objection as jVeoatherinidce — is misleading, since the 120 A NEW FAMILY OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, genera which are here segregated have little in common with the true Mugilids, but form conjointly a connecting link between the percesocoid and acanthopterygian types; furthermore, Pseudomuffif is a small and obscure form, not ranking either in distribution or importance with Melanotmnia or Rhombatr actus. I shall now proceed to give a diagnosis of the family, in which I include five genera — Neoatherina, Pseudomugil, Rhomb" tractns, Aida, and Melanotcenia — which form a very natural group, characterised by the structure of the tirst dorsal fin, the advanced position of the ventrals, &c. The metropolis of the family appears to be in north-eastern Australia, where no less than four of the genera have their home; thence it has spread northwards into the rivers of south-eastern New Guinea, westwards to Port Darwin and the Victoria River, south-westwards into the central districts of South Australia, and on, in the aberrant Neoatherina, to Swan River, and finally south- ward to the Richmond and Clarence Rivers District of New South Wales, and perhaps even as far as the Nepean watershed. Melanot^niid^. Pseudomugilidoi, Kner, Voy. Novara, Fische, p. 275, 1865 {no definition). Pseudomugilidce, Kner & Steindachner, Sitzb. Ak. Wiss. "VVien, liv. 1866, p. 372 {no definition). Zanteclidce, Castelnau, Proc. Zool. & Acclimat. Soc. Vict. ii. 1873, p. 88 (wo definition). Neoatherinidce, Castelnau, Res. Fish. Austr. p. 32, 1875 (no definition). Melanokeniinoe, Gill, American Naturalist, 1894, p. 708. Body rhombofusiform to elongate-oblong, more or less com- pressed. Mouth moderate, terminal, oblique. Two nostrils on each side. Premaxillaries not protractile, forming the entire dentigerous margin of the upper jaw; maxillaries narrow. Gill-openings wide; gill-membranes separate, fi-ee from the isthmus; five or six BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 121 (seven 1) Iji'anchiostegalsj pseudobranchiaj present; gill-rakers short. Opercular bones entire; preopercle with a double ridge. Jaws and vomer toothed; palate with or without teeth; tongue smooth. Two separate dorsal tins; the first with a strong, acute spinous ray anteriorly, followed by two or more flexible, often elongate, unarticulated rays; the second with a similar strong spinous and several articulated and branched rays: anal similar to but more developed than the second dorsal : veritrals separate, thoracic, with one spinous and five soft rays: pectorals w^ell developed, rounded: caudal emarginate, the peduncle stout. Body entirely scaly, the scales cycloid or ciliated, smooth; cheeks and opercles scaly; uo scaly sheath to the vertical fins; no scaly process at the base of the ventrals; lateral line inconspicuous or absent. Air-vessel present, simple. Pyloric appendages wanting. Small fishes from the fresh and brackish waters of tropical and subtropical Australia and southern New Guinea. As indicated on a pi'evious page I propose to associate in this group five genera, the diagnoses of which, so far as the scanty material available to me permits, will be found below, but unfortunately, from lack of specimens, I have not been in a position to personally examine any of these genera except Rhom- batractus, of which a detailed description is given, the principal characters of the remaining genera being taken from the works of their respective authors. JSTeoatherina. N'eoath'irliia, Castelnau, Res. Fish. Austr. p. 31, 1875, Body subelongate, compressed, with the anterior portion of the back convex; snout pointed, rather projecting; mouth moderate and oblique, the upper jaw the longer. Teeth rather strong, in two series in the upper jaw, long and blunt anteriorly, triangular laterally; in the lower they are veiy numerous, in pavement form, with an external row of enlarged conical ones; anterior teeth in both jaws directed forwards; palate with several transverse series 122 A NEW FAMILY OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, of strong teeth.* Two dorsal fins, well separated; the first formed of one rather long spine and of four much longer filamentary rays; the second dorsal long, composed of one spine and eleven rays : anal fin long, with one spine and seventeen strong, spine- like rays : ventral s inserted far behind the base of the pectorals, and very little in advance of the insertion of the first dorsal, with one spine and sixf elongate rays : pectorals small, with twelve rays : caudal forked. Scales large, ciliated; cheeks and opercles scaly; lateral line indistinct. Etymology : — vf'os, new; Atherlna. Type : — Neoatlierina australis, Castelnau, 1 c. p. 32. Distribution : — Swan River, West Australia. In the increased number of the ventral rays (if correct), the ciliation of the scales and the character of the dentition JS^eoatherina diflfers from all the other Melanotaeniids, while it approaches Pseudomugil in the presence of a lateral line; its afhnity, however, to the melanoti^enioid rather than to the atherinoid forms is shown in one character, incidentally alluded to by Castelnau in the following terms : — " The small specimen has a more elongate form; the upper profile being much less convex . . " This character was passed over as of little or no value by that author, probably because he was unaware of the sexual differences in form which are so strongly marked in his Aristeus (= Ukomba- tractus), but, in my opinion, it is significant of the systematic position of the genus, which, from the more backward insertion of the ventral fins, some authors might be inclined to retain among the true Atherinids. * It is probable that, either through insufficient knowledge of the lan- guage or carelessness on the part of the author, there is some error in this sentence; either " vomer " should be substituted for "palate," or "longi- tudinal " for " transverse," probably the former. t If this character be correct it is unique in the Percesocids. BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 123 PsEUDOMUniL, Pt<. BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 133 Suborder— S Y X E N T 0 G N A T H I. * Suborder— P E R C E S 0 C E S. Family — M u G i l i d ^. „ A T H E R I N I D iE. „ S P H Y R ^ N I D ^. „ M E L A X O T JE N I I D ^. Suborder— A C A N T H 0 P T E R Y G 1 1. Appended is a list of the Melanotfqniids described up to the present time : — 1. Neoatherina attstralis, Castelnau, Res. Fish. Austr. p. 32, ' 1.875. Swan River, West Australia. 2. Pseudomiif/il signrfer, Kner, Voy. Novara, Fische, p. 275, 1865. Sydney, New South Wales. 3. F. signata; = Atheriua signata, Giinther, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) XX. 1867, p. 64. Cape York, Queensland. 4. Rhomhahxicfii.s fitzroyensis; = Aristeus fitzroyerisis,C&?,te\ndi\x, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, iii. 1878, p. 141. Fitzroy River, Queensland. 5. R. Jlnviatilix: = Aristens ^uviatilis, Castelnau, \.c. Murrum- bidgee River, New South Wales. 6. E. ruf'tisceax; = Aristeus rufeawns, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, v. 1880, p. 625 [1881]. Rivers of Northern Queensland. 7. R. linentus. = Aristeus lineaius, Macleay, I.e. p, 626. Rich- mond River, New South Wales. 8. R. cavifrons: = Aristeus cavifrons, Macleay, I.e. vii. 1882, p. 70. Palmer River, Queensland. * Possiblj' the Lopliobrane-hiate fishes shouhl intervene between the Hemirrhamphids and the Percesocids. 134 A NEW FAMILY OF AUSTHALIAN FISHES, 9. R. (foldiei;- Ansteus goldiei, Macleay, I.e. viii. 1883, p. 269. Goldie River, New Guinea. 10. R. ;jer/(erosi«.N'; = Aristeus perperosas, De Vis, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, ix. 1884, p. 694. 11. R. nova:-(,i(iiir'a; = Aeviotvceiitris 7to'ta-(jvri,f(f^, Ramsay A: Ogilby, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales (2) i. 1886, p.. 13. Strickland River, ISTew Guinea. 12. A', ruhrostriatus; = JVaiun'ocetUris nibiostriatus, Ramsay & Osilbv, I.e. p. 14. Strickland River, New Guinea. 13. R. loriw; = Aristeus loria-, Perugia, Ann. Mus. Genov. (2) xiv. 1894, p. 549. 14. R. tatei; - N em.atoceniris tatui, Zietz, Rep. Horn Exped. Centr. Austr. Zool. p. 178, f. 2, 1896. Finke River, South Australia. 15. R. tvinnackei; = JVeinaiocentris wirmeck'-i, Zietz, I.e. p. 179, f. 3. Finke River, South Australia. 16. Aida mornata, Castelnau, Res. Fish. Austr. p. 10, 1875. Gulf of Carpentaria. 17. Melaaokenia nigrans; = Atherina niyraiis, Richardson, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. xi. 1843, p. 180. Rivers of North Australia. As before remarked ip. 131) the same species may range nearly as far southward as Sydne}-, but much confusion exists as to the members of this genus. Dr. Giinther apparently is content to consider the four species identical, but I think that any such conclusion, based on the small material available to him, is hasty, and that judging by analogy with the allied genus Hhomha- tractus, the distribution of which is also wide but the species of wMch are known to be numerous, it is unwise to unite in one species all the black-banded forms from widely separated parts of the continent. 18. M. spleiiiiida; = N'miatoceutris' splmaiida, Peters, Monatsb. Ak. W^iss. Berlin, 1866, p. 516. Fitzroy River, Queensland. BY .J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 135 19. M. uKjvo fascia ta; = Strabo nigrofascialus, Kner cfe Steiii- dachner, Sitzb. Ak. Wiss. Wien, liv. 1866, pp. 373, 395, pi. iii. f. 10, [1867], and Iv. 1867, p. 16. Brisbane and Fitzroy Rivers, Queensland. 20 J/, pusil/a; =-- Zantecla piisilla, Castelnau, Proc Zool. &■ Acclimat. Soc. Vict. 1873, ii. p. 88. Port Darwin, North- West Australia. In the above list I have made no attempt to indicate the degree of affinity between any of these species, but it is generally con- ceded that Atherina sigiiiUa, Giinther, is identical with Pseiido- mtu/il siynifer, and that Neinatocentris apleadida, Peters, and Strabo mgrotascialus, Kner & Steindachner, cannot be separated specifically from Melanotcenia iiigrans: Zantecla pusili a, Castelnau, is a good species in my opinion. It is, however, improbable that all the twelve described species of Rliombatractus are tenable, but I trust soon to be in a position, with the cooperation of other scientific societies and of individual students, to publish in this Journal a monograph of the family with original descriptions of all the species. 136 DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES. By J. Douglas Ogilby. Macrurrhynchus, gen.nov. Body elongate, compressed; head moderate, the snout somewhat pointed, conical, deejD, projecting, convex above; mouth small, prominent, subinferior, with transverse cleft; lips thin; denti- gerous portion of the upper jaw slightly curved, of the lower semicircular; cleft of mouth extending to beneath the middle of the eye; nostrils superior, the anterior pair rather close together, about as far from the eye as from the tip of the snout; the posterior pair more widely separated, midway between the eye and the anterior nostril; no nasal nor orbital tentacles; eyes lateral; interorbital region moderate and Hat. Gill-openings reduced to a small foramen in front of the upper angle of the base of the pectoral. Teeth in a single series in both jaws, fixed, those of the upper well deA^eloped, laterally compressed, of rather unequal length; with the tij)s truncated and slightly bent back- wards; of the lower smaller, more slender and crowded, and of equal length; upper jaw without, lower with an enormously developed tusk-like canine at the outer extremities of the series and fitting into a sheath in the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. One dorsal fin, with the outer border entire, with xii 30 rays, the spines flexible, the spinous portion about half as long as the soft, all the rays of which are unbranched, the membrane of the last ray not extending to the caudal fin: anal fin originating beneath the commencement of the soft portion of the dorsal, with 30 soft raj's, the tips of which are but slightly inspissate and free: \entrals in contact at their bases, inserted in advance of the base of the pectorals, with i 3 rays: pectorals small and rounded, with 12 equally developed simple rays: caudal emarginate, with the middle ray somewhat thickened. No trace of a lateral line. BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 137 E t y m o 1 o g y : — Macrurii>>; puyYos-, snout; in allusion to the form of the snout, which bears a marked resemblance to that of many of the Jlfncntridce, such for example as Coe'orhynchns austmlis. D i s t r i b u t i o n : — Western Pacific. I would gladl}' have given to this genus the name Aspiduntus of G. Cuyier, but that I am unaware whether any diagnosis of that genus was ever j)ublished. Dr. Giinther apparently did not know of any such definition, and merely quotes Quoy &■ Gaimard for the name, making it synonymous with Riippell's Petroscirles. Macrurrhynchus maroubr.e, sp.nov. D. xii 30. A. 30. Body of nearly equal depth throughout. Length of head 4|, depth of body 6|- in the total length; depth of head If, width of head 2, of the flat interorbital region 3|, diameter of the eye 4 in the length of the head; snout projecting, macruriform, with the profile convex, as long as the eye, the lower surface linear and oblique, as long as the upper. The posterior angle of the mouth extends to the vertical from the middle of the eye, the naked portion of the retangular cleft on each side as long as the entire dentigerous portion and 4-i- in the length of the head. Dorsal fin commencing immediately behind the posterior border of the preopercle, the distance between its origin and the extremity of the snout being five-sixths of the length of the head; the rays are of about the same length throughout, the middle ones being a little the longer, 2|- in the length of the head: the anal originates a little behind the vertical from the last spinous ray of the dorsal and is consideraljly lower than that fin: the ventralsare composed of slender rays, three-sevenths of the length of the head: the pectoral fins are small, rounded, and symmetrical, their length five-eighths of that of the head: caudal fin small, slightly and evenly emarginate, 6^ in the total length, its peduncle short and stout, with a dejDth of a half of that of the body. 13S TWO NEW GENBHA AND SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, Back olive green, lower half of the sides and the abdominal region silvery white washed with rose-colour; these tints are sharply defined, but from the lower border of the green numejfous short vertical bars, as wide as the interspaces, extending down- wards encroach on the sides; a narrow bright blue stripe extends backwards from the snout, above and in contact with the eye, along the side almost as far as the base of the caudal fin, about equally dividing the darker ground colour; they meet on the upper li^D, where also they connect with a similar band which traverses the side of the snout, immediately below the rostral ridge, and is continued backwards below the eye to the opercles; a third stripe runs along the median line of the head to the dorsal where it is liroadly forked, the branches being short; extremity of the snout orange on the lower surface; dorsal and anal fins silvery, with several broad dark vertical bands composed of numerous, closely set, blackish dots, and with a narrow marginal band of the same; ventral, pectoral, and caudal tins uniform grayish silvery, the latter with a dark band formed like those of the dorsal along the middle ray. A single specimen was washed ashore during the month of May, on the beach at Maroubra, and was secured by Mr. White- legge, by whom it was presonted to the Australian Museum; its length is 52 millimeters. Fetroscirtes tapeinosonia, Bleeker, and /''. rldnorhynchus, Bleeker (Giinther, Fische d. Sudsee, p. 195, pi. cxv. d. it e.), would belong to this genus, as well as Axpi'loiit^is Ueniatus, Quoy & Gaimard (Voy. Astrolabe, Poiss. p. 719, pi. xix. f. 4). Dermatopsis, gen.nov. Body elongate and compressed, especially behind; head moderate, the snout short and blunt; mouth anterior and rather wide, with moderate cleft. Premaxillaries slightly protractile, forming the entire dentigerous j^ortion of the upper jaw; maxillary narrow in front, greatly expanded behind, extending backwards well behind the eye; anterior border of the expanded portion bent downwards BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. ] 39 behind the premaxillary so as to form a strong, compressed, odontoid process. Nostrils lateral, widely separated, the anterior pair smaller than the posterior, surrounded by a skinny, vesicular lip. Eyes small and lateral, completely covered by similar skin. Opercles covered by a continuous skin; opercle with two strong spines, the upper of which pierces the skin. Gill-openings of modei'ate width, extending forwards to below the posterior border of thepreopercle; isthmus wide; seven branchiostegals; nopseudo- branchiie, gill-rakers reduced to small, serrulate tubercles. Upper jaw with a band of villiform teeth and a single small, curved, canine-like tooth on each side of the symphysis; lower jaw with a narrow band of villiform teeth anteriorly, the inner series much enlarged and continued backwards along the sides in the form of a I'ow of widely separated, curved, canine-like teeth; vomer with an angular series of small, acute, conical teeth, the posterior tooth on each side greatly enlarged; palatine teeth in a triangular patch anteriorly, small and conical, with a single central and thi'ee posterior basal enlarged ones; pterygoids and tongue smooth. Anterior dorsal fin represented by a single spinous tubercle which does not pierce the skin; dorsal and anal fins low, separated from the caudal by a distinct interspace: ventral fins close together, inserted behind the isthmus, reduced to a slender filament, which is composed of two intimately connected rays: pectorals modera- tely developed, pointed, composed of twenty slender branched rays: tail diphy cereal, the caudal fin narrow and pointed. Scales small, deeply embedded, widely separated; head, except the snout, with scattered scales; vertical fins for the most part covered with skin, which is scaly like the body. A series ot large pores along the outer border of the snout and preorbital, and a pair of similar pores at the angle of the preopercle; lateral line inconspicuous. Etymology : — 8epfj.a, skin; o\j/ls, eye. Distribution: — Coast of New South Wales. Apparently the dorsal tubercle represents the rudiments of a first dorsal fin, and its presence would, therefore, necessitate the removal of the genus from the Brotulidce to the Gadidce, a course 140 TWO XEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, which I am very unwilKng to take since in all other chai-acters it is a true Brotulid; in fact its affinity to Dineinatichthys is so close that its disassociation with that genus would be out of the question, the dentition and the form of the maxillary being the only pi'ominent external differential characters. I have not had access to Dr. Bleeker's j^aper diagnostic of Dinematichtliy^, and am, therefore, unaware as to whether or not he notices any such rudimentary first dorsal in that genus; certainly no other authors, such as Drs. Ayres, Giinther, Gill, and Jordan, who have made personal examinations of the various species, have mentioned it. It would be interesting if some scientist, possessed of a series of that genus, were to investigate the matter with a view to detecting the existence of the same structure in iJnicinatichthy^, since, should it be so discovered, the two genera would, I presume, have to be removed from the BruiuJidce, or at least one of the structural characters which separate that family from the Gadilcc. would have to be modified. Pei'haps Dr Joixlan would examine one of his examples of Dineniatichtlt.ys ventralis, and let us know whether any such rudiment is present. • Dermatopsis macrodon, si^.nov. D. 78. A. 52. Body elongate and compressed; the tail very strongly so, its posterior portion tseniiform. Head moderate, with the cheeks and opercles rather swollen, its length 4|^, the depth of the body 6| in the total length; depth of the head 1|, width of the head ly, of the interorbital region 5|, diameter of the eye 7 in the length of the head; snout blunt, its profile linear and slightly oblique, covered with a loose skin, three-fourths of a diameter longer than the eye; interorbital region convex, the supraciliary bones slightly prominent. Mouth rather large, its cleft extending to the vertical from the middle of the eye; the premaxillaries are very little protractile and form the entire dentigerous surface of the upper jaw; they are moderately broad anteriorly, but are slender and rod-like on the sides; maxillary narrow in front, greatly expanded behind, its lower border curved downwards and BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 141 forwaixls so as to form a strong, compressed, tooth-like process, into the curved base of which the rounded distal extremity of the premaxillary fits; behind this process the maxillary bone forms a gentle and even arc, of equal width throughout, the extremity rounded and directed slightly upwards; the maxillary extends to about one diameter behind the eye, and its length from tip to tip is 14 in that of the head; the lower jaw is a little shorter than the upper, and is provided with an inferior low skinny flap, which extends entirely across its anterior border and is pectinated at the edge; the mandibular bone reaches as far back as the maxillary, along the inner surface of which it lies. The anterior nostrils are small and circular, and are situated rather close together on the edge of the maxillary and directly in front of the posterior pair, which is much larger and subtriangular, and opens immediately in advance of the eye; both are surrounded by a loose, skinny, vesicular lip, which entirely conceals the orifice. Eye very small, entirely covered by loose skin. Opercle with a pair of stout, sharp spines; the upper one running in a horizontal direction below its upper border; the lower rising from the same base is directed downwai'ds and a little backwards; both are entirely concealed beneath the loose skin, which is continuous across the gill-covers, with the exception of the extreme tip of the upper one which just pierces the skin. Twelve rudimentary, tubercular gill-rakers, each of them crowned with a few short acute serrai, on the lower branch of the anterior arch. The band of villiform teeth on the premaxillaries is broad in front, but rapidly decreases in width on the sides, about midway along which it ceases; on each side of the symphysis anteriorly is a small, acute, curved, canine-like tooth; the mandiljulary band is much narrower than that of the premaxillaries, and does not extend so far laterally; there are no enlarged teeth anteriorly at the symph3'sis, but the inner series is considerabl}^ enlarged, conical, and acute; the lateral dentition consists of seven (or more) very strong, widely separated, caniniform teeth, which are curved backwards and inwards, the largest teeth being about the middle of the series; there is an angular ridge on the head of the 142 TWO NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, vomer, which is armed with a single series of acute, conical, separated teeth, those at the apex and along the sides being of moderate size, while the posterior tooth on each limb is similar to the largest mandibulary teeth, and is directed Ixxckwards and slightly outwards; palatine teeth in an acutely triangular patch with the apex pointing forwards, and consisting of small, strong teeth, with a central and three basal enlarged and conical ones. The dorsal tubercle is situated immediately behind the base of the pectoral; it does not pierce the skin, but is distinctly perceptible to the finger-nail; the origin of the dorsal fin is above the middle of the pectoral, and rather more than a diameter of the eye behind the dorsal tubercle; its distance from the extremity of the snout is 3| in the total length; the rays are very slender and but little branched, of almost equal length throughout, those which are inserted somewhat behind the middle of the fin being a little the longest and about one-third of the length of the head: the anal originates beneath the commencement of the middle third of the dorsal, and is in all respects similar to that fin; the distance between its origin and the tip of the snout is as long as its distance from the base of the caudal fin: ventral inserted beneath the hinder margin of the preopercle, not quite so long, the pectoral half as long as the head: caudal fin truncate at the base, not quite as long as the pectoral, with thirteen rays. Reddish-brown, the upper surface of the head and the vertical fins rather darker; sides and lower surface of the head, the abdo- minal region, and the paired fins yellowish-brown. The single example from which the diagnosis is taken was picked up dead, but in a perfectly fresh condition, on the beach at Maroubra by Mr. Whitelegge in May last, after a heavy gale, and measures 80 millimeters. From the small size of the eyes, and the fact of their being protected by a complete covering of skin, one is led to infer that in its natural state this fish is accustomed to burrow in the sand or mud for purposes of concealment, or perhaps as a means of seeking food; a similar protective eyelid is present in heme. It is prol)ably an inhabitant of the littoral zone or, at most, of shallow water in the neighbourhood of the shore. 143 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES (FAM. GARABID.E . (revision of the AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS CIAVINA avitii the description of a new genus, clivin archus). By Thomas G. Sloane, The Clivi nicies form a division of the tribe Scarltini of world- wide distribution, but found most plentifully in the warmer por- tions of the globe: they are very plentiful in Australia. Following Dr. G. It. Horn's classification of the Carahidce, their j^osition will l)e as follows : — Family CARABID^. Sub-Family C A r a B i x ^e. Tribe Scaritini. The Scaritini may be divided into two main divisions thus:- — Mentnm broad and concealing at sides I'ase of maxillre Sairitide'^. Base of maxillas not covered by men turn C/iviuides. Clivinides. As represented in the Australian fauna, the Cliviniclfs com- prise the genera Dyscldrius, Clivina, Clivinarchns and Stega- nomma. For the present I have to pass over Steganomma which is founded on a unique species, S. pnrcnhun, Macl., in the Macleay Museum, Sydney; it is very closely allied to Cliviiui. For the purposes of the Australian fauna the genera Dysdiirius, Clivina and Clivivarchiis may l)e tabulated thus : — Prothorax globose Dy-Hch iriu^. Prothorax not globose. Mesosternal episterna strongly impressed on each side of peduncle C/iiiiia. Peduncle without lateral impressions C/iriinarJutx. 144 ox THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINILES, Genus Clivixa.* ScoJyptus, Vwiieja (in part) : Ceratoglossa, Macleay The following features of universal application in the genus CHvina are extracted fi-om Dr. Horn's definition of the tribe Scarilini.^ Eyes not distant from mouth. Head with two supra-orbital setaj Ligula small and prolonged, bisetose at tip, paraglossas slender. Palpi with penultimate joint bisetose in front. % Thorax with two lateral punctures. Body pedunculate, scutellum not visible between elytra Sides of elytra narrowly inflexed, margin entire. Metasternal epimera distinct. Posterior coxse contiguous. Legs stout, the anterior femora especially stout. To the unive^^sal characters given above I would add for the Australian species the following : — Labrum usualh' truncate ( sometimes the middle lightly advanced), gently declivous to anterior margin; five ; rarel}'^) or seven (nor- mally) setigerous punctures above anterior declivity — the lateral puncture on each side larger than the others and the seta rising from it longer than the other seta3 and erect (in species with only five settc the one next to the lateral is wanting'; anterior angles rounded, ciliate. Mentum emarginate with a wide median tooth. Clypeus with a seta on each side. Vertex with a ridge on each side above supra-orbital punctures (facial carina — " carene * Latreille, Consid. Geii. sur les Cr. et les Ins. + Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. i.v. ISSl, pp. 119, 120. X The following are Dr. Horn's words in reference to tbe palps of the ■Scaritini : — "Palpi muderate, terminal joint variable in form, shorter than penultimate (Scarites) equal or longer (Clivince), the penultimate bisetose in hont (GlU'huM ) plurisetose (Scaritefi).'" It is evident he only refers to the labial palps, but for all that the differences sought to be established cannot be maintained, for in his "group" Clivinoi some Aus- tralian species (e.g., C. planiceps, Putz. ) have the penultimate joint of the labial palps evidently longer than the terminal, and in Carenum too the relative proportions of these joints varies. BY THOMAS G. SLOANB. 145 oculaire " of Putzeys); a sulcus on inner side of each of the facial carinie (facial sulcus). Throat and temples normally rugulose; gular sutures wide apart; a short oblique ridge (gular cicatrix) extending inwards on each side of base of neck and dividing the gular and temporal regions. Prothorax and disc canaliculate, and normally with a transverse arcuate impression (anterior liuej near anterior margin; a deep channel along each lateral margin, its course terminated before the posterior marginal puncture by a slight upward curve of the border at posterior angle. Body winged Peduncle with a concavity on each side (normally punctate) to receive intermediate femora. Elytra normally with seven punctate striae and a lateral channel; third interstice with four foveiform punctures along course of third stria. Prosternum strongly bordered on anterior margin; the episterna normally overhanging on sides anteriorly — (the antennae pass under the overhanging part of the sides when in repose). Metasternal episterna — with epimera — normally elongate and narrowed pos- teriorly, rarely short. Ventral segments transversely sulcate. Intermediate tibiae with an acute spur on external side above apex, rarely at apex. The features given above are normally present in Australian species of Clivina, therefore little, and often no use has been made of them in the descriptions which follow; but in all cases where any variation from the normal form has been observed it has been noted (except in the case of differences of the gular and temporal regions of the head, the gular sutures, the gular cicatrix and the anterior margin of the labrum}, and where no allusion is made to any of the characters enumerated above in iny descriptions of specimens before me, it is to be assumed that the form is normal. The following characters seem to call for special notice, the more so because I have been compelled for the sake of descriptive exactness to adopt a new terminology for some features not hitherto used in diagnosing species of Clivina, and to vary some of the terms used by M. Putzeys for certain features. The head is longitudinally impressed on each side, the anterior part of each of these impressions usually forming a wide and 10 146 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIN1DE&, irregular depression of variable depth (frontal ■impressions); the seta found on each side of the clypeus is situated in the frontal impression, often the puncture from which it rises is lost in the rugosity of the impression : from the frontal impressions the facial sulci extend backwards on each side of the face, and in some species (e.g., C. ohliquata, Putz.) a short light internal impres- sion extends from the anterior part of the facial sulcus obliquely inwards and backwards on each side of the face — the facial sulci may then be said to be recurved (this is a feature of evident classificatory importance). The clypeus is large, usually not divided from the front between the frontal impressions; when it is so divided it is by a wide usually irregular impression. It is necessary for descriptive purposes to divide the clypeus into three areas, viz. — (1) The clypeal elevation ("elevation anterieure " of Putzeys) being the raised part of the clypeus between the frontal impressions — (reference is usually made by me only to the shape of the anterior margin of the clypeal elevation); (2) the median part ("epistome" of Putzeys) being the central part of the clypeus in front of the clypeal elevation (usually I refer to the anterior margin only as the median part); (3) the winys ("petites ailes" of Putzeys) being the lateral parts of the clypeus (usually a finely marked suture is noticeable between the wings of the clypeus and the supra-antennal plates). The form of the anterior margin of the clypeus varies greatly, these variations being important for grouping the species; among the Austi'alian species there are three well marked forms of the anterior margin of the clypeus, of one or other of which all different forms may be considered as merel}'^ modifications; these are :— (a) The median part projecting on each side beyond the wings, in which case it is angular, the lateral angles being more or less marked (e.g., C. angustula, Putz.). (b) The median part in no way separated fi^om the wings along the anterior margin (e.g., C. australasue, Bohem.). (c) The wings projecting strongly beyond the truncate median part (e.g., C. procera, Putz.). BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 147 The median part is often defined on each side from the wings by a ridge, more or less distinct (I have made but little use of this feature, though these ridges seem not without value for diagnostic purposes). Tlie s\cpra-antenncd platen ("grandes ailes " of Putzeys) are the "frontal plates" (Horn) of the head under which the antennae are inserted. The elytra have the striiu at the base either (a) all free, or [h) the four inner free, the fifth uniting with the sixth, or (c) the three inner free, the fourth uniting with the fifth at the base. These variations are of great classificatory importance and seem to offer the most i-eliable means of grouping the species into primary divisions. The first stria of the elytra rises in an ocellate punctui'e at the base, and in some species, especially the larger ones, the first and second striae unite at the base; some- times a short scutellar striole is very noticeable at the base of the first intei'stice (this is an important feature). The interstices vary, the eighth usually forming a narrow carina near the apex. A suhmarginal humeral carina is generally present at the humeral angles; when present it may vary in length and prominence and may be formed by the basal part of (a) the seventh interstice, (6) the eighth interstice, or (c) the seventh and eighth together. The position of the posterior puncture of the third interstice varies; but, though "useful when comparing specimens, I have not used it in my descriptions. The presternum may be divided into the pectoral part and the iatercoxal part: the point of union between these parts varying in width, five different degrees of width may be used; (a) very loide ( C. procera, Putz , &g.), (b) ivide (G. lepida, Putz., &c.), (c) narron- (C. australasice, Bohem., &c.), ('•/) very nari-oio (G. obliquata, Putz., »fec ), (e) attenuate (C. nielanopyga, Putz., &c.). The difference in width of the intercoxal part antei'iorly is of high classificatory importance and of the greatest assistance in arranging the Australian species. The pectoral part is some- times margined on each side posteriorly by a prominent border; these may be termed the pectoral ridges (vide C lepida). The 148 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINJDES, base of the intercoxal part may be either transversely sulcate or not; this seems a useful feature for separating species. The differences in the legs are of great classificatory importance, but need no special note beyond attention being drawn to the differences between the terms used by M. Putzeys in describing the digitation of the anterior tibiae and those adopted by me. M. Putzeys disregarded the external apical projection and only made reference to the teeth on the outer side above the apex, while, in conformity with the usage of writers on the Carenides, I include the apical projection in counting the external teeth of the tibia. I have made no use of the maxilla); in all the species which I have examined the inner lobe has been found to be hooked and acute at the apex; this form I believe to be invariable among the Australian species of Clivina, but Dr. Hoi-n's drawings* of the maxillse of North American species show that sometimes the inner lobe is obtuse at the apex. M. Putzeys reduced the genus Ceratoghssa, Macleay, to a synonym of his genus Scolijptus, and, as far as the Australian fauna is concerned, I would merge Scolyptns in Clivina. There is no doubt in my mind that the species placed by me in the "proce7-a group," several of which M. Putzeys put in Scolyptus, are congeneric with C. basalts, Chaud., &c ; C. planiceps (with allied species) might be thought to require a different genus from C. basalts, but, if so, other species (e.g., C. frenchi, SI.) are equally deserving of separation from both C. basalts and C. planiceps. On the whole I think the only course is to place in the central genus Clivina all those Australian species which have been put in Scolyptus, at least till someone is prepared to give sound reasons for the generic separation of any of them from the other species of Clivina; this I am not, at present, prepared to do. The first Australian Clivina to be described was C. basalis by M. de Chaudoir in 1843, and this remained the onl}'- species * Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. ix. 1881, pi. v. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 149 known till 1858, when Bohemann described C. australasice. from Sydney. In 1862 M. Putzeys published his " Postscriptum," in which he described four new Australian species. It may be noted that of these four species, all founded on unique specimens, three, viz., C. elegans, C. attrata, and C. suturalis, never seem to have turned up again; as will be seen from my notes on them, I suspect a possibility of the identity of two of them with subsequently described and known species. In 1863 Sir William Macleay described two Scarilides from N.S. Wales as Ceratoglossa foveiceps and C. rugiceps; these are species of Clivina, but both have to be dropped out of the Australian list for reasons stated below. In 1866 Putzeys published a Revision of the? Australian species of Clivina, including descriptions of thirteen new Australian species — these descriptions he afterwards embodied in the " Revision Generale." I do not think it will be easy, if indeed possible, ever to identify C. jtwenis, C. prominens, and 0. verlicalis. In 1867 Putzeys published his " Revision Genei'ale," describing four new Australian species; and also he received for description the whole of Count Castelnau's collection of Glivinides, among which he found fourteen species of Clivina from A ustralia to describe as new; of these I have been able to identify six. Between 1868 and 1873 Putzeys added three species to our list, all of which are known to me. After 1873 no more species of Australian Clivina were described till 1889, when the Rev, Thos. Blackburn described nine new species, and since that date he has described three additional species, bringing the number known from Australia up to fifty-two. I have now thirtj^-one to add, making a total of eighty-three species for Australia, a number which I expect to be largely augmented when the continent has been more carefully searched for these insects. A few words on size and colour in reference to distinguishing species of the genus Clivina from one another will not be out of place. M. Putzeys seeins to have regarded slight difFei'ences in size as of more than legitimate value in determining closely allied species, vide his descriptions of C.juvenis, C. lepida and C. ruhripes, which are not decidedly differentiated among themselves or from 150 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, C. aiistralasia', by mei-e size, though it is made a point of the first importance in the original descriptions* Occasional dwarfed specimens of probably most species of Clivina occur, whicli are so much smaller than the average size of their species that if only two specimens, one small and the other of normal size, were placed in anyone's hands for description they would more likely be regarded as difFei'ent species than as repre- sentatives of the same species. It is only when we have before us a large series of specimens from one locality that we realise the amount of variation in size, and therefore in appearance, which may occur in a species of Clivina. For instance, a specimen of C. biplagiata onl}' 5 '5 mm. in length is in my possession — 7-7"5mm. being the normal length of the species; and small specimens of some species, e.g., C. adelaidce, appear to the eye too narrow and light to be associated w^ithout hesitation with large specimens of the same species. It appears to me that too much importance must not be attached to mere colour for distinguishing species; immature specimens are always more lightly coloured than those that are mature; and speaking as a practical collector I would call atten- tion to the fact that several immature specimens will sometimes represent all those of a species taken at one time and j^lace; in this way immature s^Decimens may be considered .as typical in colour of a species, and so confusion may arise. A good example of colour-differences in d single species is afforded by C. S'llata, three specimens of which in my collection taken at the same time and place differ in colour as follows. One, showing the mature colour of the species, has the head and prothorax black, the elytra reddish testaceous with a black dorsal spot; the second has the head and prothorax testaceous-red, the elytra testaceous with the place of the dorsal spot a little obscured; the third has the upper surface wholly testaceous, the elytra being paler than the head and prothorax. * For a note by M. Piochard de la Brulerie criticising M. Putzejs' work as an author of species, vide Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1875, (3), v. \\ 128. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 151 I have divided the Australian species of Clivina into thirteen groups; a synoptical view of these groups is given in the table below. The groups are formed in an arbitrary way, and no doubt their number might advantageously be reduced had J a surer knowledge of the affinities of the species. Tahlt (jroupinc) the Aus',ralia7i ■•<2)ecifii of Clivina. I. Elytra with strife free at base. (Subniarginal humeral carina wanting). A. Facial sulci simple, clypeus emarginate; inter- coxal part of prosterniim wide anteriorly..., biplagiata group. AA. Facial sulci recurved, clypeus with median part angular; inter-coxal part of prosternum very narrow anteriorly cribrosa group. II. ?]lytra with four inner striiB free at base, fifth joining sixth at base. (Submarginal humeral carina normally present). B. Mandibles short. C. Clypeus with five triangular projections in front V coronata gco\\\i. CC. Clypeus with median part more or less angular laterally ohliquata grou p. BB. Mandibles long, decussating. D. Prothorax with border reaching base on each side planiceps group. DD. Prothorax with border not reaching base r/randiceps group. III. Elytra with three inner stritB free at base, fourth joining fifth at base. (Submarginal humeral carina usually well developed). E. Clypeus with median part more or less dis- tinctly divided from wings along anterior margin (usually more prominent than wings). F. Anterior femora with posterior edge of lower side strongly dilatate in middle punctaticeps group. FF. Anterior femora not greatly dilatate on lower side. G. Head very wide across occiput, eyes not prominent. 152 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, H. Size small; protliorax longer than broad, without anterior line blarkhurni group. HH. Size moderate; protliorax broader than long, anterior line present... ollijfi group. GG. Eyes prominent. I. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate heterogena growp. II. Prosterimm with intercoxal part narrow bovilhe group. EE. Clypeus roundly emargiuate, median part not divided from wings australaske group. EEE. Clypeus deeply truncate-emarginate, wings strongly advanced; (size usually large) .... ^jj-ofCJ-a group. Following M. Putzeys' example, I define each group as I come to it. I begin the descriptions of species bj'' treating of two species, viz., C. attraia, Putz., and C. oblilerata,^!., which I have felt unable to place in any of the thirteen groups into which I have arranged the species of Clivina found in Australia. C. attrata may not be an Australian species at all. C. ohliterata seems a species of anomalous position, and, in view of its strong resemblance to C. auslralasice, Bohem., even of doubtful validity. C. ATTRATA, PutzeyS. Mem. Liege, 1863, xviii. p 54; Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 36; Ann. 8oc. Ent. Belg. x. 1866, p. 179. " Nigra, antennis brunneis, palpis jDedibusque dilutioribus. Mandibulpe latfe, breves. Antennte longse, crassiusculse. Labium ['? labrum] bisinuatum. Clypeus emarginatus, alis prominentibus. Vertex 3-impressus denseque punctulatus Oculi prominentes postice cupulati. Pronotum subquadratum, antice subangustatum, basi vix prolongata. Elytra elongata, basi truncata, isunctato-striata, striis apice evanescentibus, punctis maxime distinctis. Femora antica subtus unidentata ; tibi* sulcata?, extus unidigitatse atque unidentat*; intermedise calcaratse. Long. 1 1-|-, EL 6^, lat. 3 mill." BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 153 The above is M. Putzeys' original description, which he supple- mented by a longer and more minute one in French, from which I take the salient features as follows :- -* The epistoma is widely emarginate, its angles ai'e pi'ominent and clearly separated from the wings which are rounded and a little more advanced. The eyes are very prominent; posteriorly they are en- closed in the lateral margins of the head. The impression which separates the head from the neck is- hardly distinct, especially in the middle. The strife of the elytra are rather weak, but their puncturation is very distinct; they are less strongly impressed towards the external margin and hardly perceptible at the apex. The sixth interstice unites very indistinctly with the marginal border above the shoulder; not one of the striae touches the base- The anterior tibiae have at the apex a rather short digitation and a large strongly marked tooth. In his " Revision Gendrale" M. Putzeys forms a separate group (twenty-fifth) for G. attrata; and treats of it in the following terms : This species, unique up to the present, has so much resem- blance to C. australasice, that at first sight it might be taken for a mere variety. The tooth of the mentum is longer, attaining the height of the lateral lobes. The mandibles are very short, broad, less arcuate, less acute, only carinate at the base. The prothorax is much more convex, hardly narrowed in front, almost square, with the sides rounded and the antei'ior angles very declivous. The elytra are truncate at the base, the shoulders marked, the striae wider and more deeply punctate. The fifth stria, and not the fourth touches the eighth interstice at the base. The central carina of the prosternum is rather strongly narrowed between the coxse, shortly and lightly canaliculate; the apex is oval, deeply foveolate on the base. * This revision being intended for the use of students in Australia, who often are unable to refer to the older (and scarce) literature of other countiies, all M. Putzeys' species have been dealt with, and translations of his remarks (except Latin diagnoses) on all species that are unknown to the author have been given. 154 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, In regard to its habitat, the original description states that the author had seen only a single specimen which came from New ■ Holland. The " Revision Generale " rather throws doubt upon this by saying that this insect, formerly received as coming from South America, appears rather to be Australian. It may be noted that in his tabular view of the species of Clivina in his " Postscriptum," p. 32, M. Putzeys gives as a dis- tinguishing character of C. attrata — eighth interstice not prolonged above the shoulder. The species for which I propose the name of G. obliterata, is an anomalous one among Australian species. It So closely resembles C. atcstralasice, Bohem., as to seem merely a A'ariety of that species; but as five specimens are before me, all agreeing in the basal characters of their elytra, I have felt compelled to regard it as distinct, and to place it with 0. attrata, Putz. It requires more study, and should it prove to be a " sport " of C. australasice, of which there seems a possibility, it is a remarkable fact that the strise free at the base should be accompanied by the total obliteration of the submarginal humeral carina. Clivina obliterata, n.sp. Pacies as in C. avMralasice, only the elytra more truncate at base, with striae free at base and submarginal humeral carina wanting; anterior tibiae 3-dentate. Black, four posterior legs piceous. Only differing from C australasice as follows : — Head more evenly narrowed before eyes, (the sinuosity between the supra-antennal plates and wings of clypeus nearly obsolete), clypeus less deeply emarginate, the wings narrower; elytra with shoulders more marked (though rounded), more declivous, lateral border very fine, marginal channel very narrow behind and at shoulders, interstices flatter, eighth more finely carinate on apical curve, striae lighter especially towards sides, fourth free, fifth hardly joining sixth at base; external teeth of tibije a little weaker. Length 9-5, breadth 26 mm. Uab. : IST.S. Wales — Carrathool, Mulwala (Sloane); Victoria (Kershaw). BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 155 The anterior margin orthe clypeus is exactly as in C. austnd- asice, emarginate with the wings not divided from the median part; the prosternum is exactly as in C. austi-alasice. Apart from its smaller size, and the form of the clypeus and anterior tibi?e, this species seems to present a remarkable I'esemblance to C. attrata, Putz. B iplag i a ta g r ou p. Head wide, short, strongly and roundly angustate in front of eyes; clypeus deeply emarginate, median part not divided from wings. Elytra with stride free at base; submarginal humeral carina wanting Prosternum with intercoxal part wide anteriorlv, sulcate on base. Anterior femora wide, lower side rounded ; tibia? 3-dentate. Clivina biplagiata, Putzeys. Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 43; Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, X. p. 191. Robust, convex. Black, with a reddish spot on each elytron just before apical declivity; anterior legs piceous, four posterior legs piceous i-ed. Head wide; a shallow punctulate depression between clypeus and front; vertex smooth; clypeus deeply emarginate, wings small, not divided from median part; eyes prominent. Prothorax about as broad as long (1-8 x 1-75 mm.), widely convex, decidedly narrowed anteriorly; anterior angles very obtuse; basal curve short, rounded. Elytra convex, ovate, truncate at base, abruptly and deeply declivous to peduncle; strite free at base, strongly punctate towards base, lighter and more finely punctate towards apex, seventh interrupted towards apex; interstices convex at base, depressed towards apex, eighth carinate on apical curve; submarginal humeral carina wanting. Proster- num with intercoxal part wide anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base; episterna finely transversely striolate. Anterior femora compressed, very wide, lower side rounded; anterior tibia? 3-den- tate. Length 7-7 "8, breadth 2 mm. (One specimen in my collection only 5-5 mm. in length). 156 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, Hah. : Queensland — Cape York (from Mr. French), Port Deni- son and Wide Bay (Masters); N.S. Wales — Sydney [common], Goulburn and Mulwala [rare] (Sloane); Yictoi'ia — Melbourne. An isolated and easily identified species. The red subapical maculiB of the elytra vary in size and brightness; in one specimen from Sydney in my possession they are wanting, the elytra being entirely black. I have not found any perceptible punctures on the prothorax as mentioned by Putzeys. Crib r o s a g r oiif. Size moderate. Head short, wide and convex on occiput; clypeus with median part angular; facial sulci recurved; eyes depressed. Prothorax short, parallel; anterior angles marked. Elytra with five inner striae free at base; submarginal humeral carina wanting. Prosternum with intercoxal part very narrow anteriorly, sulcate on base. Anterior tibiae strongly 4-dentate. The species known to me may be divided into sections thus : — r C. cribrosa Putz. I. Clypeus with angles of median part obtuse -! C. hoops, Blkb. \C.fortis, SI. il. Clypeus with angles of median part prominent, dentiform C. frenchi, SI. Clivina cribrosa, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1868, xi. p. 20. Robust, cylindrical, parallel. Head large, convex, coarsely punctate, eyes depressed; prothorax short, not narrowed anteriorly, anterior angles marked; elytra truncate on base, shoulders marked, striae not deep, punctate, free at base; anterior tibiae 4-dentate. Black (or piceous), legs reddish. Head very convex, wide at base, sloping from vertex to anterior margin; vertex and occiput coarsely punctate, the punctures extending to middle of front: clypeus short; median part truncate (obsoletely emarginate between angles), angles prominent, short, triangular; wings wide, short, external angles wide, obtuse, BY THOMAS G. SLOAXE. 1^7 marked; a well mai^ked sinuosity between wings and supra- antennal plates, these wide, rounded externally; frontal impressions wide, shallow, hardly marked; facial sulci hardly marked, recurved part well marked; facial carinse distant from eyes, straight, carinate; eyes not enclosed behind. Prothorax broader than long (1'3 x 1'4 mm.), very declivous to base; upper surface, excepting basal declivity, densely and strongly rugulose-punctate; sides parallel; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles marked, very lightly advanced; posterior angles rounded; median and anterior lines distinctly marked; lateral basal impressions obsolete. Elytra a little wider than prothorax (3-2 x 1"5 mm.); base trun- cate, deeply and abruptly declivous to peduncle; apex widely rounded; strise shallow, strongly punctate, entire, weaker near apex, seventh weak, obsolete on apical curve; marginal channel shallow in middle. Prosternum with intercoxal part very narrow anteriorly, sulcate on base; episterna overhanging anteriorly, very finely striolate near lateral margins. Anterior tibire wide, 4- dentate; intermediate tibife with external spur distant from apex, long, erect, acute. Length 6-6 5, breadth 1"5 mm. Hah. : West Australia — King George's Sound (Masters), Beverley (Lea). It greatly resembles C. boops, Blkb., some differences being its smaller size, lighter form, the whole of the disc of the prothorax strongly punctate, and the less strongly impressed elytral striae. The description given above is founded on specimens sent to me by Mr. Masters; their colour is coal black; a specimen sent by Mr. Lea is piceous; Putzeys gives the colour, as piceous. J\^ote. — It is evident that Putzeys' measurements are incorrect; the species is rather a stoutly built little one, and, even in the most narrow species of Clivina, such a shaj^e for the elytra as " ih X H mm." would be unheai'd of. Clivina boops, Blackburn. P.L.S.KS.W. 1889 (2), iv. p. 719. "Very closely allied to C. crihrom, Putz., which it exactly resembles as to the head, shape of pi'othorax, elytra, legs, &c.; for 158 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, some apparent differences between them see description of C. cribrosa (ante, p. 157). These species require careful study with large series of fresh specimens from different localities. The dimensions of a specimen sent to me by Mr. Blackburn are: length 7; head 1-2 x 1-4; proth. 1-6 x 1-75; el. 4x1-9 mm. Hab. : South Australia — Adelaide, Port Lincoln (Blackburn); Victoria — Melbourne (Kershaw). Clivina fortis, n.sp. Robust, cylindrical. Head punctate, large, wide and convex posteriori}', declivous in front, facial sulci recurved; prothorax broader than long, not narrowed anteriorly, striolate-punctate towards sides; elytra with stria? free at base; prosternum with intercoxal part very narrow anteriorly, sulcate on base; episterna hardly rugulose, very finely transversely striolate; anterior tibiae 4-dentate. Black. Head large, finely punctate on base of clypeus and middle of front; vertex and occij)ut very convex, not punctate; a wide shallow impression between cl3^peus and front: clypeus deeply declivous and rugose to median part, this narrow, strongly emargi- nate, its angles not marked; wings small, anterior margin sloping roundly and very lightly backwards from median part; supra- antennal plates rounded, bordered, divided from wings of clypeus by a light sinuosity, a submarginal ridge extending backwards from this sinuosity; facial sulci lightly impressed, recurved part elongate and very distinct ; facial carinas short, strong ; eyes very depressed. Prothorax transverse (1-75 X 1-9 mm.), widely convex, strongly declivous to base, smooth anteriorly, rugose-punctate towards sides of disc; sides parallel; anterior angles obtuse, but marked; posterior angles rounded; basal cui've short; border narrow; median line strongly impressed; anterior line very lightly impressed. Elytra wider than prothorax (4-2 x 2-2 mm.), convex, parallel, truncate and abrupt at base, widely rounded at apex; stria? lightly impressed^ BY THOMAS G. SLOANB. 159 entii-e, finely punctate; interstices lightly convex, eighth narrow (not carinate) on apical curve. Intermediate tibiie wide, incrassate, about three small projections above external spur. Length 7*8, breadth 2 2 mm. Ilab. : N.S, Wales (unique in Rev. T. Blackburn's Collection). This species is closely allied to C. hoops, Blkb., from which its most conspicuous differences are its larger size, more depressed eyes, and the obtuse anterior angles of the prothorax. Xote. — A specimen sent to me for examination by Mr. Masters, and ticketed Tasmania, only differs from the above in having the fine punctures of the head spread over all the posterior part; and the strong puncturation of the prothorax over nearly the whole of the disc, the angles of the median part of the clypeus a little marked, and the anterior angles of prothorax more prominent; I do not feel quite sure that it is conspecific with C.fortis, but am unable to regard it as distinct. ClIVINA FEENCHf, n.Sp. Parallel, cylindrical. Head large, facial sulci recurved; pro- thorax broader than long, not narrowed in front; elytra with five inner striaj free at base, submarginal humeral carina obsolete; anterior tibia? 4-dentate. Head, prothorax, and legs piceous (four posterior legs more lightly coloured than anterior); elytra brown. Head large (1-7 x 1-8 mm.), wide behind eyes, convex, on upper surface a shallow puncturation, except on posterior part of vertex: clypeus not divided from front; median part truncate, its angles forming a strong triangular projection; wings about as prominent towards sides as the angles of median part, defined posteriorly by an oblique line, external angles rounded; lateral setigerous punctures large, placed behind angles of median part a little in front of the line defining the wings behind; supra-antennal plates large, pro- jecting decidedly beyond wings of clypeus; facial sulci not clearlj marked, turning inwards in front, an ill-defined short impression extending obliquely inwards and backwards from their anterior part on each side of vertex; facial carinse short; eyes deeply 160 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, embedded, hardly more prominent than supra-antennal plates; sides of head behind eyes finely and densely rugose-punctate; guise hardly rugulose. Mandibles short, flat. Mentum deeply and obliquely emarginate; lobes rounded at apex; median tooth broad, long, triangular. Prothorax a little broader than long (2'1 x 2'25 mm.), not narrowed anteriorly, convex, transversely striolate towards sides; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles lightly advanced; posterior angles rounded; basal curve short; border narrow; median line well marked, linear; anterior line variable (sometimes well marked, sometimes obsolete); lateral basal impressions usually well marked, elongate (reaching beyond middle of prothorax), rugulose. Elytra convex, a little wider than prothorax (5 x 25 mm.), parallel on sides, truncate at base, widely rounded at apex; . stri?e punctate for whole length, more lightly impressed towards apex; interstices lightly convex towards base, eighth not carinate at base, distinct and wide (not carinate) on apical curve. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base; episterna minutely shagreened, with fine wav}'^ transverse striolse. Ventral segments smooth. Anterior femora short, wide; anterior tibiae 4-dentate, the upper tooth prominent, triangular; intermediate tibise with external sj^ur long, acute. Length 7 6-9, breadth 2-2-5 mm. Hah. : North Queensland (from Mr. French); S. Australia — Lake Callabonna (Zietz). The specimen of which the measurements are given in the description is 9 mm. in length. C or onata y r ou p. Size small. Head depi'essed; eyes not prominent; clypeus with five triangular projections along anterior margin; supra-antennal plates also triangular in front. Elytra with four inner stripe free, fifth joining sixth at base. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly. Anterior tibiae 4-dentate. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 161 Clivina coronata, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. xvi. 1873, p. 17. Narrow, cylindrical. Clypeus with five prominent projections in front; prothorax parallel on sides; elytra pai'allel on sides, fifth stria joining sixth at base; prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly; anterior tibia' strongly l-dentate. Testa- ceous, elytra more lightly coloured than head and prothorax. Head depressed, lightly impressed, finely punctulate; frontal foveje nearly obsolete; facial sulci obsolete, forming a wide shallow depression on each side of vertex; facial carina? distant from eyes, feebly develojDed; supra antennal plates large, overshadowing the eyes at base, obtusely pointed in front; eyes not prominent. Prothorax rather longer than bi'oad (1-25 x 1-2 mm.), finely striolate near sides, lateral basal impressions elongate. Elytra hardly wider than prothorax (2-7 mm. x 1'25 mm.), punctate- stiiate; strife entire; interstices lightly convex, eighth marked on apical curve; submarginal humeral carina very tine and v/eakly developed. Prosternum with episterna minutely shagreened, not transversely striolate. Anterior femora wide, with lower edge rounded. Length 5'2, breadth 1-25 mm. Hah. : West Australia — King George's Sound (Masters). This species is readily distinguished by the form of the anterior margin of the head with seven triangular projections. I have not found any perceptible punctures on the sides of the prothorax as mentioned by Putzeys. I have not been able to observe the base of the prosternum with accurac}^ in my specimen, so cannot say if it is transversely sulcate or not. Obliqicata y r oup. Size moderate or small. Front punctate, clypeus with angles of median part marked; facial sulci more or less recurved. Mandibles short. Elytra with four inner strite free, fifth joining sixth at base; submarginal humeral carina ^^resent, not strongly developed. Prosternum with intercoxal part very narrow or 11 162 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, attenuate anteriorly, sulcate on base. Anterior til)ia3 4-dentate (the upper tooth sometimes feebly indicated or obsolete). Tahh of Species. I. Elytra pimctate-striate. A. Unicolorous. B. Dorsal surface depressed. C. Prothorax as long as, or longer than broad. D. Size medium, fourth stria of elytra out- turned at base C. ohiiqnata, Putz. DD. Size small, fourth stria of elytra not out- turned at base C. chhUis, Blkb. CC. Prothorax broader then long (none of the elytral striae outturned at base) C. rircrina;, SI. BB. Form cylindrical. E. Anterior tibite 3-dentate, interstices of elytra convex C. rylindriformis, SI. EE. Anterior tibiae 4-dentate, interstices of elytra depressed .■ C. ohsoleta, SI. AA. Bicolorous. F. Elytra with basal part red, apical black ...Q. jne/anopyr/a, Putz. FF. Elytra reddish with a black sutural vitta C. dorscdis, 3lkh. FFF. Elytra entirely ferruginous red C. hicolor, SI. II. Elytra with striiB simple C. denticoUis, SI. The members of this group which I do not know are C. wildi, Blkb., evidently coming near C dehilis; C. eremicola, Blkb., allied to C obliquata; and C. adelaidce, Blkb. Clivina obliquata, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, x. p. 188; and 1868, xi. p. 16. Parallel, rather depressed. Head widely convex, eyes not prominent, front lightly punctate; facial sulci recurved; prothorax depressed, parallel, not perceptibly narrowed anteriorly: elytra parallel, punctate-striate; fourth stria outturned, but not joining BY THOMAS G. SLOANB. 163 fifth at base; interstices lightly convex on basal part of disc, depressed posteriorly, eighth narrowly carinate at apex; submargi- nal humeral carina short, feebly carinate. Prosternum with inter- coxal part small, verj'^ narrow anteriorly, sulcate on base; episterna minutely shagreened, the transverse striolpe hardly per- ceptible. Anterior femora wide, lower side rounded; tibi;e 4 dentate. Head rather small; frontal impressions wide, well marked; clypeal elevation raised and prominent; clypeus divided from front by a shallow punctulate impi'ession, depressed near antei'ior margin; median part em alginate truncate, its angles hardly advanced beyond wings, hardly marked; wings truncate, external angles marked, obtuse; supra-antennal plates large, projecting strongl}^ and sharply beyond wings of clypeus, rounded and margined laterally; eyes lightly convex, not prominent, strongl}^ enclosed behind. Prothorax leather longer than broad ( 1-7 5 x 17 mm.); sides widely and very feebly sinuate behind anterior angles; anterior margin truncate, anterior angles marked, obtuse. Elytra elongate, very little wider than prothorax (3'8 x 1-75 mm); four inner strise strongly impressed, fifth and sixth strongly impressed near base, becoming obsolete after anterior third, seventh entire, distinctly impressed; posterior puncture of third interstice near apex. Length 7, breadth 1-75 mm. Hab. : Soutia Australia — Port Lincoln (Coll. Castelnau). (Two specimens were sent to me by Mr. Masters, ticketed South Australia.) It appears probable that the identification of^C. ohliquata has been rendered difiicult by a certain vagueness in Putzeys' des- cription, e.g., when he says that C. ohliquata may be distinguished at the first glance by its long, narrow and almost cylindrical elytra; this probably should be read as comparative to C. inelayiopyga, Putz.; the onl}^ other member of the group in which he placed C. ohliquata, known to him, and of which he sa3"s the elytra are elongate, almost cylindrical (though, being a more than usually depressed species, I should not call them so); again, 164 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, though he places C. ohliquata in a group characterised by the fifth stria, not the fourth, reaching the eighth interstice, he says, in the description, that the fourth unites more or less distitictly with the eighth at the base; in C. ohliquata it turns out at the base, but does not actually join the fifth. Clivina debilis, Blackburn. P.L.S.N.S.W. 1889 (2), iv. p. 722. Black, legs testaceous. Narrow, elongate, subdepressed. Clypeus with median part truncate, hardly distinct from wings, its angles very weak; wings truncate, external angles squarely obtuse; supra-antennal plates projecting strongly beyond wings of clypeus. Prothorax quadrate (12 x 11 mm.). Elytra parallel (2'8 X 1"3 mm.); fifth stria joining sixth at base, seventh well marked in all its course. Prosternum with intercoxal part very narrow anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base. Anterior tibiae narrow, 3-dentate (only an obsolete trace of an upper prominence). Length 5, breadth 1-3 mm. Hab. : South Australia — Adelaide, Port Lincoln (Blackburn). Closely allied to C obliquata, Putz., from which its small size will at once distinguish it. The description above is founded on a specimen for which I am indebted to Rev. T. Blackburn. A specimen brought from Lake Callabonna (Central Australia) by Mr. A. Zietz, in 1893, differs slightly, being a little larger (5"3 X 1'4 mm.), and having the pi-othorax with longer sides (basal curve short), (1-4x12 mm.), the disc punctate near the sides; the angles of the median part of the clypeus more prominent, the " wings " more angulate, kc. It may be a different, but closely allied species ; to study it satisfactorily several specimens would be necessary. Clivina riverine, n.sp. Wide, parallel, very depressed. Prothorax quadrate; elytra, punctate-striate, four inner stripe free at base; prosternum with intercoxal part very narrow anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base; anterior tibitv 3-dentate. Black, shining, legs piceous. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 1G5 Head large (14 x IS mm.), anterior part depressed; vertex wide, lightly convex, more or less punctate: clypeus declivous, divided from front by a wide — usually punctulate — depression; median part bordered, wide, lightly emarginate-truncate, its angles projecting obtusely beyond wings; these small, almost square, with external angle obtuse; supra-antennal plates large, boi'dered, projecting strongly and squarely beyond wings of clypeus, anterior angle obtuse, but .marked; facial sulci deep, recurved part obsolete (sometimes feebly indicated); facial carintij strong; eyes convex, rather prominent, lightly enclosed behind. Mentum wide, deeply and obliquely emarginate; lobes widely rounded at apex; median tooth triangular, acute. Prothoi^ax depressed, quadrate (2 x 2-1 mm.), widest behind middle, very shortly declivous to base, a little narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1 9 mm.); sides very lightly rounded; posterior angles rounded, not marked ; basal curve short; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles wide, obtuse, a little prominent; border narrow; median and anterior lines strongly impressed; lateral basal impres.sions obsolete, or very lightly marked. Elytra depressed, hardly wider than prothorax (4 5 x 2-2 mm.), parallel, widely rounded at apex, truncate at base; striae punctate, weaker towards apex, fifth and sixth obsolete except near base, seventh lightly marked, not punctate; eighth interstice narrow, subcai'inate on apical curve; border narrow. Prosternum not protuberant; episterna finely shagreened, marked with wavy transverse lines. Anterior femora short, wide; anterior tibia? strongly 3-dentate, a small triangular prominence above the upper tooth. Length 7 •2-8- 6, breadth 2-2-7 mm. Hah. : Victoria — Swan Hill (C. French); N.S. Wales— Tirana District (Sloane — moderately plentiful on the edges of a large marsh 20 miles N.E. from Tirana.) Allied to C. ohliquata, Putz., which it greatly resembles; it is a broader and more depressed species (being the most depressed Australian species), the prothorax is more transverse, being broader than long, and less parallel on the sides. The sub- marginal humeral carina of the elytra is very short and hardly 166 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIMDES, carinate — it might be described as nearly obsolete. The specimen (^) from which the measurements used in the description were taken was 8-4 mm. in length. Clivixa cvlindriformis, n sp. Narrow, cylindrical. Head with recurved facial sulci; pro- thorax as long as Ijroad, longitudinally convex; elytra strongly punctate-striate, fourth stria free, lightly outturned at base, fifth joining sixth at base; prostenium with intercoxal part very narrow anteriorly; anterior tibia? 3-dentate. Head, prothorax, and under surface of body piceous black; elytra piceous brown (piceous black near suture at beginning of apical declivity;; under surface of prothorax piceous red; legs ferruginous. Head convex (11 x 1-3 mm.); clypeus divided from front by a wide punctate impression, an elongate punctate depression in middle of front extending backwards from this impression; sides of head punctate behind eyes, the puncturation strong on each side above base of facial carinse; median part of clypeus emargi- nate-truncate, bordered, its angles widely obtuse, hardly projecting beyond wings; these small, subrotundate in front with exteriuxl margin widely rounded (their margin extends in a slightly uneven curve from median part to supra-antennal plates); supra-antennal plates large, explanate towai'ds margin, projecting strongly and shai'ply beyond wings of clypeus, rounded on external margin; facial sulci strongly impressed, a short impression extending back- wards from their anterior part on each side of vertex; facial carinfe strong, elongate; eyes convex, rather prominent, lightly enclosed behind; guise lightly striate on anterior part. Prothorax lievigate, convex, as long as broad (1'8 x 1-8 mm.), widest a little before the posterior angles, lightly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1-6 mm.); sides very lightly rounded; postei'ior angles not marked; basal curve rounded; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles subprominent, obtuse; border narrow on sides; median line linear, deep; anterior line obsolete; latei*al basal impressions lightly marked. Elytra hardly wider than prothorax (-i x 1-9 mm.), very convex, sides lightly rounded; base roundly truncate; seventh BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 167 stria not interrupted towards apex; interstices convex, eighth 7iarrow and distinct on apical curve; submarginal humeral carina short and feebly developed; lateral border narrow. Pro- sternum not pi'otuberant, transversely sulcate on base; episterna minutely shagreened, not transversely striolate. Anterior femora short, wide; lower side canaliculate, with posterior edge rounded. Length 7, breadth 1-9 mm. Hah. : Queensland — Gulf of Cai'pentaria (one specimen sent to me by Mr. C. French). Differs from C. ob/iquata, Putz., in colour, facies, and the 3-dentate anterior tibite. Clivina obsoleta, n.sp. Narrow, cylindrical. Head wide; facial sulci obsolete; clypeus with angles of median part projecting beyond the wings; eyes not prominent; prothorax about as long as wide, very lightly narrowed anteriorly; elytra parallel, fifth stria joining sixth at base; prosternum with intercoxai part attenuate anteriorly; anterior tibife strongly 4-dentate. Ferruginous, elytra a little more lightly coloured than head and prothorax. Head wide between eyes and across occiput; front finely, not densely, punctate; vertex finely punctate on each side behind facial carinte; ch'peal elevation truncate; median part of clypeus depressed, defined on each side by a carinate ridge, truncate, its angles projecting decidedly beyond wings in the fonii of obtuse triangular teeth; wings small, concave, quadrate, external angle marked; supra-antennal plates projecting beyond and divided from clypeal wings by a sharp sinuosity; facial carinfe short, weakly developed; eyes convex, not prominent, hardly at all enclosed behind. Prothorax convex, smooth (except for a few trans- verse striol?e); anterior margin truncate; anterior angles obtuse, feebly indicated; posterior angles widely rounded; basal curve short; lateral basal impressions short, lightly impressed; median line well marked; anterior line hardly marked. Elytra long, parallel (3 "3 x I'Smm.), truncate and strongly declivous at base, widely rounded at apex, very declivous to sides and apex; striae 168 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, lightly impressed, entire, finely punctate; interstices not convex, eighth narrow near apex; submarginal humeral carina short, naiTOw, weak. Prosternum with episterna minutely shagreened. Anterior femora wide, lower side rounded; anterior tibise widely palmate, upper internal spine thick, curved, incrassate. Length 6, breadth 1-5 mm. Hab. : Queensland — Cape York (unique in the collection of the Rev. T. Blackburn). This is an isolated species; in general appearance it is rather like C. blackhtirni, SI., but its nearest ally known to me seems to be C.frenchi, SI., which it resembles in its widely palmate tibia?; in G. frenchi the upper internal spine of the antei'ior tibise is greatly developed, though not so thick as in f\ ohsoleta. I have placed it in the '■'■ohliquata group" because it has the elytra with the fifth stria joining the sixth at base, and has a submarginal carina at each shoulder. Clivina- melanopyga, Putzeys. Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 41; Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. x. 1866, p. 187. This species is at once distinguished from all other Avistralian species by its colour, its rather depi'essed form, and by having the four inner strife of the elytra free at the base. The following bi'ief note will sufiiciently characterise it. Head, prothorax, underaurface and apical part of elytra black; elytra reddish on more than anterior half; legs piceous. Head, including clypeus, as in C. ohliquata, Putz., prothorax quadrate (1-5 X 1'5 mm.): elytra depressed on disc (3 x 1-5 mm.), punctate- striate; four inner striae free, fifth joining sixth at base; sub- marginal humeral carina short, weakly developed; prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly; anterior tibiae 3-dentate, a fourth upper tooth feebly indicated. Length 5-6-6-5, breadth 1-5-1 8 mm. Hah. : N.S. Wales — Urana District (Sloane — one specimen); Victoria — Swan Hill (French), Melbourne (Kershaw); South Australia. BY THOMA? G. SLOANE. 169 Clivixa dorsalis, Blackburn. P.L.S.N.S.W. 1889 (2), iv. p. 719. Parallel, lightly convex. Black; elytra red with a Ijlack sutural stripe (this stripe occup3ang only first interstice at base, widening posteriorly and extending over three inner interstices, not reaching apex); anterior legs ferruginous, four posterior testaceous Front punctate; clypeus with median part lightly emarginate-truncate, its angles hardly marked, its wings small with anterior margin truncate, their exterior angles obtuse but marked; facial sulci recurved. Prothorax quadrate (1'2 x 1-2 mm.), evenly and lightly convex, punctulate. Elytra a little broader than prothorax (2 '5 x 1*35 mm ), widely rounded at apex, evenly and lightly convex; stride strongly impressed, entire, punctate, fifth joining sixth at base. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base; episterna minutely shagreened, obsoletely transversely striolate. Anterior tibise 4-dentate, the upper tooth very feeble. Length 5, breadth l'35mm. Hab. : Victoria (Kershaw); South Australia — Adelaide, Port Lincoln (Blackburn); West Australia — King George's Sound (Masters), Beverley (Lea). This species agrees with M. Putzeys' original desciiption of 6'. sntui'alis in every particular, except that from the group in which he placed C. suturalis it should have the fourth stria joining the fifth at the base, but he placed C. planiceps in the same group as also having the fourth stria joining the fifth at the base, which was incorrect, and it is impossible for me to avoid a suspicion that C. dorsalis, Blkb., = 6'. sntiiraHs, Putz. If so, Putzeys' description is erroneous, and nothing bat an inspection of his type, or the discovery of a species coloured like C. dorsal is, and having the fourth and fifth stripe of the elytra confluent at the base, can now settle the point.* * See descriptions of C. suturalis and C. verticalis {post) for furtlier remarks on this subject. 170 ON THE Al'STRALIAN CLIVINIDES, Clivina bicolor, n.sp. Narrow, parallel, subdepressed. Head short, convex, facial sulci recurved, eyes not prominent: prothorax longer than broad, pai'allel on sides; upper surface densely and strongly punctate: elytra parallel, finely punctate-striate; four inner strite free, fifth joining sixth at base; interstices depressed, eighth carinate at apex, and shoulders; anterior tibiae 4-dentate. Elytra ferruginous- red; prothorax and head piceous, under surface piceous. Head convex and smooth on vertex, a few fine punctures on anterior part of front: clypeus with median part truncate, its angles prominent, triangular; wings wide, subquadrate, hardly as advanced as angles of median part, external angles strongly marked, obtuse at summit, external mai-gin straight; supra-antennal plates large, projecting shai'ply and strongly beyond wings of clypeus; facial carinse hardly marked; eyes convex, not at all prominent, weakly enclosed behind. Prothorax longer than broad (1-2 x I'l mm.), lightly convex, lightly declivous to base; upper surface — excepting basal declivity and anterior collar — strongly punctate; sides parallel, a little narrowed at anterior angles; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles marked; lateral basal impressions lightly marked, elongate. Elytra very little wider than prothorax (2"5 x 1'25 mm.); sides subparallel (hardly rounded), a little narrowed to base; shoulders obtuse, but marked; base lightly emarginate behind peduncle; striie entire, lightly impressed, finely punctate, seventh entire; interstices depressed; submarginal humeral carina long, narrow. Prosternum with intercoxal part cordate, narrow anteriorly; episterna subltevigate (very minutely shagi'eened). Length 4-7, breadth l-2o mm. Hab. : West Australia — King George's Sound (unique, sent by Mr. Masters). Allied to C. dor satis, Blkb., from which its colour and the prothorax with the whole of the disc punctate at once distinguish it; the angles of both the median part and the wings of the clypeus are far more prominent than in C. dorsaiis BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 171 Clivina denticollis, n.sp. Robust, lightly convex. Head depressed, trausvei'sely impressed posteriorly, eyes very large and convex; prothorax subquadrate; posterior angles marked, shortly dentate: elytra parallel, simj^ly striate; four inner striaj free at base; a well marked striole at base of first interstice; submarginal humeral carina wanting: prosternum with intercoxal part canaliculate, wide anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base; episterna very finely transversely striolate, not overhanging in front; lateral cavities of peduncle punctulate: anterior tibi?e strongly 3-dentate; intermediate tibiae not wide, external spur stout, acute, very near apex. Ferruginous, eyes black. Head depressed, widely impressed across occiput; front de- pressed, rugulose; frontal impressions very shallow; facial sulci wide, shallow, nearly obsolete; vertex smooth, minutely punctu- late; facial carinas wide, short, lightly raised: clypeus with median part truncate, its angles small, obtuse, very lightly advanced; wings small, concave (less advanced than median part), external angles rounded ; supra-antennal plates rather depressed, rounded externally, a strong sinuosity dividing them from clypeus wings; eyes very large, convex, prominent, projecting far beyond supra- antennal plates; gulte smoother than usual, lightly jjunctate near eyes. Labial palpi stout, terminal joint stout, subfusiform (obtuse at apex). Prothorax broader than long (1-3 x 1-4 mm.), lightly and evenly convex; disc covered with fine transverse striolae; anterior margin truncate, vertical at sides -of neck; anterior angles obtuse; sides evenly rounded; posterior angles marked by a short but decided dentiform projection; basal curve short; border narrow, lightly reflexed on sides, very fine (not reflexed) on sides of basal curve; median and anterior lines strongly impressed; latei'al basal impressions wanting. Elytra much wider than prothorax (3 3 x 1-8 mm.), lightly rounded on sides, widely rounded at apex; base truncate; strife simple, entire, lightly impressed, fifth joining sixth at base, seventh entire; interstices 172 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLiriSIDES, depressed, eighth hardly carinate on apical curve. Anterior femora not channelled below, lower side not dilatate or rounded. Length 6, breadth 1 -8 mm. /lab. : West Australia— N. W. Coast (?); (sent to me by Mr. C. French). A remarkable and isolated species, not nearly allied to any other Australian species. In facies it resembles C. pectoralis, Putz.; its head is much like that of C. hoviUce, Blkb., but the eyes are larger; the form of the clypeus is like that of the species of the " ohliquata group "; the intercoxal part of the prosternum is as wide as in typical members of the " a^ostralasite group." Although I have placed it in the "ohliquata group" it might well be regarded as the type of a new group, of which the characters would be those of the preliminaiy paragraph of the description above. PI anicep s g r o u p. Size large. Mandibles long, decussating. Clypeus with median part truncate; wings wide, truncate, sharply advanced. Labrum truncate, 5-setose. Labial palpi with penultimate joint slender, longer than terminal. Elytra with four inner striae free at base, fifth joining sixth; submarginal humeral carina present. Proster- num with intercoxal part very wide anteriorly, non-sulcate on base. Table of species. A. Anterior tibia? 3-Llentate C. planiceps, Viitz. A A. Anterior tibi£B 4-clentate B. Head rugulose ■•■ C. quadrati/ron-'i, S\ BB. Head smooth C. Carpentaria., SI. G. crassicoUis, Putz., allied to C. planicepti, is unknown to me. Clivixa planiceps, Putzeys. Mem. Liege, 1863, xviii. p. 42; Ceratoglossa ruyiceps, MacL, Trans. Ent. 8oc. N.8.W. 1863, i. p. 72; Scolyptus planiceps, Putz., Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, x. p. 24. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 173 A well-known species, which may be distinguished by the following note : — C3'lindrical. Black, under surface piceous, legs reddish or reddish piceous. Head large (2-3 x 2-3 mm.), depressed, rugu- lose; clypeus with wings strongly and obliquely advanced beyond the truncate median part. Prothorax longer than broad (3 "5 x 3*3 mm.), lightly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 3 mm.). El3-tra parallel (7'6 x 3 5 mm.), crenulate-striate; four inner strife free at base, fourth a little outturned at base, fifth joining sixth at base; eighth interstice distinct on apical curve; a submarginal carina at shoulders. Anterior tibise 3-dentate. Length 12-5-16"5, breadth 3-4 mm. Hab. : N.S. Wales — Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers. M. Putzeys in his "Postscriptum" places this species in a group characterised by having the fourth and fifth striae confluent at base; he makes no reference to this feature in his description, nor does he remark on it in Stett. Ent. Zeit., nor in his " Revision Generale," where he merely puts it in Scolyptus, and places Ceratoyhssns nigiceps, Macl., as a synonym without comment. Rarely the fourth interstice does turn outwards at the base, and actually join the fifth; one such example is in my collection fi-om Muhvala on the Murray, where this species is very common. Clivina crassicollis, Putzeys. Scolyptus crassicollis, Putz., Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, x. p. 25. The following is a translation of Putzeys' whole description i^sic) of this species : — Larger than C 'phmiceps; its elj^ti^a are proportionately more elongate; the prothorax is very noticeably more convex, more declivous particularly towards the anterior angles; the anterior margin is less emarginate. Length 18, el. 9, breadth 4 mm. New South Wales — two specimens. The above is an example of the uselessness of some of M. Putzeys' descriptions; it might be founded on the large specimens 174 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, from the Gulf of Carpentaria mentioned below under C. quadra- tlfrons, SI.; but, if so, the description does not aid one in deter- mining it, besides the inference is that the anterior tibije are 3-dentate as in G. planiceps. Clivina quadratifrons, n.sp. Robust, parallel, cylindrical. Head flat, rugulose; prothorax about as long as broad; elytra with fifth stria joining sixth at base, eighth interstice distinctly marked on apical curve, a well- developed submarginal carina at shoulders; anterior tibiae 4- dentate. Black, under surface piceous, anterior legs reddish piceous, four posterior legs and antennae testaceous brown. Head quadrate (2 x 2-1 mm.), flat, rugulose: clypeus not divided from front; median part truncate; wings divided from supra-antennal plates by a light linear impression, lightly and obliquely advanced beyond median part, wide, truncate, external angle marked, rounded; supra-antennal plates depressed, declivous before eyes, divided from clypeal wing by a light sinuosit}^ external margi-n sinuate; facial sulci lost in facial rugulosity; facial carinte distant from eyes, feebly developed; eyes convex, prominent; orbits narrow, abruptly truncate behind eyes. Man- dil)les wide at base, decussating. Mentum concave; lobes rounded at apex, lightly longitudinallj^ striate; median tooth large, rounded at apex. Prothoi'ax of almost equal length and breadth (3-6 X 3 -5 mm.), pai'allel on sides, very little narrowed to apex, convex, roundly declivous to base; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles obtuse; postei'ior angles not marked; border wide and explanate near anterior angles, narrow backwards, not inter- rupted at posterior angles; median and anterior lines well marked; lateral basal impressions short, shallow, subfoveiform. Elytra parallel, cylindrical (8-5 x 4 mm.), truncate on base; striae entire, lightly crenulate, deeply impressed, becoming shallow towards apex, first outturned to join second at liase, fourth free at base; interstices lightly convex, eighth forming a narrow carina on apical curve; border narrow. Prosternum protuberant; inter- coxal part very wide in front, widely and lightly channelled. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 175 abrupt and non-sulcate on base; episterna covered with fine wavy transverse stripe. Ventral segments smooth. Anterior femora short, wide, compressed, lightly channelled below, posterior margin of lower side wide in middle; tibite wide, palmate, external teeth strong and close together; intermediate tibiw wide, incrassate, external edge arcuate above subapical spur, this strong, acute. Length 13-5-16, breadth 3-3-4-2mm. Hah.: New South Wales — Urana . District (Sloane); Victoria — Mildura (French). Note. — -Two specimens have been sent to me by Mr. C. French as coming from near Burketown on the Gulf of Carpentaria, which, though appearing at first sight to be a different species from C. quadratij7'o')i.s, yet, on a close examination, reveal no differences that I can see, except their larger size. I I'egard them as merely the northern form of a widely distributed species (dimensions, head 2*8 x 2-8 mm., prothorax 4'5 x 4-3 mm., elytra 10 X 4'6 mm.). It is possible this may be C. crassicollis, Putz., but it is not to my eye a more elongate and convex species than C. jjlaniceps; besides Putzeys' brief note (not a description) on C. crassicollis seems to infer only 3-dentate anterior tibiae for that species. C. qnadratifroiis is closely allied to C. j)Ianiceps, which it resembles in size and appearance; but decided differences to which attention may be directed are the shorter and more parallel prothorax, the clypeus with the wings less advanced beyond the median part, and the 4-dentate anterior tibite. ClIVINA CARPENTARIA, n.sp. Narrow, cylindrical. Head not rugulose; j)rothorax longer than broad: elytra with stria; entire, fifth joining sixth at base; interstices convex, eighth not visible on apical curve; venti'al segments rugulose laterally; anterior tibia; 4-dentate. Black, shining; legs piceous brown. Head smooth, large, depressed (I'G x 2 nim.); a shallow trans- verse line dividing clypeus from front, and a strong sulcus dividing clypeal wings from supra-antennal plates ; clypeal elevation 176 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, ■well defined, almost semicircular: cl3^peus with median part ti'uncate; wings lightly and abruptly advanced beyond median part, wide, flat, truncate, rounded at external angles and laterally; supra-antennal plates depressed, declivous externally, lightly rounded, narrowly margined; facial sulci short; supra-orbital setse placed near each eye in a short depression, upper edge of this depression forming a thick round carina, lower edge forming a narrow carina; eyes globose, very jarominent, projecting strongly from sides of head. Mandibles large, wide at base, decussating. Mentum deeply and obliquely emarginate; median tooth wide, short; lobes strongl}^ striolate, rounded at apex. Prothorax kevigate, longer than broad (2-8 x 2-5 mm.), widest a little in front of posterior angles, a little narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 2-25 mm.); sides lighth^ and widely sinuate; posterior angles rounded; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles obtuse; border reflexed on sides; median and anterior lines strongly impressed; lateral basal impressions wanting. Elytra cylindrical, parallel, hardly wider than prothorax (5'7 x 2 6 mm.); base widely and very lightly emarginate; shoulders obtuse; apex strongly declivous; strife strongly impressed, crenulate; interstices convex, seventh and eighth uniting and forming a short carina at base; lateral border narrowly reflexed. Prosternum protuberant; intercoxal part wide anteriorly, not transversely sulcate on base; episterna finely rugulose and transversely striolate. Ventral segments smooth in middle, first and second strongly and closely longitu- dinally striolate, third striolate-punctate, fourth, fifth and sixth ruo-ulose-punctate at sides. Anterior femora short, wide, lightly channelled below, posterior margin of lower side wide; anterior tibiae wide, palmate, three external teeth very strong and close together. Length 11, breadth 2-5 mm. Hah. : Queensland — Gulf of Carpentaria (sent to me by Mr. C. French). Qrandiceps grou]). Size large. Head large; clypeus with median part wide, rounded, a light wide sinuosity dividing it on each side from BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 177 wings; these very wide, rounded, hardly more advanced than centre of median part. Mandibles long, decussating, wide at base. Labrum 5-setose. Palpi filiform; labial with penultimate joint slender, longer than terminal. Prothorax ti"ansverse; border not reaching base on sides of basal curve; anterior mar- ginal puncture very near anterior angle. Elytra with four strije free at base; submarginal humeral carina short, feebly developed. Prosternum with intercoxal part greatly narrowed (not attenuate) anteriorly. Anterior tibiae 4-dentate. Clivina grandiceps, n.sp. Comparatively short. Head large, smooth, vertex convex; prothorax short, lateral border not attaining base; anterior tibiae 4-dentate. Black, shining; legs light piceous brown; palpi piceous. Head large, transverse (2-4 x 2'9 mm.); vertex convex, la?vigate: clypeus slightly rugulose, divided from front by a straight trans- verse impression (this impression hardly distinct in middle); anterior margin sinuate; median part lightly rounded in middle; wings large, wide, divided from median part by a light sinuosity, widely rounded in front and laterally, a little more prominent than median part, lateral setse placed in a sharply defined fovei- form puncture about middle of each wing; supra-antennal plates small, convex, divided from clypeal wings by a light sinuosity, roundly protuberant and margined laterally; facial sulci lightly impressed, two supra-orbital sette on each side placed a considei-- able distance from eye in a deep groove, the lower as well as the upper edge of this groove carinate; eyes convex," projecting beyond supra-antennal plates; orbits enclosing eyes lightly behind, slopmg obliquely to neck. Mandibles large, wide at base, decussating. Labrum large; anterior margin subrotundate (lightly truncate in middle), 5-setose. Mentum lightly and squarely emarginate; median tooth short, widely triangular; lobes rugulose, wide, obliquely truncate to apex on external side. Palpi filiform. Antenn;e long, slender, not incrassate, first joint long (about as long as two succeeding ones). Prothorax short, transverse (2-2 x 2-9 mm.), 12 178 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIXIDES, widest just behind anterior angles, convex, slightly depressed on each side of median line, abruptly declivous to base; sides parallel; anterior margin emarginate in middle; anterior angles obtuse, explanate: posterior angles wide, but marked; basal curve short; lateral border wide and reflexed on sides, interrupted and upturned at posterior angles just befoi'e posterior marginal puncture, thick and indistinct on anterior j)art of basal curve, obsolete on posterior part and not reaching base; border strongly reflexed and marginal channel wide on base; median and anterior lines strongly im- pi'essed; lateral marginal punctures large, anterior placed near anterior angle on the explanate border. Elytra convex, very little wider than prothorax (5-7 x 31 mm. \ hardly narrowed to base, wide at apex; sides lightly rounded; base truncate; shoulder.s rounded; striee entire, crenulate, strongly impressed, weaker on apical decHvity, fifth joining sixth at base, seventh obsolete on apical curve; interstices convex, eighth obsolete towards apex; submarginal humeral carina short, thick; lateral border wide, reflexed. Prosternum with intercoxal part lightly concave, narrow (not attenuate) anteriorly, base abrupt, not transversely sulcate; episterna overhanging in front, transversely rugulose- striate. Ventral segments smooth, excepting two basal ones lightly longitudinally striolate. Anterior femora light, lower side straight; anterior tibite 4-dentate, apex strongly outturned, external teeth wide apart, strong, triangular; external spur of intermediate tibii^e fine, acute. Length 10 5, breadth 3-1 mm. Hah. : Queensland — Gulf of Carpentaria (one specimen, given to me by Mr. C. French). r u n c t aticep s gr o up. Size small. Facial sulci not recurved; clypeus with median part emarginate, its angles more or less marked. Elytra with fourth and fifth strife confluent at base, seventh not interrupted at Ijeginning of apical curve; submarginal humeral carina well marked; a distinct elongate striole at base of first interstice. BY THOMAS O. SLOANE. 179 Prosternum with iiitercoxal part attenuate anteriorly, sulcate on base. Anterior femora with posterior margin of lower side strongly dilatate in middle, tibia? 4-dentate. Tahlc. of species. . T^ , -1 ■ , ., , , , , \ C. punctatker)^,'P\\tz. A. Jborm cvlindncal, prothorax longer than broad... i ^ . . ,. 01 ^ ^ I C. (umidipes, bl. AA. Form subdepressed, prothorax broader than long ; C. lohipes, SI. Clivina punctaticeps, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1868, xi. p. 18. Closely allied to C. tximidipes, SI., of which it seems the northern form, and from which it only appears to differ by its ferruginous colour; prothorax proportionately wider; elytra a little more deeply striate, the interstices more convex. The legs are similar in all respects. I offer the following brief diagnosis founded on a specimen sent to me for examination by the Rev. Thos. Blackburn : — Elongate, cylindrical. Head moderate; front punctulate; vertex coarsely punctulate in middle and posteriorly from side to side: clypeus with median part projecting strongly beyond wings, lightly emarginate, its angles prominent, triangular; wings small, rounded, strongly divided from median part and lightly from supra-antennal plates. Prothorax a little longer than broad (1-6 X 1-5 mm.), a little narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1-3 mm.). Elytra oval (3"5 x 1"75 mm.), strongly punctate-striate; fourth stria joining fifth at base; a distinct striole at base of fii'st inter- stice; the interstices convex, eighth well defined for whole length, carinate at base. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly. Anterior femora tliick, strongly and roundly dilatate on middle of lower side; anterior tibiae 4-dentate. Length 5-5-6, breadth 1-7-1 "75 mm. II ab. : Queensland — Cape York ; Rockhampton (Coll. Black- burn; Macleay Museum). 180 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIMDES, ClIVINA TUMIDIPES, ll.Sp. RL.S.N.S.W. 1889 (2), iv. p. 720. Elongate, parallel. Head punctulate anteriorly, eyes prominent; prothorax longer than broad, convex : elytra parallel, convex, punctate-striate; fourth and fifth stripe confluent at base; a short distinct submarginal carina at shoulder; an elongate fine stride at base of first interstice; anterior femora with j^osterior margin of lower side strongly atid roundly dilatate, anterior tibia? 4- dentate. Black, shining; under surface piceous; anterior legs piceous brown; four posterior legs, antennae and palpi reddish testaceous. Head moderate; front closely and finely punctate; vertex smooth (sometimes some fine punctures near jjosterior extremity of each facial carina): clypeus not divided from front; median part deeply and rather angularly emarginate, its angles obtuse, very lightly advanced beyond and hardly divided from wings; these small, hardly divided laterally from supra-antennal plates; lateral setfe of clypeus placed in a rugose depression at base of each wing; supra-antennal plates small, depressed; eyes globose, prominent, lightly enclosed behind; orbits abrupt behind. Prothorax smooth (sometimes a few transverse wrinkles on disc), longer than broad (1'7 x 1-5 mm.), widest near posterior angles, very little narrowed anterioi'ly (ant. width 1*4 mm.); sides lightly subsinuate behind anterior marginal punctures, decidedly narrowed from these to anterior angles; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles projecting very slightly; lateral basal impressions obsolete. Elytra narrow, parallel, hardly wider than prothorax (4 x 1-7 mm); base truncate; striae entire, narrow, lighter towards apex, closely punctate, seventh strongly marked in all its course; interstices lightly convex, eighth well developed on apical curve. Prosternum Avith intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base; episterna overhanging greatly anteriorly, shagreened, trans- versely striolate. Ventral segments minutely shagreened under a strong lens. Anterior femora short, wide, qompressed; anterior tibise with two strong external teeth and a short ti'iangular BY THOMAS G. SLOANB. 181 prominence above apical projection; anterior trochanters projecting lightly and obtusely beyond base of femora. Length 5-6-7, breadth 1-3-1 -7 mm. I lab. : N.S. Wales — Junee District, Urana District (Sloane); Victoria — Swan Hill (French); South Australia — Adelaide (Black- burn). This species must be very closely allied to C. emarginata, Putz., but evidently differs in colour. I took it plentifully twenty miles north-east from the town of Urana on the margins of tanks dug to water sheep (the only permanent water), in the months of December and January; as many as 32 specimens were washed out of part of the muddy margin of one tank in less than half an hour. Clivina emarginata, Putzeys. Ann. 8oc. Ent. Belg. 1868, xi. p. 15. " Nigra nitida, ore, antennis, pedibus, elytrorum basi apiceque externis testaceis. Clypeus emarginatus, alis suba^qualis. Vertex antice profunde et dense punctatus. Prothorax subquadratus, Ivevis. Elytra cylindrica, basi intus oblique truncata, humeris rotundatis. Femora antica extus in medio inferiore dilatata. Long. 5f, El. 4, Lat. 1^ mill."* M. Putzeys supplemented this diagnosis by remarks which I translate as follows : — This species forms a link between the twenty-seventh group in which the rounded wings of the epistoma extend considerably beyond the epistoma itself and the twenty-eighth,! in which the * It is evident there is an error in these measurements; the length given for the elytra is certainly too great. t By twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth groups M. Putzeys appears to have meant, on this occasion, the groups of which C. nyctosyloides, Putz., for which he formed a new tAventy-seventh group in place of his old twenty-seventh, C procera being transferred to Scolyptus, and C. heterogena, Putz., are respectively the types; but as on the following page he refers C. heterogena to a thirtieth group it is apparent that twenty-eighth is a mistake. 182 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIXIBES, epistonia, more or less emarginate, has its angles prominent, extending beyond the wings, which are usually angular. In C. emarginata the epistoma is deeply emarginate; its angles are not more advanced than the wings, from which it appears to be separated by a depression which there is between them. The anterior elevation, broad, though but little raised, is strongly punctate the same as all the anterior part of the head; the puncturation almost disappears on the vertex, which is very convex and the fovea of which is shallow. The pro thorax is almost square, just a little longer than broad; the sides are lightly narrowed at the anterior third, but then regain their width up to the anterior angles, which are obtuse and declivous. The surface is smooth, the median line is very deep from the base to the anterior line; one can hardly distinguish a feeble trace of the two lateral fovese. The elytra are cylindrical, obliquely truncate, internally at the base; the shoulders are rounded; the strise become hardly distinct towards the apex; they are strongly punctate. The anterior femora are thick, their lower surface is dilatate externally so as to form a rounded prominence, but the trochanter projecting at the aj)ex makes a prominent angle. Australia. One specimen (Coll. Casteln.) In facies G. emarginata must resemble C. tumidipes, SI., but it is differently coloured. The clypeus may resemble that of C. lobipes, SL, but seems as if it should be not unlike C. hovillce, Blkb. I should expect the tibiae to be 4-dentate, and the prosternum with the intercoxal part narrow. Its colour should render its recognition easy. I have associated it with C. adelaidcf on account of the form of the anterior femora. Clivina lobipes, n.sp. Robust, parallel, subdepressed. Head short, wide, finely rugulose-punctate; prothorax subquadrate, punctate on disc; elytra punctate-striate, fourth stria joining fifth at base; proster- num with intercoxal part attenuate, transversely sulcate on base, episterna strongly rugose and transversely striolate; anterior BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 183 femora lobate, tibise strongly 4-dentate. Reddish piceous; elytra lighter coloured than head and prothorax, with a dark piceous spot on posterior part of disc. Head wide, depressed; front and clypeal elevation closely rugulose-punctate; a round fovea in middle behind punctate part; vertex wide, smooth; frontal impressions wide, shallow; facial sulci lightly impressed; clypeal elevation hardly raised: clypeus not divided from front; median part deeply emarginate, defined on each side by a slight ridge, not angulate laterally; wings small, not divided from median part, sloping roundly backwards to and divided from supra-antennal plates by a faint wide sinuosity; eyes prominent, hemispherical, lightly enclosed behind. Prothorax subquadrate (1-5 x 1-55 mm.), lightly convex, coarsely punctate except on anterior part of disc and near sides; anterior margin truncate, angles obtuse, but marked; sides parallel, lightly and widely emarginate; posterior angles marked; basal curve sloping sharply to base on each side; median line deeply, anterior line lightly impressed. Elytra very little wider than prothorax (3-2 X 1-6 mm.), convex — not cylindrical, — parallel on sides; base truncate; shoulders rounded, with border prominent; stri« entire, seventh not interiyipted at beginning of apical curve- interstices lightly convex, eighth finally carinate at base, narrow and lightly carinate near apex. Anterior femora with lower side forming a wide round pi'otuberance; external spur of intermediate tibife long, acute. Length 6"3, breadth 1'6 mm. Hah. : Queensland — King's Plains Station (28 miles S. W. from Cooktown; one specimen sent to me by Mr. N. H. Gibson). It seems to be allied to C. emarginata, Putz.; the clypeus and anterior femora are apparently similar, but C. lohipes is evidently a broader species, differing in having the prothorax not longer than broad, and roughly punctate on the disc. From C. tumidipes, SI., and C. pu7ictaticeps, Putz., species with lobate anterior femora, it is easily distinguished by its wider and less cylindrical form, shorter punctate prothorax, &c. 184 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, B lac kburni group. Size small, form cylindrical. Head large, convex; occiput short, wide; eyes not prominent; facial sulci recurved; clj^peus with angles of median part very lightly advanced beyond wings, these with external angles rounded, but marked; supra-antennal plates projecting strongly beyond clypeus. Prothorax longer than broad, anterior line wanting. Elytra with fourth and fifth stria? confluent at base. Presternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly, sulcate on base Anterior tibiae 4-dentate. The facies of this species, the short wide head, the long naiTow cylindrical prothorax and elytra, the non-prominent eyes, &c., have caused me to separate C. hiackhurni from C. heterogena, Putz., and form a distinct group for it. Clivina blackburxi, n..sp. Narrow, parallel, cylindrical. Head large, facial sulci recurved, eyes very depressed; prothorax longer than broad, anterior line wanting : elytra lightly punctate-striate, fourth stria joining fifth at base, interstices depressed, eighth carinate at base, narrow and carinate on apical curve; anterior tibiae 4-dentate. Piceous brown. Head large, convex; vertex smooth; front finely punctate: clypeus not divided from front, declivous to median part; this depressed, truncate-emarginate, its angles projecting lightly and obtusely beyond wings, lateral ridges short, wide, distinct; wings subquadrate, with external angles rounded; supra-antennal plates long, lightly rounded externally, projecting sharply and decidedly beyond wings of clypeus, bordered; a longitudinal ridge extending backwai'ds from base of clypeal wings; facial sulci lightly impressed, an elongate impression extending backwards from their anterior part; facial carinte distant from eyes, short; eyes depressed, deeply set in head, hardly projecting; orbits foi'm- ing a thick ridge above eyes, projecting sharply but lightly from head behind. Antennae moniliform, incrassate; joints 5-11 very short, transverse, compressed. Mentum deeply emarginate; BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 185 median tooth moderate, triangular, pointed. Mandibles short, thick. Prothorax smooth (a few light i-ugre near sides), parallel, very little wider than head with eyes, longer than broad (1'4 x 1 mm.), roundly and strongly declivous to base; anterior margin truncate; base wide; basal curve short, rounded; posterior angles widely rounded; basal angles obtuse; median line well marked, linear. Elytra parallel, cylindrical (3 x 1-2 mm.), truncate at base, widely rounded at apex; apical declivity roundly abrupt; striae entire, lightly impressed, finely punctate; interstices not at all convex, posterior puncture of third much nearer apex than usual. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorl}^, transversely sulcate on base; episterna obsoletely transversely striolate, overhanging anteriorly. Legs short; anterior femora short, thick, rounded on lower side; anterior tibiae strongly 4- dentate; upper tooth short, triangular; posterior tibite short, incrassate. Length 5 3, breadth 1-2 mm. Hah : South Australia — Lake Callabonna. A ver}' distinct species; its narrow cylindrical shape, with the elytra shortly and widely terminated, give it a general resemblance to a member of the family Bodnjckklos. Clivina olliffi, n sp. Robust, parallel. Head large; prothorax a little broader than long : elytra long, parallel; fourth stria joining fifth at base; submarginal humeral carina feebly developed; eighth interstice marked, but not carinate on apical curve; a we'll marked striole at base of first interstice. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly; transverse sulcus of base obsolete. Anterior tibije 4-dentate. Black; prothorax piceous black; anterior legs testaceous brown, four posterior legs testaceous. Head large (1-3 x I'-o mm.), densely rugose-punctulate on guke and behind eyes; vertex convex, laevigate; front lightly impressed and punctulate in middle, lightly and widely impressed on each side (the impressions a little rugulose); clypeal elevation slightly 186 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIViyiDES, raised, narrow, arcuate : clypeus wide, depressed; median part truncate, its angles small, triangular, projecting; wings strongly divided from median part, anterior margin sloping lightl}'^ forward to external angles, these prominent, obtuse at apex; supra- antennal plates depressed, very strongly divided from clypeal wings, prominent and rounded externally, eyes convex, not promin- ent, lightly enclosed behind; facial sulci obsolete; facial carinas short, distant from eyes. Mandibles wide, short, lightly decussating. Labrum 5-setose. Mentum rugulose-striate. Labial palpi slender, two apical joints of about equal length. Antennae short, lightly incrassate. Prothorax a little broader than long (1'8 x 1"9 mm.), lightly convex, subdepressed along median line, lightly declivous to base, transversely striolate, lightly punctulate except near anterior margin on middle of disc and on basal declivity; sides parallel, not narrowed anteriorly; posterior angles rounded, not marked; anterior margin truncate on each side, emarginate in middle; anterior angles obtuse; border narrow; median line deeply impressed; anterior line well marked; lateral basal impressions hardly marked. Elytra hardly wider than prothorax (4 "5 x 2 mm.), widest behind middle, subparallel on sides, very lightly rounded, a little narrowed to shoulders; disc subdepressed; sides and apex strongly and deeply declivous; base truncate; shoulders marked; strise deep, except towards apex, sti'ongly crenulate-punctate, seventh entire; interstices subde- pressed, hardly convex, eighth convex, narrow (hardly carinate) on apical curve, greatly narrowed about basal fifth, shortly and feebly carinate at humeral angle; lateral channel shallow; posterior puncture of third interstice placed at extremity of third and fourth strise. Prosternum protuberant; episterna shagreened, obsoletely transversely striolate, overhanging anteriorly. Anterior trochanters projecting strongly and obtusely at apex; femora wide, compressed, posterior edge of lower side rounded; tibise wide, palmate; external spur of intermediate tibiee long, acute. Length 8, breadth 2 mm. Hah. : West Australia - Beverley (sent to me by Mr. A M. Lea). BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 187 A remarkable and isolated species, for which I have found it necessary to form a separate group. In general appearance, shape of head, prothorax, elytra, prosternnm and legs it resembles the species of the '■^crihrosa ffvoup"; but the fourth stria is out- turned to join the fifth at the base. The crenulations of the elytral strite are deep and punctiform, and from them fine short transverse strife are given off, causing the interstices to have an undulate appearance. The external angles of the clypeal wings are strongly marked and quite as advanced as (if not a little more so than) the angles of the median part; the anterior margin of the wings slopes inwards and thus causes the median part to i^roject sharplj' forward on each side. The elytra are concave on the three inner interstices near the base, and have a distinct elongate scutellar striole. I have named this species in memor}'- of my friend Mr. A. S. Olliff, late Grovernment Entomologist for New South Wales. Heterogena group. Size small. Eyes prominent; clypeus with median part angular, the angles projecting beyond the wings, these angular laterally. Elytra with fourth and fifth striae confluent at base, seventh not interrupted at beginning of apical curve; submarginal humeral carina present; no striole noticeable at base of first interstice. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly, sulcate on base. Anterior tibiae 4-dentate. Nine species, viz., C. angustula, Putz., C. australica,- SL, C. deplanata, Putz., C difformis, Putz., C. Jiava, Putz., (1. heterogena, Putz., C. odontomera, Putz., G. oodnadattce, Blkb., and C. tuher- ctdifrons, Blkb., seem to belong to this group; of these I know only two, therefore do not attempt to tabulate them. Clivina heterogena, Putzeys. Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 41; Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, X. p. 189. 188 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIXIDES, Although I have a suspicion that C. heteroyena will ultimately prove to be identical with C. angustula, the evidence before me is insufficient to enable me to feel absolutely certain about this; I therefore append a translation of the description of C. heterogena. The anterior elevation, well marked and rather short, is separated from the vertex by a punctate impression of but little depth; the svuiimit of the head bears a wide longitudinal im- pression containing some large punctures ; the punctures on each side near the eyes are of the same size. The eyes, of which only half is distinct, are very prominent. The prothorax is square, a little sinuate on the sides, as broad in front as behind; all the surface, except the anterior part in the middle, is covered with very distinct punctures. The elytra are very elongate [and] cylindrical; their rounded shoulders are reflexed; they are of a piceous brown, but their external border, the suture before and behind, and the shoulders are of a testaceous colour. The fourth stria turns out at the base and reaches the eighth interstice. The under surface of the body is black; the legs, except the upper side of the femora, the palpi and the antennte are testaceous. The anterior tibife have externally two very long teeth and a small not very distinct tooth. Length b^, El. 2|, breadth l|mm. Australia. One specimen belonging to M. de Chaudoir, who received it from M. Melly. The specimen noted under form " e " of C. angustula, Putz., (vide post), from Windsor, N.S.W., agrees in all respects with the description of 6'. heterogena. If "e" be merely a form of C, angustnla, then that species must sink to a synonym of C. heterogena; but this is a point which, with the identity of C. difformis, Putz., and C. odontomera, Putz., cannot be determined till exhaustive series of specimens of C. angustula and allied forms, from various localities (including Rockhampton) on the east coast of Australia, have been examined. BY THOMAS G, SLOANE. 189 Clivina axgustula, Putzeys. Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 42; Ami. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, X. p. 190. Narrow, parallel, subcylindrical. Black, head and prothorax piceous black; elytra with suture and margins (excepting base) reddish; legs reddish, four posterior paler than anterior. Head wide, short before eyes, front and vertex punctate : clyj^eus divided from front by a wide shallow punctate depression; clypeal elevation prominent, widely rounded; a wide depressed space near anterior margin; median part emarginate-truncate, the angles lightly advanced beyond wings, obtuse; wings square, with external angles rounded, supra-antennal plates wide, rounded externally, projecting decidedly be)7ond clypeal wings; eyes prominent; facial sulci hardly impressed, facial carinse narrow, well developed. Prothorax about as long as broad (1 -3 x 1-2 mm.) a little narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1-1 mm.), convex, punctate; sides lightly and widely sinuate behind anterior marginal puncture. Elytra parallel (2*7 x 1-3 mm.), convex, punctate-striate; strife entire; eighth interstice carinate at base and on apical curve. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly; episterna rugulose and striolate. Anterior tibiae -l-dentate. Length 4-2-5-2, breadth 1-1 '4 mm. Hah. : N.S. Wales — Clarence River, Windsor (Lea), Carrathool (Sloane); Victoria — Lillydale, Ferntree Gully (Sloane); South Australia (Blackburn). The description given above is founded on specimens taken at Lillydale and Ferntree Gully, near Melbourne. Putzeys' descrip- tion suggests the inference that the prothorax is not narrowed anteriorly, but in my. specimens, which I have no doubt are C. angiistula, Putz., the prothorax certainly is narrowed ; different specimens vary in degree in this respect, which I believe to be a sexual difference. 190 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLiriNIDES, C. angustula seems to present considerable differences in colour and size;* its constant features are the puncturation of the head and prothorax, the form of the clypeus, the striation of the elytra, the anterior femora not dilatate on lower side, the trochanters prominent at Ijase of femora, and the digitation of the anterior tibiae. I offer the following notes on some variations that have come under my notice : — (1). A numerous series of specimens sent to me by Mr. A. M. Lea, taken at Windsor, N.S.W., vary as follows: — Length 4-2-5-2, breadth 1-1-4: mm. Colour (a) testaceous (immature); (b) ferruginous (slight!}^ immatui'e 1); (c) ferruginous with interstices 2-5 of elytra obscurely piceous on posterior part of disc; (d) ferruginous with interstices 2-5 wholly piceous except at apex; (e) head and prothorax piceous brown, elytra reddish with interstices 2-4 piceous black on posterior part of disc and apical declivity. (2). Specimens from the Clarence River, also received from Mr. Lea, are apparently narrower and more depressed, testaceous with posterior part, excepting apices of interstices 2-4, obscurely piceous. This form seems a variety or closely allied species, but requires studying with more specimens than are available to me. (3). Specimens from Carrathool ( INIurrumbidgee River) have the elytra more depressed; one specimen (immature) is pale testaceous, the others are coloured as in the description above. This form has also been sent to me by the Rev. T. Blackburn, from South Australia; it seems likely to be C. deiylanata, Putz. (4). A specimen has been sent to me by the Rev. T. Blackburn, which cannot in any way be distinguished from " No. 3 " above, except by having the anterior femora with the lower edge form- ing a decidedly acute triangular projection about anterior third. This might be C. odonto'mera, Putz., but I should be unwilling to * Vide Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, x. p. 190, where seven varieties aie noted by M. Putzeys. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 191 separate it from " ISTo. 3 " on a single specimen, and without a knowledge that the form of the lower side of the tibiae was con- stant; especially seeing that gummed on the same card, and therefore presumably from the same locality, was a specimen exactly resembling it, but with femora as in C. angustida. Clivina deplaxata, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, x. p. 190, In his unsatisfactory note on this species all that M. Putzeys has to say is that it is with hesitation he separates this species from C. angustula, which it resembles in every respect except that the prothorax is a little broader and especially decidedly flatter. The colour is as variable as in 0. angustida. All the specimens seen came from Melbourne. Clivina flava, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1868, xi. p. 17. " Testaceo-flava, capite prothoraceque obscurioribus. Caput in vertice late nee profunde foveolatum, parce punctulatum. Pro- thorax brevis subquadratus, angulis anticis deflexis, lateribus I'ectis, utrinque in medio praesertim punctatus. Elytra sub- cylindrica, basi truncata, humeris rotundatis, striis integris punctatis, interstitio 3° quadripunctato. Tibise antice latse, apice longe digitatse, extus bidigitattie denticuloque superiore armatae. "Long. 5i, El. 2|, Lat. IJ mill." Putzeys' remarks on this species are A'ery full. I select for translation those bearing on important features.. Of a testaceous red, with the head, prothorax, and apex of the mandibles of a clear brown. The epistoma is rather narrow, a little emarginate; its angles are prominent and project beyond the little wings, which are very definitely separated from them; the anterior elevation is hardly marked, glabrous, separated from the vertex by a deep irregular punctate impression. The vertex bears a longitudinal fovea, in the centre of which some large punctures are noticeable; the occiput and the sides of 192 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, the head alike bear some punctures. The eyes are very promi- nent and project decidedly beyond the large wings; the posterior border extends over half their breadth. The prothoi^ax is almost square, a little broader than long; the anterior margin is not emarginate; the sides are straight; the anterior angles are obtuse, but depressed; the border widens a little and forms a slight prominence at the posterior angles, wliich are marked by a large puncture; the surface is very lightly convex; the median line is wider and deeper anteriorly than towards the base; each side of the prothorax is covered with punctures, which ax'e particularly distinct in the middle and do not extend to the base; the two lateral impressions are oblong and very ligljtly marked. The elytra are a little wider than the prothorax, cylindrical, truncate at the base; their shoulders are rounded; the striae are deep and very distinct for their whole length, punctate almost to the apex; the interstices are lightly convex. The head is strongly rugose beneath; the prothorax is much more finely rugose and transversely striolate. The abdomen is smooth. The anterior trochanters form a feeble prominence at the base of the femora; the tibiae are wide, strongly digitate externally, and sulcate on upper surface; the intermediate tibipe have three or four spiniform bristles above the spur. Hab. — Rockhampton (Coll. Castelnau; several specimens). I have been unable to identify C. Jiava among the species I have seen. Clivina difformis, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1868, xi. p. 19. "Castanea, capite elytroque singulo in medio piceo; palpis, antennis pedibusque brunneo-testaceis. Prothorax elongatus, antice angustatus obsolete punctulatus. Elytra cylindrica, basi truncata. Tibial anticae extus bidentatse. "Long. 51 El. ^, Lat. 1^ mill." BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 193 The following is a translation of Putzeys' remarks on this species, which is unknown to me : — The vertex is punctate; it bears a lightly impressed oblong wide fovea, where the punctures are denser. The antennse are thick, moniiiform. The eyes are prominent, but greatly enclosed by the postooular tubercles. The prothorax is longer than broad, narrowed in front, but particularly behind the anterior angles; these are lightly advanced; the posterior angles are distinct; the lightly convex surface bears some striolie and some small scattered punctures. The elytra are cylindrical; their base is truncate, but the shoulders are a little rounded; under a strong lens it is seen that the interstices are covered with small transverse undulations not close together. The elytra are piceous, with all their margins (including the suture^ of a rather clear brown. The femora are narrow. The anterior tibia?, sulcate on upper side, have externally two very strong teeth. The apical digitation is thickei', and one-half longer than the inner apical spine. Hah. : Probably the north-west of Australia (Coll. Castelnau; a single specimen only). Clivixa australica, n.sp. Narrow, parallel, subcylindrical. Head short, convex; eyes large, convex, not prominent; facial sulci lightly recurved: pro- thorax parallel, longer than broad: elytra long, parallel; fourth stria joining fifth at base; eighth interstice distinct on apical curve; submarginal humeral carina moderate, narrow; prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly; episterna very finely striolate near lateral margins, overhanging anteriorly; anterior tibise 4-dentate. Ferruginous. Head sparsely covered with minute, nearly obsolete punctures: clj'^peus with median pax't wide, truncate (obsoletely emarginate between angles), angles obtuse, hardly prominent; wings small, hardly divided from but not so pi'ominent as angles of median part, ■outer angles obtuse, external side straight; supra-antennal plates 13 19-1: ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVJXIDES, projecting sharply beyond wings; recurved part of facial sulci well marked, lightly oblique; facial carinie well developed, narrow; eyes very lightly enclosed behind. Prothorax longer than broad {1-15x1 mm.\ hardly narrowed anteriorly, declivous to base, transversely striolate near sides; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles marked, not prominent; posterior angles widely rounded; border narrow; median line strongly impressed; anterior line lightly marked; lateral basal impressions obsolete. Elytra hardly wider than prothorax (2-3 x 1-1 mm.), parallel, convex, widely rounded, and very declivous to apex; base lightly emarginate; shoulders rounded but marked; striae lightly impressed, entire, finely punctate, seventh not interrupted near apical curve; interstices lightly convex on anterior part of disc. Anterior femora short, wide; intermediate tibite wide, external margin arcuate, external spur long, slender, acute. Length 4-3, breadth I'l ram. Rab. : N. W. Australia (sent by Mr. Masters. ) Allied to 0. angustula, Putz., but distinguished hj its more cylindrical form, impunctate prothoi'ax, etc. The form of the clypeus is as in C. dorsaJis, Blkb., but the outer angles of the wings ai'e more rectangular. It should resemble, judging from the description, C. verticalis, Putz.. but is smaller, its prothorax is exceptionally long, and the outer angles of the wings of the clypeus should be more marked. It is evidently distinct from C. difformis, Putz.; attention may be directed to the follow- ing points of difiference from Putzeys' description, the smaller size, different colour, eyes lightly enclosed in the weakly developed posterior part of orbits, anterior femora wide, tiliiie 4-dentate. Clivina odontomera, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1868, xi. p. 18. " Dilute brunnea. Caput undique grosse rugoso-punctatum. Prothorax latitudine longior, convexus, antice parum augustatus, parce punctulatus. Elytra subcylindi'ica, basi intus truncata, humeris rotundatis, striis integris punctatis, interstitio 3" BY THOMAS' G. SLOANE. 195 4-punctato. Femora antica subtus ante apicem dentata; tibitie latjB, apice longe digitata?, extus digitatfe [l bidigitatae] deuticuloque superiore ai'niatse. " Long. 5, El. 3^, Lat. 1^ mill." " Rockliampton (Coll. Castelnau).' Appended is a translation of his further remarks on this species : — It has the appearance of C. punctatlceps; however, the prothorax is more convex, narrower, particularly anteriorly; it is usually a little more distinctly punctate. The epistoma is wider, more truncate; the head is covered with punctures [which are] much more numerous and almost rugulose. The anterior femora, less wide and less thick, have not beneath an inflation analogous to that of C. lohata, but they have, a little before the apex, a strong acute tooth, and the apex of the trochanters is equally I'aised in the form of a tooth. It appears to me that C. odontome7-a must be allied rather to C. angiistida, Putz., than to C. adelaidw, Blkb. B ovill(B (jr ou p. Clypeus with median part and wings almost on same level; median part divided from wings on each side by a small triangular sinuosity. Elytra with fourth and fifth stride confluent at base, submarginal humeral carina present. Prosternum with intercoxal part very narrow and canaliculate anteriorly, sulcate on base; pectoral ridges short, well developed. Anterior tibiae 4-dentate. I do not feel sure that I am right in separating G. hovillce. from the '■'■ heUrogena grouj)" ; this has been done on account of the different form of the intercoxal part of the prosternum. Pro- bably the " pu7ictaticeps, b/ackbur7ii, ollijfi, heterogena, and bovUlce groujjs " might with advantage be regarded as sections of one large group. Clivina bovill.e, Blackburn. P.L.S.N.S.W. 1889 (2), iv. p. 717. Piceous brown. Robust, parallel. Head wide, depressed anteriorly; clypeal elevation prominent, convex, hardly arcuate: 19G ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLiVIS IDES, clypeus widely depressed near anterior margin; median part wide, sul)truncate (hardly emarginate), its angles obtuse, very lightly marked, hardly advanced beyond wings; these small, with extei'nal angles rounded; supra-antennal plates })r()iecting sharply and decidedly Ijeyond wings; facial carime wide; e^-es prominent, enclosed l:)ehind. Prothorax convex, subquadrate (1-65 x 1 -65 mm), lightly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1'5 mm ); sides hardly rounded (not sinuate); basal curve short. Elytra wider than prothorax (3-6 x I "9 mm.), convex; sides parallel; lateral channel wide and strongly bordered at shoulders; •stri;i' entire, deeply impressed, finely cz^enulate; interstices convex (depressed near apex), eigh^ narrowly carinate at base and apex. Prosternum with intercoxal part small, narrow and canaliculate anteriorly, base sulcate; pectoral ridges short, distinct; episterna coarsely rugulose. Anterior femora wide; tibiie strongly 4-dentate, the upper tooth small. Length 6-6 -8, breadth 1-7-1 -9 mm. Hah. : Northern Territory of S.A. (Mrs. Bovill); West Aus- tralia; Queensland — Gulf of Carpentaria (received from Mr. French). The jDosition of C. boviJlce is between C. australasire, Boh., and C. heterogena, Putz. The clypeus conforms nearly to that of 0. heterogena, but the intercoxal part of the prosternum, though narrower than in C. au^tralasioi, is wider and does not form a narrow ridge, as it does in C. heterogena. It appears to be widely spread along the north coast of Australia, and judging from specimens in my possession varies considerably in facies; the form of the clypeus and the intercoxal part of the prosternum are its constant features. The description given above is founded on a type specimen kindly lent to me by the Rev. T. Blackburn. Clivina cava, Putzeys. Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 38: Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, X. p. 184; I.e. xi. p. 13. Convex, parallel. Head wide, depressed; eyes prominent; prothorax subquadrate: elytra with strife entire, punctate, fourth BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 197 joining fifth ut base; submarginal humeral carina short, weak; interstices lightl}' convex, eighth carinate at apex: prosternum with intercoxal part angustate (narrow, but not attenuate) anteriorly, sulcate on base; epistei'na very finely transversely striolate; anterior tibiae strongly 4-dentate. Ferruginous brown, legs testaceous. Head with front and vertex depressed, finely but distinctly punctate; supra-antennal plates and' wings of clypeus flat; clypeal elevation lightly raised, subtruncate (lightly rounded): clypeus not divided from front, depressed near anterior margin; median part with margin lightly rounded; wings short, wide, strongly advanced beyond median part, external angles rounded but a little marked; supra-antennal plates projecting strongly and sharply beyond wings of clypeus; eyes prominent, convex, very lightly enclosed. Prothorax subquadrate (1'8 x 1-8 mm.), very little narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1 '65 mm.); disc smooth; basal declivity rugulose; sides subparallel, hardly rounded or sinuate; posterior angles rounded, but lightly marked; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles rounded, not marked; Ijorder reflexed, passing round anterior angles; median and anterior lines well marked; lateral basal impressions rather long, deep, narrow, punctulate. El^^tra wider than prothorax (3-8 x 2 mm.), parallel on sides, widely rounded at apex; base truncate towards sides, emarginate in middle; shoulders rounded, seventh stina entire, not interrupted at beginning of apical curve. Anterior femora short, wide Length 7, breadth 2 mm. Hab. : North-west Australia (two specimens sent by Mr. Masters); Queensland — Rockhampton (Putzeys; Coll. Castelnau). The species on which the above description is founded agrees so well with Putzeys' description of C. cava, that I have little hesitation in regarding it as that species. The strongly i-dentate anterior tibife associate it with (J. hovilhe, Blkb., but the depressed head and the clypeus deeply truncate-emarginate, with wide wings isolate it from all other Australian species. I have not included it among the species of the "■ australadce grouj)," but ha\e felt unwilling to form a separate group for it, so have left it 198 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIMDBS, in an intermediate position between the " bovilhe " and "austra- lasice groups." A u s tr al a s ice g r o up. Mandibles short; eyes prominent; clypeus with anterior margin emarginate, wings widely rounded, not divided from median part. Elytra with fourth and fifth strise confluent at base; submarginal humeral carina well developed; eight interstice carinate near apex. The ^^ australasice group" may be divided into four sections as shown in the following table : — A. Prosternal episterna more or less rugulose-striolate, not punctate. B. Prosteviuim with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly, anterior tibiae 4-dentate Section I. (Type C seJlata). BB. Presternum with intercoxal part narrow anteriorly, anterior tibiae with two strongexternal teeth and a slight prominence above apical projection Section II. (Ty^e C. atistralasia-). BBB. Prosternum with intercoxal part wide anteriorly, anterior tibise 3-dentate Section III. (Type C. basalis). AA. Prosternal episterna punctate Section IV. (Type C. jjectoralis). Section I. Table of Sj)ecii known to me. c. Bicolorous C. -stllata, Putz. cc. Unicolorous. d. Anterior tibiie 4-dentate C. ferruginea, Putz. dd. Anterior tibite ^-dentate. e. Black, convex, interstices of elj'tra convex C. ore uUa, SI. ee. Testaceous, depressed; interstices of elytra flat (size veiy small) C. nana, Si. It appears as though 0. suturcdis, Putz., C. verticalis, Putz., C. diraidiata, Putz., and C. (vqualis, Blkb., should be placed in this section. BY THOMAS G. SLOAN E. 199 Clivina sellata, Putzeys. Sbett. Eiit. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 40; Ann. See. Ent. Belg. 1866, X. p. 186. Head and pi-o thorax black; elytra testaceous, with a large black patch on posterior part of disc; four postei'ior legs testaceous, anterior legs ferruginous; under surface piceous. Narrow, cylin- drical. Front rugulose-punctate; vertex foveate in middle; clypeus with median part not divided from wings, lightly emarginate; clypeal elevation prominent, arcuate; a decided sinuosity between supra-antennal plates and wings of clypeus. Prothorax smooth (disc lightly transversely striolate and covered with scattered minute punctures), convex, rather longer than broad (1"35 x 1'25 mm.), lightly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1 mm.;. Elytra convex, parallel (2-9 x 1-5 mm.), strongly punctate-striate; striae entire, fourth joining fifth at base; interstices convex, eighth distinct on apical curve; a submarginal carina at shoulder. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base; episterna finely shagreened and transversely striolate. Anterior femora wide, compressed; tibiae 4-dentate (upper tooth a small triangular prominence). Length 4 -3-5 -5, breadth 1-25-1 "5 mm. Hab. : Queensland — Gayndah (Masters); ISr.S. "Wales — Rich- mond River, Tamworth, tSj'dney (Lea), Narrandera, Carrathool, Mulwala, Junee (Sloane); Victoria — Melbourne (Kershaw); South Australia (Masters). The characteristic features of this widely distributed species are the 4-dentate tibia;, the attenuate intercoxal part of the prosternum, and the colour. Immature specimens are often taken of an entirely testaceous colour. Clivina ferruginea, Putzeys. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1868, xi. p. 14. " Ferruginea. Caput in vertice foveolatum, parce punctu- latum. Prothoi-ax subquadratus, antice leviter angustatus, convexus, utrinque in medio et in foveis basalibus oblongis 200 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, puuctulatus. Elytra subcylindrica, basi truncata, humeris sub- rotundatis; striis integris punctatis, intei'stitio tertio quadri- punctato. Tibiae anticse apice longe digitatte, extus bidigitatte danticuloque superiore armatie. "Long. 6, El. 3, Lat. 1| mill." After the Latin diagnosis M. Putzeys has some remarks, of which the following is a translation : — The epistoma roundly emarginate and closely united to the wings, which are rounded, classes the species very clearly among those of the twenty-seventh [? twenty -eighth] group. It has a, very great resemblance to C. fiava, in which, however, the epistoma is quite differently shaped; but the colour of the elytra is the same as that of the head and prothorax; the pro thorax is less quadrate, more elongate, decidedly more convex, the sides are less straight; the vertex is more convex, less punctate, and the anterior elevation is less distinctly separated by a transverse impression. The episterna of the prothorax are hardly distinctly striolate on their internal part. Hah. : Rockhampton (Coll. Castelnau). Specimens sent to me by the Rev. T. Blackburn as coming from Cairns, North Queensland, agree with the description of C. ferruginea, except in the following points: — size a little smaller, prothorax smooth (a few very minute punctures are discernible in and near the lateral basal impi^ession with a very powerful lens). The following brief diagnosis gives particulars of some characters not mentioned by Putzeys. Narrow, cylindrical. Head with a light lateral sinuosit}^ dividing the wings of the clypeus from the supra-antennal plates: prothorax as long as broad (1 -25 x 1 -25 mm.), very lightly narrowed anteriorly: elytra (3 x 1-35 mm.) with strife entire, lightly punctate, fourth joining fifth at base, eighth interstice carinate at base and apex: presternum with pectoral part protuberant; intercoxal part small, attenuate anteriorly, sulcate on base; episterna very finely rugulose and transversely striolate. Anterior BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 201 trochanters projecting beyond base of femora, these not clilatate on lower side; tibiio 4-dentate. Length 5"3, breadth 1-35 mm. A specimen sent by Mr. Masters, as coming from N.W. Aus- tralia, cannot be separated from the specimens from Cairns. Clivina occulta, n.sp. N^arrow, convex. Head wide before eyes; prothorax narrow, convex; elytra strongly punctate-striate, fourth stria outturned and joining fifth at base; prosternum with intercoxal part small, attenuate anteriorly, sulcate on base; anterior tibise wide, stron^^ly 3-dentate. Black, shining; antennte ferruginous, legs reddish testaceous. Head short, rather depressed, sparsely and coarsely punctate; vertex convex; frontal fovete very wide: clypeus lightly declivous to anterior margin; median part truncate, not divided from wings; these oblique on inner side to median part, decidedly advanced beyond median part, \videly and lightly rounded in front; supra-antennal plates wide, rounded externally, projecting lightly but decidedly beyond wings of clypeus; eyes prominent- orbits truncate behind. Prothorax small, narrow, hardly broader than long (1-4 x 1'42 mm.), a little narrowed to apex (ant. width 1-25 mm.), convex, strongly decli^'ous to base; disc transversely striolate; sides widely and very lightly, sinuate behind anterior marginal punctui'e; lateral basal impressions distinct, narrow, elongate-foveiform. Elj-tra narrow (3'25 x 1-65 mm.j, widest behind middle, same width as prothorax at base, truncate on base; strife strongly impressed, entire, coarsely punctate (the punctures stronger than usual towards apex), seventh stria entire; interstices convex, depressed towards apex, eighth shortly carinate at base. Length 6'2, breadth 1-65 mm. Hab. : Queensland — Cape York (Coll. Blackburn; a single specimen). 2U2 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, This species must be associated with C . sellata, Putz., though the form of its clypeus is more that of the " obliqtiata yroup " than of C. sellata. In general appearance it resembles C. queens- landica^ SI., and C. dilutipes, Putz.: from 0. queenslanfJicaitin.a,y be distinguished by its more convex shape; clypeus with median part more truncate, the wings wider, concave, more decidedly advanced beyond median part and roundly subtruncate; elytra with striae more coarsely punctate; prosternum with inter- coxal part attenuate: from 0. dilutipes the wider and punctate anterior part of the head, the stronger external teeth of the anterior tibife, and the shape of the intercoxal part of the prosternum thoroughly differentiate it. Clivina nana, n.sp. Small, depressed, parallel. Head wide, depressed; prothorax subquadrate; elytra lightly crenulate-striate, fourth stria joining fifth at base, interstices flat, eighth weakly carinate at base, finely and weakly carinate near apex; prosternum with intercoxal part narrow anteriorly; episterna minutely rugulose-striolate; anterior tibite wide, strongly 3-dentate. Testaceous, eyes black. Head depressed; vertex rouiidl}^ concave in middle; clypeal elevation well marked, lunulate: clypeus divided from front by a shallow depression, anterior margin subti^uncate (hardly emargi- nate); wings small, not divided from median part, rounded laterally, divided from supra-antennal plates by a decided sinuosity; supra-antennal plates convex, prominent before eyes, extending obliquely backwards without interruption above eyes to form the wide facial carinse; these reaching behind base of eyes; facial im- pressions wide, shallow, not sulciform; eyes depressed. Prothorax depressed, about as long as broad (0-75 x 0-8 mm.), very lightly narrowed anteriorly; disc obsoletely and minutely punctulate; sides roundly subparallel ; basal curve short, lateral channel feebly marked; marginal punctures wide, shallow, the anterior distant from anterior angle, the posterior behind posterior HV THOMAS G. SLOANE. 203 angle, not touching margin. Elytra very little wider than pro- thorax (2 X 0-9 mm.), depressed- sides parallel; base truncate. Length 3-6, breadth 0*9 mm. Hah. : N.S. Wales— Tarn worth (Lea). . An isolated species among those known to me, and the smallest Australian Cli^■ina yet described. Clivina suturalis, Putzeys. Mem. Liege, 1863, xviii. p. 39; Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 40; Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, x. p. 186. " Nigra, nitida, ore, antennis pedibus elytrisque testaceo-ferru- gineis; hisce plaga suturali nigra ornatis. Clypeus truncatus angulis elevatis prominulis. Vertex depressus, punctatus. Pronotum subelongato-quadratum, punctatum, basi utrinque longitudinaliter irapressum. Elytra elongata subcylindrica, profunde punctato-striata. Tibiaj anticie extus obtuse bidentatfe.'' " Long. 6, El. 3, Lat. 11 mm." M. Putzeys added to his Latin diagnosis a fuller description in French; the following is a translation of the more salient parts : — The epistoma is almost truncate, bordered; its angles project in the form of prominent teeth; the wings are hardly distinct from the supra-antennal margins. The vertex is flattened in the middle, irregularly foveolate and punctate; the longitudinal carinas of the sides of the head are very distinct and straight; they do not become broader towards their source. The prothorax is a little longer than broad; its sides are parallel; the anterior angles are lightly rounded and very declivous; the pos- terior angles are only marked by the interruption of the marginal boixler and by a piliferous puncture placed within it; all the surface (except the margins) is covered with rather large punctures, which are stronger and more numerous on the sides near the basal foveae; these are oblong, rather wide, but shallow. The elytra are of the same width as the prothorax, elongate; their sides are almost parallel; the base appears truncate and the 204 ox THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVISIDES, apex is rounded; they are strongly punctate-striate. The scutellar stride is oblique and short. The suture is occupied by a stripe of brown-black which, at the base, covers the first interstice, and becomes wider after the basal fourth without extending beyond the third interstice. ffab. : Australia — Port Phillip; (one specimen). In his " Revision Generale " the following is all that is said of this species : — In a great many respects it comes very near C. verlicaHs; the prothorax has the same foi'm, but it is less convex, longer and still more enlarged behind the anterior angles; it is covered with a vefy distinct puncturation.' The epistoma has the external angle of its wings more marked, simpl}' obtuse, and the wings are not separated from the posterior wings. The anterior elevation is less marked, the vertex has only some scattered punctures anteriorly. All the external teeth of the tibife are obliterated, which may well be only accidental. Length 5, El. 2|, breadth 1| mm. In spite of M, Putzeys' having placed C. snturaUs in a section in which the fourth stria joined the fifth at the base,* I cannot help a suspicion that it did not do so, and that G. suturalis was founded on the same species that Mr. Blackburn has since named C. dorsalis.-f The difference in the dimensions given in Putzeys' two descriptions, apparentl}^ founded on the same specimen, and the absence of any comment thereon are unsatisfactory. Clivina verticalis, Putzeys. Stett, Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 40; Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, x. p. 186. The following is a translation of M. Putzeys' whole descri^ition:— It differs from the preceding [C. sellata] by its wholly testa- ceous colour, a little darker on the head and prothorax, the suture * He placed C. planiceps in the same section, ckle dtile, p. 173. t Vide description of C. dorsalis, ante, p. 109. CY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 205 is slightly brownish. " The decided difference is found in the shape of the prothorax, which is almost square, as broad before as behind; the lateral margin is a little sinuate before the anterior angle. The elytra are more cylindrical, not at all narrowed behind. In all other respects it resembles C. seliata. Length 5^, El. 2|, breadth U mm. Australia — (Coll. Chaudoir; two specimens). I have an immature specimen of C. dorsalif, Blkb., from Victoria, which is wholly testaceous in colour, and I cannot help suspecting that C. verticalis has been founded on immature specimens and is in reality conspecific with C. dorsaJis. In support of this suspicion it may be noted that the characters of the basal stride of the elytra do irot appear to have been taken into account by M. Putzeys at the time he described C. verticalia; under the circumstances there is nothing for it but to retain both names, but, if I am right in my suspicion as to their identity, a want of carefulness on the part of M. Putzeys has saddled the Australian list with at least one name for which no species is likely to be found in nature. Clivina dimidiata, Putzeys. Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 39; Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, X. p. 185. The disposition of the colours is almost tlie same as in C. basal is, but the black part is not so large, very oblique from the lateral mar- gin to the suture where it is prolonged beyond the middle of the elytra; the anterior colour instead of being a dull red is a light reddish testaceous; the legs and antennse are -also of a clearer tint. The eyes are less prominent; the prothorax is less narrowed in front, and less emarginate in the middle of the anterior margin; the elytra are shorter and narrower. Length 7, El. 3-5, breadth 1| mm. Australia — Melbourne (?) (Coll. Chaudoir; two specimens). In addition we learn from the Revision Generale (p. 183) that the central carina of the prosternum is very narrow in G. dimi- diata. It must greatly resemble C. melanopyga, Putz., and 206 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, indeed on account of its having the iiitercoxal pai't of the prosternum very narrow, and from the fact that M. Putzeys in his memoir in the Entomologische Zeitung placed 6'. melanopyga in the same group as G. basalts, taking no notice of the basal characters of the stripe of the elytra, I suspect that it is not unlikely to have been founded on specimens of ('. melanopyga, which, probably chiefly on account of their larger size, had been taken to belong to a distinct species. Section II. ^^ Table of Species. /. Unicolorous. g. Size large O. auMralaHUE, Boheni. f/;/. Size small C. qiicenslandica, SI. ff. Bicolorous. h. Black, with apex of elytra reddish C. leai, SI. hh. Elytra black, with a reddish vitta on each side C. vittata, SI. The species I do not know are C. juveuis, Putz., and C. }i,elinsi; Blkb. Clivina AUSTRALASIA, Bohemann. Res. Eugen. Coleoptera, 1858, p. 8. Robust. Head wide, punctulate on each side at posterior extremity of facial carinse; prothorax not longer than wide, decidedly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width •2-15 mm.); elytra strongly punctate-striate, fourth stria outturned and joining fifth at base, interstices convex, eighth carinate at base and apex; anterior tibise strongly 3-dentate (hardly 4-dentate); inner apical spine (jj) not obtuse at apex. Black, .antennae, tibia? and tarsi piceous! Head large, wide before eyes, obliquely angustate, with a well marked sinuosity between supra-antennal plates and wings of clypeus; front and vertex rather depressed: clypeus obsoletely divided from front; anterior elevation arcuate; anterior margin wide, lightly and roundly emarginate; wings wide, concave, BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 207 rounded, not divided from median part; supra-antennal plates broad, widely depressed near clypeus; facial sulci deep, parallel posteriorly. Prothorax lightly convex, of nearly equal length and breadth (2 "55 x 2-6 mm.;; anterior angles rounded, bordered, lateral basal impressions obsolete, or very faint Elytra long, parallel (6 x 2 "8 mm.), lightly convex; dorsal surface rather depressed; base truncate; marginal channel wide at humeral angle; strij« deep and strongly punctate on disc, becoming faint and finely punctate towards apex; interstices convex, except on apical declivity. Prosternum with intercoxal part narrow anteriorly, sulcate on base; episterna closely rugulose. Anterior tibi» strongly 3-dentate, a sinuosity above upper large tooth causing a fourth tooth to be weakly developed. ^ with anterior tibifB hardly less strongly dentate than O; the inner apical spine longer and more curved, but not obtuse at apex. Length 8-1 0*5, breadth 2 -4-2 -8 mm. I/ab. : N.S. Wales, Victoria, and South Australia (widely dis- tributed); Lord Howe Island (Macleay Museum); New Zealand (Broun). The description given above is founded on specimens sent to me by Mr. Lea, and taken by him at Windsor, near Sydney; the form found on the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers seems to vary a little from the typical form, being a lighter and more convex insect, but I cannot find any differences between them that are worth considering of even varietal value. The original description seems inexact in giving the shape of the prothorax as " latitiid ine diinidio lungior" and the elytra, '^ frothorace hand latiora." Sometimes the anterior part of the front is densely punctate, and often the punctures that are always present on the sides of the occiput, near the facial carinte, extend across the occiput. Specimens of C. cuisiralasiw from Loixl Howe Island are in the Macleay Museum; they are probably identical with the species considered C. vngans by the late Mr. A. S. OUiff (Mem. Aust. Mus. 1889). A specimen (5 ) sent to me many years ago, from New Zealand by Capt. Thos Broun, under the name of 208 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, C. ruijilliorax, Putz., in no way differs from C. australasice, so it appears as if C. ruyithorax should 1)6 regarded as a synonym of C. avatralasicE. Specimens only 8 mm. in length are rarely found. Clivina juvbnis, Putzeys. Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1866, xxvii. p. 37; Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1866, X. p. 183. Subjoined is a translation of Putzeys' entire description. It seems quite useless as a means of identifying any species, and appears to be founded on an immature specimen. The question of whether, in spite of the differences given as distinguishing it from C. australanice, it may not be that species, I leave for him who can to decide. Entirely of a slightly reddish testaceous colour. Behind the anterior elevation of the front a wide deep impression is noticed. The impression of the vertex is short and less marked (than in C. austral a si ce\. The prothorax is narrower, its anterior angles are less rounded; the elytra ai'e a little shorter; the teeth of the tibia? are finer. Length 8, El. 4, breadth 2 mm. Hah. : Melbourne (Coll. Chaudoir). In addition to the particulars given above we learn from the Revision Generale that the base of the elytra is more distinctly truncate than in C. australasica. Clivina queenslandica, n.sp. Form light, rather depressed. Head wide, lightly punctate on vertex; prothox'ax depressed; elytra lightly striate, fourth stria joining fifth at base ; prosternum with intercoxal part rather wide in front; anterior tibife strongly 3-dentate. Black, shining (prothorax sometimes piceous black); legs piceousred, the four posterior lighter coloured than the anterior. Head wide, subdepressed; front lightly punctate: clypeus not divided from front, lightly and widely emarginate, a wide BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 209 ■depressed rugulose space along anterior margin; wings small, rounded, not divided from median part; clypeal elevation depressed, widely arcuate; a light sinuosity dividing wings from supra- a,ntennal plates ; facial sulci lightly impressed, wide apart, parallel posteriorly; facial carinse wide, depressed. Prothorax lyevigate, subquadrate (1-7 x 1*7 mm.), narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1'3 mm.); .sides lightly rounded; lateral basal impressions distinct, short, narrow. Elytra a little depressed, verj' little wider than prothorax (3 '5 x 1-8 mm.), very little narrowed to base; sides subparallel; shoulders rounded; striit; entire, lightly impressed, finely crenulate; interstices lightly convex on disc, eighth carinate at base and apex. Prosternum with base sulcate; episterna rugulose and transversely striolate. Anterior tibiae strongly 3-dentate, with a feeble projection above large teeth. (J with inner apical spine long, arcuate. Length 6-2-7; breadth 1-65-1 -9 mm. Ilab. : Queensland — Darling Downs District (Lau); South Australia — Lake Callabonna (Zietz). This species is allied by the form of the anterior tibite in the (J, and the shape of the head to C. australasice, Bohem , rather than to those species which resemble C. lepida, Putz., in these respects, as C. vagans, Putz., and C. dilutipes, Putz. It is very like G. dilutipes in general appearance, but may be distinguished by having the head wider and punctate, eyes less prominent, prothorax more depressed, elytral striae more finely punctate, prosternum sulcate on base, external teeth of anterior tibipe stronger; it has even a closer resemblance to C. occulta, SI., but differs in shape of clypeus, shape of prothorax, prosternum with the intercoxal part wider anteriorly, &c. Clivina leai, n.sp. Narrow, convex. Head depressed, wide before eyes; prothorax of equal length and breadth, decidedly narrowed anteriorly; elytra strongly punctate-striate, fourth stria outturned and joining fifth at base, a fine submarginal carina at shoulder; anterior tibiae 14 210 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, strongly 3-dentate. Black; elytra with apical third testaceous red, under surface piceous; anterior legs piceous brown, four pos- terior legs testaceous. Head wide l)efore eyes (1'2 mm. x 1-2 mm.), vertex with a few shallow rug8e,not punctate except finely on each side near extremity of facial carinas: clypeus not divided from front, lightly and widely emarginate, anterior angles (wings') widely rounded; median part depressed, bordered, defined on each side by a short, narrow,, longitudinal ridge; wings small, concave; clypeal elevation dis- tinct, arcuate; supra-antennal plates rather depressed, large, wide, strongly rounded and bordered externally, projecting sharply and decidedly beyond wings of clypeus; facial sulci lightly impressed, facial carina? short, wide; eyes convex, projecting slightly, deeply enclosed by supra-antennal plates in front, lightly enclosed behind; orbits abruptly constricted behind. Prothorax smooth (a few transverse striol?e on disc), as long as broad (1"8 mm. x 1'8 mm.), widest a little before posterior angles, decidedly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 1 -5 mm.)^ basal curve short; border rather wide on anterior part of sides, median and anterior lines well marked; lateral basal impressions short, distinct. Elytra convex, very declivous on sides, widest a little behind middle (4 x 2-1 mm.), a little narrowed to base; sides lightly rounded; base shortly truncate in middle, rounded on each side; humeral angles not marked; striae deeply impressed on basal two-thirds, becoming faint towards apex, closely punctate; the punctures strong towards base, weaker towards apex. Pi-o- sternum with intercoxal part narrow (not attenuate) anteriorly, transversely sulcate on base; episterna finely rugulose and trans- versely striolate. Length 7-7 '5, breadth 2-1 mm. Hab. : Queensland— Pine Mountain (Masters); N.S. Wales — Clarence River (Lea); Central Australia (Horn Scientific . Expedition). The colour of the elytra, with the whole apical part testaceous red from just behind the third puncture of the third interstice, BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 211 distinguishes this elegant species, which was first sent to me by Mr. A. M. Lea, after whom I have named it. Yar. 1 C. apicalis. A specimen sent to me by Mr. Masters, as coming from N.W. Austraha, differs from the type form of 6'. leai b}^ being smaller; the head smooth; the prothorax a little shorter (1*5 X 1'6 mm.), more convex, more rounded on the sides, the lateral basal impressions obsolete; the stride of the elytra deeper and more strongly punctate. Length 6, breadth 1"7 mm. It is probably a distinct species, but requires studying with a number of specimens before one; its general resemblance to C. biplagiata, Putz., is very noticeable. Clivina vittata, n.sp. Robust, convex. Front punctate-foveate; prothoi'ax convex, broader than long (1-35 x 145 mm.), lightly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width ri5 mm.). Elytra rounded on sides, widest behind middle, a little narrowed to base (3 mm. x 1-6 mm.), strongly punctate-striate; interstices convex, eighth narrowly carinate at base, and on apical curve. Prosternum with intercoxal part narrow (not attenuate) anteriorly, sulcate on base; episterna finely rugulose-striolate. Anterior femora wide; tibiae 4-dentate, the upper tooth very feeble. Piceous black; a reddish lateral ^itta (interstices 5-7) on each elytron, not reaching apex; legs reddish piceous. Length 5-3, breadth 1-6 mm. Hah. : N. S. Wales— Sydney (one specipien sent by Mr. Masters). A second specimen, labelled Victoria, is in the collection of the Rev. Thos. Blackburn, who has kindly forwarded it to me for examination; it is smaller (4-3 x 1-2 mm. \ and has the prothorax piceous red, but otherwise agrees with the type. This species is allied to C. sellata, Putz., but, besides being differently coloured, it differs by its wider and more convex form; wider prothorax; elytra less parallel, more rounded on the 212 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIXIDES, sides, widest behind the middle and evidently narrowed to the shoulders, more widely rounded at apex; intercoxal part of pro- sternum wider anteriorly: the clypeus is very similar to that of 3 oblique and near apex. Black, legs piceous, antennte and tarsi reddish. Head large (1"8 x 2-2 mm.), smooth between lateral impres- sions; a punctiform impression in middle between eyes; a strong lateral sinuosity between wings of clypeus and supra-antennal plates: clypeus not di^■ided from front, depressed along anterior margin; median part truncate; wings concave, strongly advanced beyond median part, roundly obtuse, oblique on inner side; throat V3r7 convex, guise with a few faint wavy striolfe; eyes convex, prominent, enclosed on lower side posteriorly. Labial palpi stout, penultimate joint about same length as terminal, this stout, fusiform, truncate. Antenmie not long, lightly compressed, not incrassate; second joint decidedly longer than third. Prothorax smooth, transverse (3"2 x So mm.), widest a little before posterior angles, greatly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 2-5 mm.), rounded on sides, evenly convex, gently and roundly, but deeply declivous to base; anterior angles obtuse ; posterior angles obtuse, but marked; border thick, widened at and passing round antei'ior angles; median line deeply impressed; anterior line distinct and near margin; lateral basal impressions wanting. Elytra oval (7"5 X 4 mm.), convex, wide across base; shoulders rounded; apex widely rounded; striae strongly impressed, entire, coarsely punc- tate, the puncturation strong on apical third, seventh hardly impressed, but distinctly indicated as a row of punctures; inter- stices convex for whole length, seventh wide and convex on apical curve, joining first at apex. Prosternum with intercoxal part bi- sulcate, non-sulcate on base; episterna smooth (only some minute wavy transverse scratches), hardly ovei-hanging anteriorly. Meta- starnum a little longer between intermediate and posterior coxae than length of posterior coxae; episterna rather wide posteriorly. Autei'ior femora compressed; tibia? with apical digitation long, stout, strongly curved, first external tooth prominent, stout, BY THOMAS G. SLOANB. 241 obtuse, upper not prominent, upper internal spine slender, very acuminate: intermediate femora long; tibiae with external spur a little above apex, pointing obliquely downwards. Length 13, breadth 4 mm. Hah. : Queensland — Rockhampton (Coll. Castelnau), Dawson River ( Barnard V M. Putzeys formed a separate group for the reception of this species, but I have placed it among the large assemblage of species which I term the '■^ procera group" in which it is the representative of a distinct section. Putzeys describes the inner apical spine of the anterior tibiae as equalling in length the apical digitation, not diminishing in width and truncate at apex in the (J, and acuminate in the 5; I only know the 9? iii which it does not actually equal the apical digitation in length. The elytra (only) of a specimen are in my collection received from the late Mr. G. Barnard from Coomooboolaroo, Dawson Rivei', in which the fourth stria is free at the base. Clivina interstitialis, n.sp. Oval, robust, convex. Head convex, eyes convex; prothorax transverse, subtrapezoid, longitudinally convex; elytra ovate, wide, deeply punctate-striate, fourth stria joining fifth at base, inter- stices very convex, eighth interi'upted at beginning of apical curve, finely carinate near apex, submarginal carinse of shoulders obsolete ; prosternum with intercoxal part bisulcate, wide anteriorly, non-sulcate on base; episterna smooth, not overhang- ing in front; lateral cavities of peduncle wide, very shallow, not punctate; metasternal episterna shorter than usual in genus; anterior tibise narrow, 3-dentate, apex long, wide, curved; external spur of intermediate tibiti? short, stout, nearer apex than usual. Black, antennae and tarsi piceous. Head not large (1'6 x 1'8 mm.), convex, smooth between facial impressions, obsoletely transversely impressed behind vertex; frontal impressions narrow, extending on to wings of clypeus; facial sulci linear, deep, divergent : clypeus with median part 16 ^^>^*lASSXO^ 242 t)N THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, truncate; wings concave, strongly advanced beyond median part, obtusely rounded anteriorly; guise convex, hardly at all rugulose. Labial palpi with penultimate joint stout, rather short, about same length as terminal; this wide and obtuse at apex. Antennae with third joint shorter than second; joints 4-11 short, hardly compressed. Prothorax smooth, transverse (2-6 mm. x 2-9 mm.), widest a little before posterior angles, greatly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 2 mm. ), very convex, strongly and roundly declivous to base; sides rounded; anterior angles obtuse; posterior angles obtuse, but marked; basal curve short; border thick, wide and reaching neck at anterior angles; median line weak; anterior line strongly impressed; lateral basal impressions obsolete. Elytra ovate (5-5 x 3'5mm.); strife deep, entire, very coarsely punctate on disc ; interstices subcarinate for whole length, narrow and more carinate on apical declivity. Length 10, breadth 3-5 mm. Hah. : Queensland — Cooktown (from Mr. French). This species agrees in all points of structural detail with C. nyctosyloides, Putz., of which it may possibly be a marked variety, though I regard it as a distinct species. The following differences from C. ny ctosyloides may be noted; the smaller size; more convex form; more elongate head; prothorax more convex, narrower, more strongly narrowed anteriorly; elytra more convex, strias deeper, interstices more convex, especially towards apex. Clivina mastersi, n.sp. Very large, robust, convex. Head as in C. procera: prothorax smooth, greatly narrowed anteriorly, convex, strongly declivous to base; basal curve short, rounded : elytra oval, smooth on sides and apex; five inner striae impressed towards base, first only entire, fourth and fifth confluent at base; sixth interstice narrow, not carinate at humeral angle,* eighth not visible near apex: * The weakly developed submaryinal humeral carina is a continuation of the sixth interstice; it is very narrow and hardly raised. BY THOMAS G. SLOANB. 243 prosteruum with intercoxal part wide anteriorly, bisulcate between coxie, non-sulcate on base; episterna smooth, hardly overhanging anteriorly ; metasternal episterna short ; lateral cavities of peduncle feebly developed, impunctate : anterior tibiae slender, 3-dentate; intermediate tibife narrow, external spur short, placed at apex. Black, antennae and tarsi piceous red. ^. Head rather large (2-7 x 3 mm.), convex, smooth, obsoletely and widely transversely impressed behind facial carina?; sides obliquely narrowed and widely sinuate before eyes : clypeus not divided from front, declivous; median part wide, truncate; wings narrow, impressed, strongly and obtusely advanced; facial im- pressions strongly impressed, sinuate; facial carinte short, wide, convex, not greatly raised; eyes prominent, strongly enclosed by orbits on posterior part of lower side. Palpi filiform; labial with penultimate joint not longer than terminal. Antennse filiform, third joint not shorter than second. Prothorax neax'ly as long as broad (4'5 x 4"6 mm.), widest a little behind middle, greatly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 3 5 mm.), roundly and deeply declivous to base; sides oblique, hardly rounded; anterior margin lightly emarginate; anterior angles rounded; posterior angles rounded; border thick, hardly reflexed on sides, weaker behind posterior angles, extending round anterior angles to neck; median line linear, distinct; anterior line lightly but decidedly impressed; latei'al basal impressions shallow, wide, distinct. Elytra oval (lO'O X 5-5 mm.), convex; sides rounded; shoulders rounded, not marked; striae simple, four inner ones strongly impressed towards base, first entire, joining second at base, others hot reaching apex, successively shorter, fourth not outturned at base, fifth inturned to meet fourth at base, sixth and seventh obsolete; three inner interstices lightly convex near base, sutural interstice of each elytron separately convex on basal third, after that together form- ing a lightly raised sutural ridge; lateral border narrowly reflexed, reaching nearly to peduncle at base. Anterior femora thick, hardly compressed, lower side rounded; tibite slender, apical digitation long, narrow, curved, obtusely pointed, first external tooth pronxinent, triangular, second obtuse, feebly developed, 244 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, middle of lower side greatly raised and foi-ming a prominent triangular tooth above upper internal spine, inner apical spine about as long as apical digitation, cylindrical, curved, obtuse, upper spine long, slender, very acuminate; four posterior legs light. Length 19, breadth 5-5 mm. Ilab. : Queensland — Port Darwin. A single specimen of this fine species was sent to me for description by Mr. G. Masters. Excepting a specimen sent to me by Mr. Masters as from Port Darwin, which I cannot separate from C. procera, Putz., this is the largest Clivina I have seen. It represents a distinct section, its nearest ally being C. ovipenni!-', SI., which agrees with it in facies, and in form of metasternal episterna and legs. Clivina ovipennis, n.sp. Elongate-oval, robust, convex. Head obsoletely impressed on each side behind vertex; prothorax greatly narrowed anteriorly : elytra oval, smooth on sides and apex; four inner strife deeply impressed and coarsely punctate on basal half; eighth interstice obsolete on apical curve; a very feebly developed submarginal carina at shoulder : prostei*num with intercoxal part bisulcate, very wide anteriorly, non-sulcate on base; episterna smooth, not overhanging antei'iorly (the inflexed margins of the pronotum projecting a little at the anterior angles} : lateral cavities of peduncle smooth ; metasternum short : anterior tibite obtusely 3-dentate ; external spur of intermediate tibite narrow, short, placed at apex. Black, shining; under surface and femora dark piceous ; four posterior tibire and tarsi clear brown; antennte ferruginous. Head not large (2 x 1-9 mm.), smooth, convex, lateral margin sloping obliquely forward from a little before eyes : clypeus not divided from front, not bordered on anterior margin; median part wide, truncate ; wings not divided from the supra-antennal plates, concave, narrow, strongly advanced, rounded at apex ; supra- antennal plates narrow, convex; facial sulci strongly impressed;. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 245 facial carinas raised; eyes globose, prominent; orbits feebly developed behind eyes. Mandibles short. Antennae stout, long, subfiliform; third joint not shorter than second; joints 5-10 oblong, hardly compressed. Prothorax smooth, of equal length and breadth (3 -5 mm. x 3-5 mm.), widest a little before posterior angles, greatly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 2-6 mm.), convex, roundly and deeply declivous to base; sides rounded; posterior angles rounded; anterior margin lightly emarginate, angles rounded; basal curve short; border narrow, reflexed on sides, extending round anterior angles to neck; median line lightly impressed; anterior line strongly impressed; lateral basal impres- sions lightly marked, elongate. Elytra oval (8 x 4'1 mm.), strongly and evenly convex; a wide smooth space on sides and apex; base truncate, between shoulders; humeral angles rounded off, not the least marked; striit deeply impressed and strongly punctate on basal half of disc, fir.st entire, joining second at base, none of the others attaining apex, successively shorter towards sides, fourth joining fifth but not outturned at base; first inter- stice of each elytron together forming a convex ridge for whole length of suture, interstices 2-4 convex towards base, flat on apical half, 6-8 not divided from one another, sixth finely carinate' at base; border reflexed, reaching very nearly to peduncle. Metasternum and its episterna short (distance between inter- mediate and posterior cox;e a little shorter than length of posterior coxse). Ventral segments smooth. Anterior femora stout, not channelled below; tibiae narrow, first external tooth short, wide, projecting, second a mere obtuse prominence, inner apical spine very long, narrow, truncate. Length 14, breadth 4'1 mm. Hah. : North Queensland. (A single specimen given to me Ijy Mr. C. French). The type specimen is evidently the ^. C. ovipennis is allied to C. mastersi, SI., which it resembles in general appearance; the chief differences being its smaller size; prothorax slightly shorter and more narrowed in front; elytra with deeper and strongly 246 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, punctate strise on the basal part of disc, the interstices much more convex, the suture not impressed near the base, &c. Clivina marginata, Putzeys. Scolyptus mcirgi7iatus, Putz., Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1868, xi. p. 8. (J. Black; sides of elytra for posterior two-thirds, (excepting border) apex and legs testaceous red; antennje and palpi testaceous. Robust, convex. Head smooth, convex, not transversely impressed behind vertex; front depressed : clypeus not divided from front; median part wide, truncate; wings shortly but decidedly advanced, widely rounded at apex; frontal impressions lightly impressed; facial carinae feebly developed. Mandibles long, decussating. Palpi long, filiform; penultimate joint of labial rather longer than terminal, of maxillary as long as terminal. Antennae filiform, third joint not shorter than second. Prosternum a little broader than long (3 "8 x 4 mm.), greatly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 3-1 mm.), smooth, convex, roundly and deeply declivous to base; basal curve short; sides hardly rounded; anterior margin lightly emarginate; anterior angles obtuse; posterior angles rounded, but marked; border extending round anterior angles; median line lightly impressed; anterior line strongly impressed; lateral basal impressions distinct, wide, shallow. Elytra wide, oval (8 '8 x 5 mm.); five inner striie strongly impressed, lightly crenulate, first entire, others obsolete near apex, fourth a little outturned and joining fifth at base, sixth lightly impressed except near base, seventh only indicated b}^ a row of fine punctures; five inner interstices very convex at base, becoming more and more depressed towards apex, two inner ones together forming a sutural ridge, three lateral ones confluent except at base, seventh narrow, subcarinate at shoulders, eighth feebly indicated near apex by a very narrow carina. Prosternum with pectoral ridges well developed; inter- coxal part very wide, not narrowed anteriorly, non-sulcate on base; episterna not overhanging anteriorly, covered with wavy trans- verse striolae. Lateral cavities of peduncle well developed, smooth. Metasternal episterna not long, wide posteriorly. Legs light: anterior femora long, thick, not compressed, rounded on lower BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 247 side; tibipe 3-dentate, narrow, apex short, lightly curved, first external tooth short, triangular, prominent, upper feeblydeveloped, middle of lower side of tibia forming a ridge and ending in a strong triangular tooth near upper internal spine; inner apical spine about twice as long as apical digitation, thick and very obtuse at apex, upper spine slender, finely acuminate; four posterior legs long, light; intermediate tibise narrow, external spur very near apex, short, oblique. Length 15-5, breadth 5 mm. Hab. : Queensland — Port Denison (Masters). The description given above is founded on a specimen kindly lent to me by Mr. Masters. This species may be considered the type of a separate section consisting of (J. marginata and C. grncilipes, SI. The following will be the characteristic features of this section : — ]\Iandibles decussating; clypeus with median part truncate, the wings shortly but decidedly advanced; antennae filiform, third joint as long as second : palpi long, filiform, the labial with the penultimate joint longer than the terminal; maxillary with penultimate joint about as long as terminal; pro- thorax widest near posterior angles and greatly narrowed anteriorly, posterior angles marked; prosternum wide between the coxa?, the sides not ovei-hanging in front ; metasternal episterna shorter and much wider than in C. australasicf, Bohem., but longer than in C. ohlonga, Putz.; legs light, external spur of intermediate tibise small and placed almost at apex, the tarsi long, slender. Clivina gracilipes, n.sp. Elliptic-oval. Head small; mandibles decussating, labial palpi with penultimate joint long, slender : prothorax subtrapezoid; elytra widely ovate, crenulate-striate; fourth stria joining fifth at base, seventh obsolete-; eighth interstice shortly carinate at base, not indicated on apical curve; prosternum with intercoxal part bisulcate, very wide anteriorly; lateral cavities of peduncle smooth, shallow: legs light; anterior til:)ia? narrow, 3 dentate; intermediate tiliise narrow, external spur short, ol)lique, very near apex. 248 ON THE AUSTRALIAN C LI V IN IDES, Black, under surface piceous black; legs, antennae and palpi testaceous. Head small (I "5 x 1-5 mm.), convex, smooth; a shallow almost obsolete fovea in middle of vertex; lateral margins sloping obliquely and roundly forward from a little before eye?,: clypeus not divided from front, lightly emarginate-truncate; median part wide; wings small, not divided from supra-antennal plates, lightly advanced, rounded at apex, sloping very gently on inner side to median part; supra-antennal plates small, rather depressed; facial sulci lightly impressed, parallel; facial carinse wide, not greatly raised; eyes large, convex, prominent, lightly enclosed behind. Mandibles rather long, decussating, wide at base, narrow and acute at apex. Mentum deeply emarginate; median tooth very wide, short, obtuse. Palpi slender; penultimate joint of maxillary nearly as long as terminal, of labial longer, terminal joint fusiform. Antennae filiform, very lightly incrassate; second and third joints of about equal length. Prothorax smooth, broader than long (2-8 X 2-9 mm.), widest considerably before posterior angles, greatly narrowed anteriorly (ant. width 2'2 mm.), convex, strongly declivous to base; sides rounded; posterior angles lightly marked; base of disc curving gently between posterior angles; anterior margin truncate; anterior angles widely obtuse, finely bordered; border narrow, fine on basal curve; median and anterior lines well marked; lateral basal impressions lightly marked, rather long. Elytra ovate, much wider than prothorax (65 x 4 mm.), lightly and evenly convex, rounded on sides, narrowed to apex; humeral angles not marked; base very lightly emarginate in middle; striae crenulate, 1-5 deeply impressed on basal half, becoming faint towards apex; interstices convex on disc, minutely shagreened under a strong lens; border reflexed, reaching base of fourth interstice; marginal channel wide. Prosternum not pro- tuberant, abrupt and non-sulcate on base; pectoral ridges short, hardly carinate; episterna minutely rugulose. Metasternum shorter than usual, distance between intermediate and posterior coxai equal to length of posterior coxro; episterna considerably longer than broad. Legs light: anterior femora compressed, not BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 249 stout, not channelled below; tantei'ior tibise narrow, apex long, outturned, external teeth small, pi'ominent; posterior tibise light, a little incrassate, not arcuate. Length 11, breadth 4 mm. Hab. : Queensland — Gulf of Carpentaria (a single specimen given to me by Mr. C. French, as from the Burketown District). Clivixarchus, n.gen. Head with frontal region a little raised above occipital region, clypeus with median part angulate. Mandibles short; upper surface depressed; outer margin obtusely angled near basal third. Mentum deeply emarginate; lobes widely rounded at apex; median tooth long, obtusely pointed, keeled, projecting forward as far as lobes. Submentum large, projecting strongly and vertically from throat; a ridge vertically raised from throat, extending between submentum and base of orbits and defining suborbital channel behind. Palpi : Labial with penultimate joint short, stout (about as long as terminal), bisetose, terminal joint stout (stouter than penultimate), truncate (hardly narrowed) at apex; maxillary stout, penultimate joint short, conical, terminal joint compressed, oval, obtuse at apex. Antennui short, stout; four basal joints cylindrical, first stout not elongate, second not long (but longer than third) joints 5-11 short, compressed, decidedly separated from one another, apical joint obtuse. Prothorax longer than wide, convex, not declivous to base; a raised declivous " collar " (or wide border) along anterior margin. Elytra very long, cylindrical, punctate- striate ; fourth stria sharply outturned and joining fifth at base; no sub- marginal carina at shoulder; third interstice 4-punctate. 250 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, Prosternum with pectoral part not protuberant, intercoxal part wide anteriorly, non-sulcate on base; episterna over- hanging along anterior half, smooth — a few faint trans- verse striolse perceptible with a lens. Mesosteryiitin smooth, without a lateral impression on each side of peduncle to receive intermediate tibiie. Metastermhrn, large, long, transversely striolate on each side; episterna very long and narrow. Legs : Anterior tibiae wide, 3-dentate, apical j^i'ojection short, strong, external teeth short, wide at base, the edge of the tibia triangularly excised above upper tooth so as to form a fourth small non-projecting tooth, inner spines long; intermediate tibise with two short prominent triangular external teeth, the anterior at the apex, the upper a little distance above the a^jex. Peduncle wide. Body winged. This genus is thoroughly distinct from Cllvina. Evident differences that may be noted are : its very elongate form, wide peduncle without lateral cavities, the raised and declivous collar along anterior margin of prothorax and the bidentate intermediate tibise. The formation of both the upper and lower surfaces of the head is also very different. There are two supra-orbital punctures, and two pro thoracic marginal punctures as in Clivina. Clivinarchus perlongus, n.sp. Very elongate, narrow, cylindrical. Head, prothorax and under surface piceous black; elytra reddish brown; anterior legs and antennte reddish piceous; palpi and four posterior legs piceous red. Head (with eyes) broader than long (2-3 x 2-6 mm.); clypeal suture, facial sulci and facial carinse lost in rugulosity of anterior part of head; this rugose part raised and sharply defined posteri- orly between base of eyes; frontal impressions wide, shallow, BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 251 irregular, rugose: clypeus with median part divided from wings by a carinate ridge, widely and squarely emarginate, its angles poiTect, projecting strongly forward in a triangular prominence; wings small, angular, anterior margin truncate and about on a level with margin of median part; supra-antennal plates short, wide, projecting sharply and widely beyond wings of clypeus, external angles widely rounded; eyes large, globose, prominent, lightly enclosed. Prothoi\ax cylindrical, parallel, very widely and lightly sinuate on each side, longer than broad (4x3 mm.), lightly convex longitudinally, lightly transversely striolate (the striolje wavy and more strongly impressed near sides); anterior angles very obtuse, rounded from anterior marginal puncture to neck; posterior angles rounded, not marked; basal curve short; base wide; border narrow and retlexed on sides, a little upturned at posterior angles, wide on base, very wide and declivous along anterior margin; marginal channel obsolete on sides. Elytra narrow, cylindrical (10-5 x 3-5 mm.), shortly, not vertically, declivous to base; shoulders rounded, not marked; strise entire, closely and strongly punctate, the punctures becoming finer from base to apex; interstices hardly convex; three posterior punctures of third interstice on apical half; marginal channel narrow, not deep, lightly punctate. Anterior legs stout; femora thick, com- pressed; posterior edge of lower side roundly and widely dilatate; intermediate tibife incrassate, external edge arcuate, spinose, bidentate. Length 18, breadth 3-5 mm. Hab. : Queensland (sent to me by Mr. C. ^French as coming from the Gulf of Carpentaria, opposite Wellesley Islands). Distribution of tlie AustraHan Clivinifles. I have thought that a few notes on the geographical distribu- tion of the Clivinides in Australia may be not without interest, though the observations I can offer on the subject must be very defective owing to the scantiness of my knowledge of the range of the various species. The only parts of the continent that ha^•e been tolerably well searched for these insects seem to be the 252 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, Sydney coastal district; the Melbourne district; the southern parts of South Australia, where the Rev. T. Blackburn has collected; and a part of inland New South Wales \ying between Narrandera, on the Murrumbidgee River, and Mulwala on the Murray, over which I have collected, though not with sufficient care. Good collections have also been made by Mr. Masters at Port Denison and Gayndah in Queensland, and at King George's Sound; by Mr. Froggatt at King's Sound; and by Mr. Lea at Tamworth in New South Wales. No vise can be made by me, from want of accurate knowledge, of the collections from Melbourne, South Australia, Gayndah and King's Sound. The Clivinides are a well defined division of the subfamily Scaritini. They reach their greatest development in the warm parts of the earth, and it is, as might have been expected, in tropical Australia that they are most numerous and show the greatest diversity of form. All the Australian genera, viz, Dyschirhcs, Glivina, Steganomma, and i 'Jivintrchus have represen- tatives in tropical Queensland , the two last being peculiar to that region. Dyschirius (5 species) seems spread over the continent. Clivina (83 species) has representatives wherever there is water of any permanence all over Australia. The following are a few remarks on the dispersion of the thirteen groups into which I have divided the Australian species : — (1) C. biplajiata extends over eastern Australia from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Melbourne. (2) The " crihrosa group " (4 species) is typically a western and southern one. 6'. frenchi from Central Australia and Queensland is not closely allied to the other three species. (3) The '^ oh/iquata group" (11 species) has its headquarters in the southern and western parts of the continent. The two species, C. cylindriformis and C. obsoleta, from tropical Queens- land, are both isolated species, not closely allied to one another or to any of the other members of the group. (4) C. coronata is from south-western Australia. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 253 (5) The " plcDiicejys group" though spread from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Bass Strait, is probably of tropical origin; it has not yet been reported from the western half of the continent. (6) C. grandiceps is from the neighl)ourhood of Burketown on the Gulf of Carpentaria. (7) The " punctaticeps grotip " (4 species ! is evidently a tropical group with one species, C. adelaida, in the Murray River water- shed. (8) C. hlackburni is from Lake Callabonna in Central Australia. (9) C. olHffi is from West Australia. (10) The " heterogena group" (9 species) has representatives already reported from most parts of Australia, though none is yet known from West Australia, south of the tropics. (11) C. bovillcH seems to have a -svide distribution along the northern coastal region. (12) The " australasia; group" (27 species) is spread over the whole continent. I haxe further divided it into four sections^ of these — SecUon I. (type, C. sellata, Putz. — 8 species) apparently belongs to eastern Australia, and seems to be of tropical origin. Section II. (type C. austrcdasia\ Bohem. — 6 species) is of eastern origin, though now found over the greater part of the continent; it also has a representative in New Zealand and Lord Howe Island. Sectio7i III. (type C. bascdis, Ch. — 12 species) is spread over all Australia and Tasmania, and has a species in New Zealand. Section IV., founded for C. pectorcdis. is undoubtedly a tropical type. (13) The " procera group" (15 species) has its headquarters on Eastern Australia. It may be divided into seven sections, of which six have repi*esentatives in tropical Australia. The members of the genus Clivina are strong fliers; often in summer evenings they may be noticed flying to the lamps in lighted rooms. All the species are found in damp ground near the margins of rivers, marshes, ponds, or, indeed, any tolerably permanent water; their habits are fossorial. Some species may be found all the year round, though more rarely in the winter 254 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, when they hibernate, hidden in the earth, often away from the immediate proximity of water. During floods they may be taken plentifully in the debris drifted along by the swollen streams. Owing to their habits it is evident that their dispersion may be aided by streams, and there seem no reasons, except those of climate and food-supply, why a species having once gained a footing on any watershed should not spread along all the streams of such watershed. With the insufficient data at my command no conclusions or inferences of any practical worth in regard to the distribution of the Australian species of Climna can be attempted; but the following suggestions may be offered :—(l) The sameness in climate will have permitted a wide range for species from east to west. (2) The number of different species may be expected to be greater on the coastal side of the mountain ranges owing to the greater number of separate river systems. (3) The large area included in the watershed of each of the two great river systems which collect the waters flowing from the inland slojDes of the dividing ranges of Eastern Australia, from the boundary between The Northern Territory of South Australia and Queensland to Western Victoria, viz., the Barcoo watershed and the Murray watershed, will have been conducive to a wide range for the species found in the areas of these river systems. There certainly seems to have been a migration from tropical Queensland towards South Australia by way of the Barcoo watershed, and thence into Victoria and New South Wales by way of the Murray and its tributaries; this is evidenced by the range of C. procera, G. quadralifrons, and C. felix; while C. aastralasim, C. basalts, G. sellata, C. angtisLala and C. adehiidce are species that evidently have had their distribution helped by the Murray river-system. In conclusion, attention may be drawn to the great scarcity of the Clivlnides in New Zealand (only two species) in comparison with their great development in tropical Queensland as offering sjme evidence against an actual land connection in former geological times between New Zealand and North Eastern Australia. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 255 The following lists of species give those known to me as coming from (1 ) Tropical Queensland, (2) the Sj^dney district, (3) the part of New South Wales between the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers along the 146th parallel of longitude (Riverina), (4) South West Australia. Tropical r, i -d- • South-west Queensland. •' •' Australia. C. hiplagiata C. biplagiata .... C. obliterata C. cribi-OAa C Jrenchi C. angwitula C. biplagiata C. coronata C. cylindriformis G. sellata C melanopyga ... G. dorsalis C. ohsoleta C. nustralaxia; ... C. riverinoi G. hicolor C. quadratifrons. C. vittata C. planiceps G. olliffi G. ca7'penfaria ... C. lepida C. quadratifrons G. angu-stipes G. grandiceps C. dilutipes G. tumidipes C. punctaticejis... C. sydneyem^is .. ( C . angustxda* ) G. lobijjes C basalis G. sellata G. flara G. oblonga G. australasim G. odontomera G. vagans G. bovilke G. simulans G. cava C. basalis C. occidta , C. felix G. ferruginea C. procera C. felix G. rubripes G. procera G. monilicornis G. nyrtosyloides G. interstilialis C. ovipemiis C. marginata C. temcipes , The following is a list of the authors who have dealt with the nomenclature of the Australian Clivinides, with references to their papers : — Chaudoir. Carabiques Nouveaux. Bull. Mosc. 1843, xvi. p. 733. BoHEMANN. Eugenies Resa, Coleoptera, 1858. * I have not found C. angusfuln further east than Carrathool, on the Murrumbidgee River, 32 miles east from Hay. 256 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, PuTZEYS, Jules. Postscriptum ad Clivinidarum Monographium atque de quibusdam aliis. (Mense Novem- bris 1861.)* Mem. Soc. Roy. Sc. Liege, 1803, xviii. pp. 1-78. ■ Revision des Clivinides de I'Australie. Stett. Ent. Zeit, 1866, xxvii. pp. 33-43. Revision Generale des Clivinides. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1867, x. pp. 1-242. Supplement a la Revision Generale des Cli- vinides. I.e. 1868, xi. pp. 5-22. Deuxieme Supplement a la Revision Generale des Clivinides. I.e. 1873, xvi. pp. 1-9. Macleay, William. On the Scaritidce of New Holland. Trans. Ent. Soc. N.S.W. 1863, i. Part l,pp. 71-74. Blackburn, Thos. Notes on Australian Coleoptera, with Descrip- tions of New Species, Part iv. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. (2). iv. 1889, pp. 717-722. — ■ Coleoptera (of Elder Exploring Expedition). Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A. (1892), xvi. p. 22. Notes on Australian Coleoptera, with Descrip- tions of New Species, Part xv. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1894 (2) ix. pp. 86-88. My thanks are due to friends who have helped me by the gift and loan of specimens, viz., to Mr. C. French, Government Entomologist of Victoria, for his generosity in giving me specimens of a great many new and rare species; to Mr. G. Masters, Curator of the Macleay Museum, Sydney, for sending me for examination * I believe this memoir appears in Mem. Liege, Vol. xviii., but my separate copy bears the following date, " Leodii, 1S6'2," so that it was evidently published in 1862. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 257 a splendid collection of 120 specimens, representing 40 different species, of which 7 were new, and for the gift of many rare specimens; to the Rev. T. Blackburn, of Adelaide, for loan of specimens of new and rare species, and for the gift of specimens of various species; to Mr. A. M. Lea, of the Bureau of Agricul- ture, West Australia, for generously placing his whole collection of species taken by him in New South Wales at my disposal, and for specimens from West Australia; and to Mr. W. Kei'shaw, of Melbourne, for some Victorian specimens. 17 258 ON THE BAG-SHELTERS OF LEPIDOPTEROUS LARV^ OF THE GENUS TEAuA. By Walter W. Froggatt. (Plate XIV.) In many parts of the Australian bush one frequently comes across brown liver-coloured silken bags of an irregular funnel- shape, spun round a stout twig enclosing several others, and frequently a few leaves, all matted together and rough on the inner surface, but smooth and regular on the outside. They vary in size from 3-8 inches in diameter at the broad end, which may be quite open or loosely covered with a few silken strands ; upon examination, if fi-eshly constructed, they will be found full of very hairy caterpillars mixed up with their castings and moulted skins. When they have served their purpose, and are abandoned by the full grown caterpillars, they will remain for a considerable time, a solid mass of skins and castings, compact and firm, pro- tected by the strong silken coverings. These curious structures are woven round the twigs by the gregarious larvaj of several different species of moths belonging to the genus Teara (Family Liparidm). They arc constructed for shelter during the day, and ai'e not used for pupating purposes. Hiding therein during the day, the caterpillars issue forth at dusk, feeding all night over the tree and x'eturning to cover at daybreak. When moving about they travel in procession. "The first large nest I came across I carried home, and was very much surprised next morning to see a string of large hairj^ caterpillars stretching right across the roof of the tent; they had emerged from the nest in the night, but were unable to find their way back. Some twenty species of the genus, which is peculiar to Australia, have been described; most of them are short thickset moths with feathery antennae, and the tip of the abdomen bearing a tuft of fine hairs. Our commonest species, Teara tristis, is generally very BY WALTER W. FROGGATT. 259 slow and vsluggish in its habits, and is usually found clinging to low bushes. I ha\e, during the last season, been fortunate in breeding out one of our lax'gest species, which spins a somewhat different form of shelter, which is described below with the life-history of the species. Teara contraria. Walker. The larva, when full grown, is two inches in length, of a unifoi'm thickness, with the head ferruginous, rounded on summit and sides, a pale median suture running into the triangular clypeus; labium and jaws small; all the head thickly covered with long reddish-brown hairs standing out in front. Thoracic and abdominal segments black across the centre, which is raised into a row of large tubercles, out of which spring a number of long fine white and reddish-brown hairs; between the segments thickly covered with small white spots, from each of which spr-ings a short black hair. Under side pale ochreous yellow, with a dou1>le row of dark ferruginous tubercles tufted with reddish-brown hairs; legs ferruginous, black at the tips, covered with short reddish hairs; tubercles on the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments, and claspers upon the following segments covered with stout reddish-brown hairs. The larvse live in communities of a hundred or moi'e, forming a felted silken bag or net of a dark reddish-brown colour on the sheltered side of the tree trunk, close to the ground, under which they hide during the day, half buried in the cast skins and excreta which accumulate beneath. They crawl up the tree at dusk, feeding upon the foliage, and returning to their retreat at day- light. In April last a clump of very fine wattles (Acacia pro- m'nieus) were completely defoliated by them near the Penshurst railway station. Every other tree had a large bag at the foot of its trunk, while branches and trunk were festooned with strands of dirty yellow silk down to the top of the bag. Aliout fifty specimens of nearly mature larvte were collected and placed in a large glass jar in the Museum, where they 260 ON THE BAG-SHELTERS OF THE GENUS TEARA. remained huddled together in a hairy mass, unless disturbed, when they would all set off in a procession round the walls of their prison, one behind the other, often keeping it up for hours too-ether. In about a fortnight they began to burrow into the loose sand at the bottom of the jar, constructing soft felted cocoons out of the hairs upon their bodies. The pupae were stout and short, smooth, shining, of a reddish-brown colour, with the anterior portion small and the tip of the abdomen curved upwards. The first moths emerged about the end of September, and the last two months later; but from the fifty specimens not more than eight moths were obtained. The moths vary considerably in size; the male about 2 inches across the wings, and the female often over 2| inches; they are of a general dark brown colour, with a small oval white spot in the centre of the forewings; and a very small and indistinct one in the hind ones. The head and thorax are thickly clothed with long brown hairs, bright yellow and lance-shaped at the tips; the upper surface of the abdomen is covered with bright reddish- orange barred with black at the apex of each segment, and tipped with hairs of the same colour. The moths are very difficult to breed, those mentioned being the first I have obtained in four seasons. Mr. E. Anderson, of Melbourne, to whom I am in- debted for the identification of the moth, tells me that he knows no other instance of success in breeding them, though the larvfe are common in Victoria and New South Wales. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIV. Teara contraria, Walk. Fig. \. — Larva. Fig. 2. — Pupa in cocoon. Fig. 3.— Moth. Ficr. 4. — Rougli sketch showing bag shelter formed at the base of a- tree stem. Figs. 5-6. — Forms of bag shelters made by lai va? of Teara spp. 261 NOTE ON THE OCCURRENCE OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH AT THE WARRUMBUNGLE MOUNTAINS, NEW SOUTH WALES. By T. W. Edgeworth David. (Plates xv.-xvii.) I. — Introduction. Deposits of diatomaceous eai'th have been recoi'ded as occurring in New South Wales at the following localities : — Barr aba (between Tamworth and Bingara); the Lismore District; the Richmond River; the Tweed River; Cooma; Newbridge; and the Warrum- bungle Mountains. The deposit near Barraba has been described by Mr. E. F. Pittman, the Government Geologist, in general terms.* Mr. Pittman states that the diatomaceous earth is capped by basalt, and attains a thickness of about 8 feet, having a layer of coarse sand (2 inches thick) about 3 feet from the top. The infusorial earth rests on a bed of sandy mudstone, about 1 foot in thickness, under which is an impui'e infusorial depositcontaining rolled pebbles and fragments of imbedded lq,va, pointing to the fact that volcanic eruptions were common at the time of its deposition. Finally, an overwhelming flow of lava filled up what was, doubtless, during the Miocene epoch, a lake, and it now forms an elevated tableland. As far as I am aware, this is the only reference to the mode of occurrence of diatomaceous earth in New South Wales. Descriptions have been given by other observers of hand specimens of the diatomaceous earth. Ann. Rept. Dep. Mines, 1881, pp. 142-143. By Authority. Sydney, 1882. 262 OCCURRENCE OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, In 1888 Professor Liversidge published an account of Tripoli or Infusorial Earth* from Bar r aba. He states that the " tripoH " at Barraba is made up almost entii'ely of the remains of Diatoms resembling Mehsira. The same author refers to a deposit {oj). cit. p. 194) of " cimolite " from the Richmond Kiver. There can now be little doubt that this materia], described as " a ver}'- white and porous hydrous silicate of alumina,! often sent down to Sydney as meerschaum," must graduate into a clayey diatomaceous earth, as Diatoms in some numliers have been observed by me in a similar rock from the same locality. Professor Liversidge gives analyses of the rocks from both the above localities. Mr. R. Etheridge, Junr., has published a short description of some hand specimens of the diatomaceous earth from the Warrumbungle Mountains, and also of similar specimens respec- tively from the Lismore District, Tweed River, and Richmond River Districts. |. He refers the barrel-shaped Diatoms, so conspicuous in these deposits, to 3Ielosira, and notes the association with them of spicules of freshwater sponges. Last September Judge Docker and the author were afforded an opportunity, through the kindness of Mr. W. L. R. Gipps, of Bearbong Station, of examining the deposit of diatomaceous earth in the Warrumbungle Mountains. II. — General Geological Features of the District. In the neighbourhood of the diatomaceous earth deposit there are two formations represented: — (1) The Permo-Carboni- ferous Coal-measures, and (2) Trachyte lavas, dykes, and tuffs, * The Minerals of New South Wales, &e. By A. Liversidge, M.A. , F.R.S. p. 177. Ti-iibner & Co. London, 1888. t Ann. Rept. Dep. Mines, for the year 1887, pp. 165-166. By Authority. .Sydney, 1888. X Ann. Rept, Dep. Mines, for the year 1888, p. 190. By Authority. Sydney, 1889. BY T. W. BDGEWORTH DAVID. 263 with which last are associated the deposits of diatomaceous earth, and a seam of lignite. It is not my intention here to attempt to give a detailed description of that grand chain of trachytic volcanoes, of which the Warrumbungle Mountains form a not insignificant portion. Suffice it to say that they are the wrecks of large volcanoes; and their cores of coarsely crystalline trachyte, which have cooled deep down in the volcanic chimneys, now rear themselves skywards as gigantic mo^ioliths, between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above the sea, and over 2,000 feet above the surrounding plain, ringed round with alternating beds of coarse trachyte tuif and lava. The chain extended probably from at least as far south as the Canobolas, near Orange, northwards, perhaps, with intervals, to the Glass- House Mountains on the coast north of Brisbane, a distance of nearly 400 miles. As the diatomaceous earth deposits are interstratified with the trachytes it is obvious that any evidence which throws light upon the age of the trachytes has an equally important beainng upon the question as to the age of the diato- maceous earths. As shown on Plate xv., accompanying this paper, there is clear evidence to show that the trachytes have intruded the Pei"mo-Carboniferous Coal-measures in this neighbourhood. The latter consist of sandstones, quartzites, cherts containing well preserved specimens of Glossopteris, finely laminated black shales, and at least one seam of coal, over 6 feet in thickness. The coal has been calcined by the trachyte dykes, and at the extreme right of the section, beds of trachyte tuff are -seen resting, with strong uncomformity, on the Permo-Carboniferous strata. Obviously then the eruption of the trachytes was later than Permo- Carboniferous time. At several localities in the Warrumbungle Mountains the trachyte series is seen to overlie sandstones, which are almost certainly of Triassic age, and in this case the trachytes would be proved to be Triassic or Post-Triassic. If now the chain of trachytic volcanoes be followed up into Queensland, and traced north of the Glass-House Mountains, it may be noted that near Port Mackay trachyte laAas and tuffs are '264 OCCURRENCE OF UIATOMACEOUS EARTH, abundantly interstratified with rocks of the Desert Sandstone ►Series, the age of which is Upper Cretaceous.* It is unhkely that these extensive eruptions took place in Lower Cretaceous time, as that was a period of prolonged subsi- dence, and Mr. R. L. Jack has commented on the fact that in Queensland, at any rate, no lavas nor tuffs have as yet been noted in the Rolling Downs Series (Lower Cretaceous). As regards the downward limit in time of these eruptions, it is improbable, therefore, that it was earlier than Upper Cretaceous. As regards the upward limit, the following considerations suggest themselves : — It is improbable that the Warrumbungle trachyte volcanoes, at the time they were active, were far distant from the sea. They are now over 300 miles inland from the Pacific, but during the Lower Cretaceous epoch the vv^aters of the inland sea, which, at that time, must have extended from the Gulf of Cai'pentaria to the Australian Bight, must very nearly have washed the bases of the Warrumbungles. In Upper Creta- ceous time elevation took place, and marine conditions were largely replaced in Central Australia by shallow lacusti-ine con- ditions. There is no evidence to show that marine conditions obtained within a hundred miles of the Warrumbungles in Tertiary time. On physical evidence therefore it might be inferred that the age of the trachyte series might be placed at the close of the Cretaceous, or at the commencement of the Eocene periods. There is also some palteontological evidence in support of this supposition, as will be stated in the next division of this paper. III. — Details of the Diatomaceous Earth Deposit. The deposit makes two distinct outcrops at the bottom of the shallow valley or gully through which flows Wantialable Creek. * "Geological Features and Mineral Resources of the Mackay District." By A. G. Maitlanil. By Authority. Brisbane, 18S9. AUo see Geology and Palsbontology of Queensland and Nuw Guinea. Jack & Etheridge, Junr. Text. pp. 546-547. 1892. BY T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 265 As shown in the upper section on Plate xvi. a sheet of trachyte at least 20 feet thick caps the ridge overlooking Wantialable Creek. Below this is a thickness of about 30 feet of trachyte tuff varying in texture from fine to coarse. A remarkable rock succeeds which I have termed a silicified trachyte tuff, 1| ft. to 2 ft. thick. This rock has already been ably described by Mr. G. W. Card,* the Mineralogist to the Geological . Survey of the Department of Mines. Underlying this is another also very remarkable bed of trachyte tuff, almost exclusivel}'' composed of translucent crystals of sanidine, from a fraction of an inch up to ij an inch in diameter. The crystals exhibit their usual tabular habit, the clinopinacoid faces being extensively developed. The bed being only loosely coherent, the rain washes quantities of the larger sanidines out of it, and forms with them miniature snow-white talus slopes. Next follows the bed of diatomaceous earth, 3 feet 9 inches thick; then come 19 feet 3 inches of strata, chiefly trachyte tuffs, resting on the sui'face of a sheet of vesicular trachyte. Half-a- mile higher up the creek, the lower section shown on Plate xvi. may be studied. It resembles the section above quoted, but in addition fossil leaves occur on a horizon immediately above and intimately associated with the diatomaceous earth, as was shown me by Mr. "VV. L. R. Gipps. We had here the good fortune to dis- cover a fossil leaf fairly well preserved in the tine tuft', which Mr. R. Etheridge, jun., and Mr. W. S. Dun, Assistant Palaeontologist to the Geological Survey, identify as Cinnamomum Leichhardtii, Ettingshausen. (See Plate accompanying this" paper). This leaf is elsewhere in Australia associated with Eocene deposits. The age therefox'e of the Diatoms and of the freshwater sponge spicules associated with them at this spot may, I think, be pro- visionally set down as early Eocene or late Cretaceous. I have purposely abstained from attempting a detailed descrip- tion of the different species of Diatoms and sponges represented Records Geol. Surv. N.S. Wales. Vol. iv. Pt. iii. pp. 115-117. Plate By authority. Sydney. 1895. 266 OCCURREXCE OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, in this deposit, as I understand that this is a work which has already been commenced by Mr. W. kS. Dun and Mr. G. W. Card, and an interesting paper from them on this subject may shortly be expected. .1 would merely add that Melosira appears to greatly predominate among the Diatoms, but not to the entire exclusion of other forms. The sponge spicules are a cerate or fusiform, slightly arcuate, and some are thorny, but the majority smooth. I should like to emphasise the fact that hitherto all our diato- maceous earths in New South Wales have been found in associa- tion with volcanic rocks, and I would venture to suggest that this association is probably far from accidental. The superheated Avater flowing from hot springs and from the lavas themselves during the trachytic eruptions would be certain to carry more or less silica in solution, and its high temperature, combined with its dissolved silica, would probably render it a very favourable medium for the development of Diatoms to the exclusion of most other kinds of plant. While some species of Diatoms flourish luxuriantly in the cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean, others may be found equally flourishing in the hot and highly mineralised waters of geysers. For example, Mr. H. N. Moseley* has described the occurrence of Diatoms near the Boiling Springs at Furnas, St. Michael's, Azores, and their neighbourhood. Mr. Moselej^ states (op. cit. p. 322) " The Chroococciis ^Botryo- coccus Braunii , Ktz., as would appear from the footnote. T. W.E. D.] was not so abundant in the samples of incrusting matter in this hot spring as in those from the spring at Furnas. Amongst the green matter are a few skeletons of Diatomacete (a Nuvicnla); but these are very probably derived from a cool spiking, situate just above the sulphur spring, the water of which mingles with that of the sulphur spring, and indeed appears to supply a large share of the water of most of the hot springs, the water being merely heated and impregnated with various * Joiun. Linn. Soo. Bot. Vol. xiv. p. 322. BV T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 267 minerals by the discharge of steam and various gases from apertures in the several basins into which it finds its way. . . . The small cool spring above referred to contains abundance of JVavicu/ce and other Diatoms, such as those met with amongst the green matter growing in very hot water." He also obser^'es (op. cit. p. 323), " In this water, which was too hot to bear the finger, the same Chroococcus as observed at the springs near the lake was abundant," etc. . . . ''A little lower down in a small pool of hot mud and water, so hot that the finger could only be borne in it for a short time, grows a sedge . . . and an abundant growth of alga^, Chroococcus, Oscillatoriie \^7hIi/jjhothri.r f. Archer. T.W.E.D ] and some Diatoms with endochrome complete." The temperature of the springs in the lake of Furnas is quoted (op. cit. p. 324), f. Hartung* as from 78' to 190° Fahr. The water in which the Chroococcus grew is estimated to have had a temperature of 149° to 158° Fahr., and that in which the sedges grew of 113° to 122° Fahr. Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer, in notes on Mr. Moseley's collections (op. cu. p. 326), states that in the collection submitted to him "from among the sedges at Furnas in very hot water " he identified a number of Diatoms, which he specifically names. He adds that they were not numerously represented, however, and says (p. 327), " These are all forms of common occurrence, and seemed in no way affected by the high temperatui'e of the water." A useful bibliography of references to the vegetation of hot waters is contained in Ninth Report, Geol. Sur. U.S.A. 1887-88, pp. 620-628. It is noted (op. ell. p. 625, quoted from Manual of Geology, by .James D. Dana, 3rd ed., 1880, p. 611) that "Mr. James Blake found diatoms in water having a temperature of 163° F. at Pueblo Hot Springs, Nevada." It is also stated (ibidem), " At the Mammoth Hot Springs, Dr. F. V. Hayden observed the occurrence of pale yellow filaments about the spi^ings and the green confervoid vegetation of the waters, as well as the presence of diatoms in the basins of the main springs, two species of the latter, Palmella and Oscillaria, "Die Azoren," Leipzig, W. Englemann, 1860, p. 173. 268 OCCURRENCE OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH. being recognized by D. Billings." . . , {Op. cit. p. 627) " The extreme temperature at which v^egetation has been observed is 200° F., recorded by Prof. W. H. Brewer at the California Geysers." It is clear therefore that Diatoms are capable of flourishing in the waters of hot springs, the water of which must necessarily be more or less highly mineralised, though apparently they do not flourish in water at so high a temperature as that in which some algte, such as the Oscillatorue, can flourish. The fact must not be forgotten that spicules of Spongilla are at the Warrumbungle Mountains associated with the Diatoms, and obviously if the Diatoms flourished in hot water the Sponges must have existed under similar conditions. Animal life was well represented in the neighbourhood of Eurnas by Rhizopods, but no mention is made of freshwater sponges. It is at all events certain that at the Warrumbungle Mountains the Diatom Melosira and a variety of Sponffilla occur in associa- tion with trachytic lavas and tuffs of early Tertiary, possibly of late Cretaceous Age. EXPLANATION OF PLATES. Plate XV. Section showing junction between the Trachyte Volcanic Group of tlie Warrumbungle Mountains, and the Permo-Carboniferous Coal Measures in a tributary of Uargon Creek, Wollongulgong, near Tooraweena, N.S.W. Plate XVI. Uj^per Figure. Section in Wantialable Creek, near Tooraweena, Warrumbungle Moun- tains, showing intercalation of Diatomaceous Earth in the Traciiyte Series. Lower Figure. Section in Wantialable Creek, near Tooraweena, Warrumbungle ]\Ioun- tains, showing Diatomaceous Earth in association with Cinnamomum Leichhardtii. Plate xvii. Ginnamomum Leichhardtii, Ettings. NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 269 On behalf of Mr. F. M. Bailey, Government Botanist of Queensland, the Secretary exhibited an interesting collection of botanical specimens specially brought together to illustrate the plants of Queensland which are known to possess active or medicinal properties. A s such it might be considered to illustrate a later edition of the knowledge summarised in a paper by the exhibitor " On the Medicinal Plants of Queensland " in the Society's Proceedings for 1880 ; Vol. v. First Series, p. 4). On behalf of Dr. Broom, the Secretary exhibited specimens illustrative of the fossil Marsupials from a bone-breccia deposit near the Wombeyan Caves, described at the Meeting of April 29th, 1896. Mrs. Kenyon sent for exhibition, and contributed a note upon, .specimens of varietal forms of Cypriea. Mr. Darley exhibited a specimen of rock from Newcastle bored by specimens of Pholas, with examples of the molluscs in situ. Also from the roof of a building in Sydney a piece of sheet-lead which had been perforated by Termites. Mr. Steel showed an elegant fungus, probably Polyporus portentosus, Berk., from Bundanoon. Mr. Froggatt exhibited drawings and specimens of the larva, pupa, moth, and bag-shelters of Teara cotitraria from Penshurst, near Sydney; in this locality during April many trees of Acacia ]jrominens were completely defoliated by the caterpillars, the shelters being placed at the foot of the trees. Also the more substantial silken shelter of a species from Kalgoorlie, W.A.;and a series of specimens of the commoner species of the genus occurring in ISTew South Wales. The President exhibited a rare and remarkable spider, Actinojyus sp., forwarded by Mr. A. G. Little, Railway Surveyor, Menindie, N.S.W. This is apparently the first recorded occurrence of the genus in Australia. In respect of the length of the palpi and the shortness of the abdomen it appears to come nearest to A. longijKilpus from Brazil. 270 WEDNESDAY, JULY 29th, 189G. The Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Society was held at the Linnean Hall, Ithaca Road, Elizabeth Bay, on "Wednesday even- ing, July 29th, 1896. The President, Mr. Henry Deane, M.A., F.L.S., in the Chair. Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby, Livingstone Road, Petersham, was elected a Member of the Society. DONATIONS. Natural History Society of Montreal — Canadian Record of Science. Vol. vi. No. 8 (1896). From the Society. American Geographical Society — Bulletin. Vol. xxviii.. No. 1 (1896). From the Society. Zoological Society of Philadelphia — Twenty-fourth Annual Report of the Board of Directors (1895-96). From the Society. Societe d'Horticultui'e du Doubs, Besancon — Bulletin. Nouvelle Serie. Nos. 43, 5.5, and 58 (1894-95): Serie Illustree. No. 5 (May, 1896). From the Society. Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris — Bulletin. Annee 1895, Nos. 4-5, and 7. From the Society. DONATIONS. 271 La Faculty des Sciences de Marseille — Annales. Tome v. Fasc. 4; Tome vi. Fasc. 1-3. From the Faculty. Cambridge Philosophical Society — Proceedings. Vol. ix. Part ii. (1896). From the Society. Royal Microscopical Society — Journal, 1896. Part 2 (April). Fiom the Society. Societe Beige de Microscopie — Bulletin. Tome xxii. JSTos. 5-7 (1895-96). From the Society. Greological Society, London — Quarterly Journal. Vol Hi. Part 2 [No. 203] (May, 1896). From, the Society. Zoologischer Anzeiger. xix. Bd. Nos. 503-505 (May-June, 1896). From the Editor. K. K. Zoologisch-botanische Gesellschaft in Wien — Verhand- lungen. xlvi. Bd. (1896), 4 u. 5 Hefte. From the Society. Verein fiir naturwissenschaftliche Unterhaltuna: zu Hamburg — Verhandlungen, 1894-95. ix. Band. From the Society. Department of Mines and Agriculture, Sydney — Annual Report for the year 1895: Agricultural Gazette. Vol. vii. Part 6 (June, 1896). From tlie Hon. the Mirdsterfor Mines and Agricid- ture. Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science — Report of the Sixth Meeting held at Brisbane, January, 1895. From the Aii^ociation. Pharmaceutical Journal of Australasia Vol. ix. Nos. 6-7 (June- July, 1896). From the Editor. Department of Agriculture, Brisbane — Bulletin. No. 8, Second Series (1896). From the Secretary for Ayricxdture. Bureau of Agriculture, Perth, W.A. — Journal. Vol. iii. Nos. 15-17 (June, 1896). From the Secretary. University of Melbourne — Examination Papers — Matriculation. May, 1896. From the University. 272 DONATIONS. Asiatic Society of Bengal — Journal. Vol. Ixiv. (1895), Part i. No. 4; Part ii., Title page and Index: Vol. Ixv. (1896), Part ii. No. 1: Proceedings 1895, Nos. ix.-x. (Nov.-Dec); 1896, No. i. (Jan.): Annual Address. By A. Pedler, F.R.S. etc. (Feb., 1896). From the Society. Zoological Society of London — Abstract, May 19th, June 2nd and 16th, 1896. Front the Society. Madras Government Museum — Bulletin. No. 4(1896). Front, the Superintendent. Museo Nacional de Montevideo — Anales iv. (1896). From the Museum . Perak Government Gazette. Vol. ix. Nos. 13-14 (June, 1896). From the Government Secretary. Societe Royale Linneenne de Bruxelles — Bulletin. 21™® Annee, No. 7 (May, 1896). From the Society. Societe Hollandaise des Sciences a Harlem — Archives Neerlan- daises. Tome xxx. l'*^ Livraison (1896). From the Society. Victorian Naturalist. Vol. xiii. No. 3 (June, 1896). From lite Field N aturalit^ts' Club of Victoria. Entomological Society of London — Transactions, 1 896. Part ii. (June). From the Society. Pamphlet entitled " Ueber die Palpen der Rhopaloceren : ein Beitrag, etc." By Dr. Enzio Reuter. 4to., Helsingfors, 1896. From the Author. Geological Survey of India — Records. Vol. xxix. Part ii. (1896). From the Director. Societe des Naturalistes de la Nouvelle-Russie — Memoires. T. XX. Part 1 (1895) : Memories de la Section Mathematique. T. xvii. (1895). From, the Society. DONATIONS. 273 Nederlandsche Entomologische Yereeniging — Tijdschrift voor Entomologie. xxxviii. Deel. Jahrsfancf 1894-95. Afl. 2, 3. and 4. From the Societij. Socic'te des Sciences de Finlande — Oefversigt. xxxvii. (1894-95). From the Society. Royal Society of South Australia - Transactions. Vol. xvi. Part. iii. (June, 1896). From the Society. Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria — Thirty- second Annual Report (Feb., 1896). From the Society. Three Pamphlets entitled " Report of the Research Committee appointed to collect Evidence as to Glacial Action in Australasia." By Professor R. Tate, Mr. W. Howchin, and Professor T. W. E. David (1895) : " Address by the President: Section of Geology and Mineralogy" —Aust. Assoc, for Adv. Sci. By Professor David (Brisbane, 1896); " Antarctic Rocks," tkc. (1895). From Professor T. W. E. David B. A., F.G.S. Australasian Journal of Pharmacj'. Vol. xi. No. 127 (July, 1896). From the Editor. American Naturalist. Vol. xxx. No. 354 (June, 1896). From the Editors. Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, Cam- bridge, Mass. — Bulletin. Vol. xxix. No. 3 (April, 1896). From the Curator. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture — Division of Entomolog}^ — Bulletin. Technical Series No. 4 (1896). From the Secretary of Agriculture. Comite Geologique, St. Petersbourg — Bulletin. T. xiv. Nos. 6-9; T. XV. Nos. 1-2 : Memoires. Vol. xiii. No. 2 (1894). From the Committee. Nine Pamphlets on Australian Entomology. By Rev. Thomas Blackburn, B.A. From the Author. 18 274 DONATIONS. Two Pamphlets entitled "Further Coccid Notes, etc.;" and " Contributions towards a Monograph of the Aleurodidce, a Family of Hemiptera-Homoptera." By W. M. Maskell. (From Trans. N.Z. Inst. Vol. xxviii. [1895]). From the Author. Indian Museum, Calcutta — Natural History Notes. Series ii. No. 18 [1 19] (1895). From the Museum. Geelong Naturalist. Vol. v. No. 4 (July, 1896). Fro^n the Geelong Field Naliiralists' Club. L'Academie Royale des Sciences, etc. de Danemark, Copenhague. — Bulletin, 1896. No. 3. From the Academy. 275 APPENDIX TO THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES (FAM. CARABIDjE). By Thomas G. Sloane. The Clivinides of King's Sound and its Vicinity. When the late Sir William Macleay described the Carahidce collected by Mr. W. W. Froggatt in the vicinity of King's Sound in 1887,* he passed over the Clivinides, merely remarking that the collection contained seventeen species, f During a visit to Sydney, after completing the " Revision of the Australian Ctivinidea,'' I was able, through the courtesy of Mr. Masters, Curator of the Macleay Museum, to examine the Clivinides from King's Sound, and as the collection seems a representative one the following report on it will not be without interest. The following is a list of the species : — Clivina riverince, SI. 1 (var. 1) Clivina sellata, Putz, C. denticollis, SI. var. inconsjncua, SI. C. quadratifrons, SI. C. jerruginea, Putz. G. punctaticeps, Putz. C. australasioe, Bohem. ? (var. ?) var. sulcicollis, SI. C. eximia, SI. C. nustralica, SI. C. leai, SI. C. bovillce, Blkb. var. apicg,lis, SI. C. cava, Putz. C. procera, Putz. (var.) J C. froggatti, n.sp. Di/schirius macleay i, n.sp. * P.L.S-.N.S.W. 1888, iii. (2) pp. 446-458. t I.e. p. 462. X It is the large species mentioned under C. procera (vide supra, p. 229) as being from Port Darwin; and though probably distinct from G. jn'ocera, Putz., seems to offer no characters to distinguish it from that species except its lai'ge size. 27G APPENDIX TO THE AISTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, My examination of this collection leaves the impression on my mind that all the specimens are not actually from King's Sound, but that some, as C. procera and C. quadratifrons, may be from Port Darwin or some other more easterly port of call, at which Mr. Froggatt may have touched. Clivina riverin.e, Sloane.'^' The single representative of this species seems to agree with typical specimens in everything excepting colour. It is brown with the elytra ferruginous. Clivina punctaticeps, Putzeys (var. sulcicollis). A species which is plentifully represented in the collection agrees with C. punctaticep:<, Putz., in respect of the head, elytra, prosternum, and eyes, but differs by having the prothorax shorter and rather more convex, the median line more deeply impressed, the basal curve shorter, the base more deeply and abruptly declivous, the marginal channel across the base much wider and deepei'. It may be a distinct species, though it seems probable that C. punctaticejys will be found to be a widel}'^ spread species varying sufficiently to take in this form as a variety. The following is a brief description : — • Narrow, parallel, convex. Piceous red, elytra w^ith first stria of each elytron usually dark piceous, this sutural infuscation often spreading over the first three interstices above the apical declivity: a very distinct crenulate striole at l)ase of first interstice; anterior femora lobate on lower side; anterior tibite 4-dentate. Length 5-5-7, breadth 1-45-1 -75 mm. The characteristic feature of this variety is the wide deep channel of the base of the prothorax which interrupts the mar- ginal border at each side, and prevents it from actually joining the basal border, as is usual in Gliviiia. * Vide Hiipra p. 164. liY THOMAS G. SLOANB. 'J, { i Clivina sbllata, Putzeys (vai*. ? inconspicua). A small Clivina represented by seven specimens i^two immature) is among those from King's Sound. It agrees so closely with C. sellata, Putz., that I have placed it under that species as a variety; the onl}-^ differences I can find are that it seems a smaller insect, and apparently the black dorsal spot on the elytra is quite wanting; however, I cannot separate immature specimens from immature specimens of C. aellata. It is quite likely that when this form is better known it will come to be regarded as a species distinct from C. sellata, and it is with this impression in my mind that I give it a varietal name, for I feel that it would be mis- leading to extend the range of C. sellata to King's Sound on the specimens before me. The following description will suffice for its recognition : — Ferruginous. Parallel, convex. Head short, vertex with a rounded punctate impression: clypeus emarginate, median part not divided from wings, these small, rounded, a strong sinuosity dividing them from supra-antennal plates. Prothorax about as long as broad (I'l x 1-1 mm.}, decidedly narrowed anteriorly. Elytra punctate-striate, fourth stria joining fifth at base, seventh entire. Prosternum with intercoxal part attenuate anteriorly. Anterior tibi;e 4-dentate. Length •3'7-4'2, breadth 1-1-15 mm. Clivixa AUSTRALASiiE, Bohemann 1 (var. ?). A large black species is plentifully represented in the King's Sound collection. In general appearance it exactly resembles C. australasice, Bohem., the only noticeable differences that I can see being, the head less punctate and more roundly angustate before the eyes, the legs lighter coloured, the inner apical spine of the anterior tibiae longer and more obtuse at the apex in the ^. Some specimens have the clypeus more deeply emarginate than others. Length S-9-5, breadth 2--i-2-7 mm. 278 APPENDIX TO THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, Clivina froggatti, n.sp. Robust, convex. Head short, wide, clypeus truncate-emargi- nate; prothorax subquadi*ate, with all its angles rounded ; elytra oval, seventh and eighth interstices uniting at base to form a short, not strong, marginal carina, eighth interstice indicated by a fine carina near apex; prosternum with intercoxal part wide antei'iorly, non-sulcate on base; episterna very finely shagreened, finely transversely striolate; metasternum, between intermediate and posterior coxfe, about as long as posterior coxse; episterna sub- elongate ; anterior tibiae 3-dentate. Black, shining, legs and antennae reddish piceous. Head transverse, convex; anterior part rugulose; vertex wide; clypeal elevation arcuate; clypeus irregularly divided from front, deeply and widely truncate-emarginate, wings advanced, small, obtusely rounded, concave, gently oblique on inner side; supra- antennal plates convex, rounded externally, bordered, divided from wings of clypeus by a light sinuosity; facial sulci deep and divergent posteriorly ; frontal impressions strongly marked, irregular; facial carinee short, wide, prominent; supra-orl)itrJ punctures distant from eyes, set in a longitudinal groove, lower edge of this groove carinate; eyes globose, prominent, lightly enclosed behind ; orbits abruptly constricted behind eyes. Antenna? moniliform, short, incrassate. Prothorax rather bi'oader than long (2"2 x 2-25 mm.), widely convex; sides parallel, strongly and roundly narrowed in front of anterior marginal puncture; anterior margin lightly emarginate in middle; anterior angles obtusely rounded; posterior angles rounded; basal curve short; border wide, reflexed; median line well marked; anterior line strongly impressed; lateral basal impressions obsolete. Elytra oval (4-3 X 2-35 mm.), convex; sides strongly rounded; shoulders rounded; strife deeply impressed, strongly crenulate except towards apex; interstices convex near base, depressed on apical declivity; lateral border strongly reflexed near shoulders; lateral channel wide. Length 7 -2-8 -5, breadth 2-2 -3 -5 mm. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 279 Four specimens; the one measuring 7 '2 mm. in length is, judging from the otlier three, an unusually small specimen. Closely allied to C. m.adp.ayi, SI., but differing in having the eyes more prominent and spherical, the facial sulci shorter, less arcuate and less convergent in front, the frontal fovese deeper; the prothorax more convex, the sides not sinuate and much more strongly rounded to anterior angles^ the anterior margin less emarginate, the anterior angles obtusely rounded and less marked; the elytra with distinctly crenulate striie, the eighth interstice indicated near apex; the metasternum longer and with a deeply impressed channel near external margin, the metasternal episterna a little longer and with a strongly marked channel near inner margin; the colour deep black. Dyschirius macleayi, n.sp. Robust, convex. Head strongly depressed between eyes, front carinate in middle, clypeus deeply and roundl}^ emarginate with prominent lateral angles; elytra convex, basal part — in front of testaceous fascia — strongly punctate-striate (eight rows of punc- tures); anterior tibiae 3-dentate. Head piceous black; prothorax shining bronzy-black; elytra ferruginous with a bronzy tinge, a wide testaceous fascia across apical third; legs, antennae and under surface of prothorax reddish, bod}^ reddish piceous. Clypeus declivous, anterior margin roundly emarginate, lateral angles advanced, obtuse at apex; supra-antennal plates large, quadrate, bordered, projecting widely and sharply beyond clypeus, declivous on inner side, anterior angles obtuse, anterior margins oblique; front depressed, a longitudinal carina in centre, two transverse impressions on each side between central carina and supra-antennal plates; vertex convex, smooth; supra-orbital carinse well developed, thick; ej^es globose, prominent. Prothorax globose, lfe\'igate, a light transverse impression near anterior margin; median line wanting; marginal channel of base punctate. Elytra rounded on sides; shoulders rounded; stripe consisting of rows of deep coarse punctures, first stria only reaching apex, a short deep stria near margin on each side of apex; interstices 280 APPENDIX TO THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVIMDES, convex on basal pai't of disc, third, fifth and seventh bearing some setigerous punctures; apical part of elytra smooth excepting ft)r these punctui^es; marginal channel narrow on sides, stronger and more deeply impressed beliind shoulders. Anterior tibiae with apical digitation long, arcuate; two upper teeth successively shorter, well developed, prominent, acute. Length 4, breadth 1-15 mm. Evidently allied to D. torrensis, Blkb., but differing in colour, and apparently in the sculpture of the head. Note. — It seems worthy of notice that there are eight strise on each elytron of this species; the eighth stria consists of three or four punctures, and rises where the marginal channel narrows behind the shoulders. D. zonaLu^, Putz., a specimen of which I have seen in the INIacleay Museum, has only seven striaj on each elyti'on (the normal number among the Clivinides), and has the marginal channel wider and more punctate. P.L.S.N S.W 18 96. W Wf. * a, TEARA CONTRARIA, Walker SECTION Showing junction between the Trachyte Volcanic Croup of the Warrumbungle Mountains, and the Permo- Carboniferous Coal Measures in a tributary of Uargon Creek. Wollongulgong near Tooraweena . N eyv South Wales . 10 20 30 do SO 60 ScaJe Feet White, fine to current bedded sandstone w'lbh gritty bands. Id Ins crushed shale Pebbly sandstone Ironstone and papers Trachyte tuff 70 Feet thick. C/ay shale-, I '/z rr per/shed coaL_. Trachyte. Intrusive.^ ^Ft perished, ct Trachyte. Intrusive. ? Ft perished coal. nd sandstone 6 Iris perished coaJ ^'j ^Ins. > S Ins. perished cofl/_.-|j!| Mudstones or clay sha.ies. ][i] udstone P.L.S NSW. 1896. p I .XV! SECTION /■/? Wantia.l3.ble Creek Near Tooraweena , Warrum bungle Mountains, showing intercalation of Diatomaceovs cart/7 in the Trachyte Series. ^n'jAA- 20 ...Trachyte. ,>>br/>-|-\ 21. ...Coarse Trachyte tuff. f (Alternating very fine Trachyte tuffs Kund tuffaceo(js clays. ^'g" [Coarse Trachyte tuffs (fragments \'/4 to 'h inch in diameter.) __..l6'...Taffaceous .clays-, whitish grey. /B'tol' Silicified Trachyte tuff, y' (Fine white Trachyte tuff with ^,-4'' {abundant cryscaJs of sanidine \'/ii to '/2 inch in diameter. — S'.3"--Diatomaceous earth. J9'.3'l. Chiefly tuffs. Vesicular Tr&chyte. SECTION in Wantiala.ble Creek. Near Toora.weena. , Warrumbungle Mountains showing aia.toma.ceous earth in a.ssocia.tion with Cinnajvomum Leichhardtii ^ Vesicular Trachyte. 26 (about) Grey and yelloiv Trachyte turf. / ,5l _ _ .(about) Whitish tuff breccia- . /+ Cinnamomum Leichha.rdtii. ,' , ((sdout) Pure dia.tomaceous earth a. trifl& I ~\clB.yey sbofe. I , It (Greenish grey tuCraceous clay with pure I . ' Kwhite patches or decomposed sanidine tuff. I f„ (Light grey clay slightly greenish grey . _,' " XSmjdl fragments of plants- ■' .0.4. — Pure tvhite dia.toma.ceous ea.rth. \l'8'l..Dlatoms.ceous earth a trifle clayey. Vertical Scdie Fp.et 281 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF ABLEPHARUS FROM VICTORIA, WITH CRITICAL NOTES ON TWO OTHER AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS. By a. H. S. Lucas, M.A, B.Sc, and C. Frost, F.L.S. Ablepharus rhodonoides, sp.nov. Snout broad, obtuse; rostral projecting. Eye incompletely surrounded with granules. Nasals large, forming a short suture behind the rostral; frontonasal much broader than long, forming a broad straight suture with the frontal; prefi'ontals widely separated, as long as the fronto-prefrontal suture; frontal large, longer than the frontoparietals and interparietal together, nearly as long as its distance from the nuchals, in contact with the the anterior supraoculars; three supraoculars, second largest; five supraciliaries ; frontoparietals united ; interparietal distinct; parietals about twice as broad as long, forming a suture behind the interparietal; three or four pairs of nuchals; five upper labials, fourth belov/ the eye; five lower labials. Ear-opening minute, distinct. Body much elongate, scales in over sixty transverse series between axilla and groin, arranged in twenty longitudinal series; dorsals largest, laterals smallest. Two enlarged prteanals. Limbs short, tridactyle, widely separated when adpressed; the fore limb shorter than the distance from the end of the snout to the ear-opening; hind limb a little shorter than the distance from the end of the snout to the shoulders; length of outer toe twice the length of the middle, four times that of the inner toe. Tail almost as long as head and body. Colour. — Greyish above; each of the dorsal scales with a black central streak, forming four longitudinal series; a black lateral band from the nostril through the eye. Tail brownish. Under- surfaces yellowish. 19 282 NEW SPECIES OF ABELPHARUS FROM VICTOUIA, Dimensions : — Total length 79 mm. Head 5 „ Width of head... 3-5 „ Body 39 „ Fore limb ... 4-5 ,, Hind limb ... 9-5 ,, Tail (reproduced) 35 ,, Locality. — Mildura, Victoria. Two specimens obtained by favour of Rev. Walter Fielder. Remarks. — This species is allied to A. greyi, Grra}'-, by the head- scaling, but in habit resembles A. lineatus, Bell, and A. vut,"Meri, Fischer. It diflfers from A. lineatus in head-scaling, in number of digits, and in the number of longitudinal series of body scales; and from A. muelleri in the head-scaling. The genus Ablepharus is characterised by its snake-like absence of movable eyelids; and the three species, A. inuelleri, A. lineatus, and A. rhodonoides, show a further approach to the snake type in the reduction in size of the limbs and in the number of the digits. It is convenient here to add remarks on two other lizards. (1) Ablepharus greyi, (3(Ya,y. Within the year, Mr. H. J. McCooey obtained specimens of an Abh^.pharus in the Boggabri District, which he subsequently described in a country paper. He has been good enough to forward examples to us. They do not differ in any particular from A. greyi, Gray, which was first described from W. Australia, and was obtained by the Horn Expedition from the Centre. The species is thus one of those which is characteristically found in the interior regions of scanty rainfall. (2) f/emisphferiodon tasnianicuin, L. & F. After carefully examining a larger series of I/omolepida caxvarljice, D. & B., from New South Wales, and a series of examples kindly forwai'ded to us by Mr. A. Morton of the Hobart BY A. II. S. LUCAS AND C FKOST. 283 Museum, we have come to the conclusion that our specimens described from the St. Clair Lake, Tasmania, in theP.L.S.lST.S.W. 1893, p. 227, as neniisphce7'indoii tasmanicuin, are only among the numerous varieties of //omohpida canuarince, D. & B. Our chief reason for including the apparently new species under the genus f/fmisphceriodou was the relatively large size of one of the teeth in each side of each jaAv. The genus Hemisphceriodon was separated off from Hinulia in 1867 by Peters. It is still considered, and we think rightly, as distinct from Ijygosoma, in which Hirudin and Uomolepida, with others, are included by Boulenger (B.M.C.) The synonymy of Homolepida casimrince, D. & B., then consists of OmolepidAa casuarinm, Gray, Cyclodus casiiarince, Dum. et Bibr., dJomoIejnda nigricans, Peters, 1874, Lygosoma muelferi, Peters, 1878, and Hernis/dueriodon iasma>ticum, L. & F., 1891. / femisphcBriodon is separated from tJoni3 and tarsi pale red, rostrum piceous, its apex sometimes dull red, tip of femora and tibite and extreme apex of elytra tinged with red. Pygidium and under surface almost nude. Eyes large, prominent, almost touching. Rostrum straight, short, shining, perfectly cylindrical, with feeble elongate punctures. Antennae short, scape very short, inserted at eyes, almost geni- culate, 1st joint of funicle large, transverse, distinctly wider than scape, rest of the joints short, thick, their combined length not equalling club. Prothorax with bulged sides, much more strongly punctate than usual in the genus, with a distinct longitudinal furrow- extending its entire length, a small and distinct impres- sion on each side of middle. Scutellum small, circular, within a depression. Elytra about once and one-third as long as wide, feebly curved inwardly behind the shoulders, interstices narrow, convex, transversely granulate. Pygidium feebly carinate, seen from the head appearing minutely mucronate. Anterior femora long, strongly toothed, tibiae short, 3rd tarsal joint wide, claw joint small but moderately distinct. Length 2i, rostrum f (vix); width 4; range of variation 2-2^ mm. Q. Differs in being slightly larger on an average; rostrum dull red, tinged with piceous across its middle or apex; thorax tipped at apex with red; elytra either entirely red or red with the sides and apex black, sometimes with a transverse band at apical third and piceous along suture, sometimes with four red spots (two near apex and two near base), and occasionally with only two dull red spots near the base; tibias and apical third of femora red; the rostrum is slightly longer and narrower. Hab. — Tamworth, Sydney, N.S.W. BY ARTHUR M. LEA 309 The short antennse inserted so close to the eyes as to leave no visible space between them, the strongly bent scape, the unusually large 1st joint of funicle, and the distinct median groove on the prothorax render this species — despite the variable colour of the females — perhaps the most distinct of anj'^ in the genus. Reseml)ling variabilis at first sight, the straight rostrum alone would distinguish it ; the preceding ■ species (which it resembles in miniature) has the antennae inserted about the basal thix'd. L/EMOSACCUS RUFIPES, n.Sp. ^. Black; rostrum, antennas and legs red. Pygidium feebly squamose at base. Eyes moderately separated. Rostrum short, straight, shining, cylindrical, finely punctate. Antennae inserted moderately close to eyes; scape short, curved, not twice the length of 1st joint of funicle; club very small. Prothorax rounded, a feeble impression at apex, continued but very feebly to near base, base with a sub- elliptic impression on each side. Scutellum small, triangular, scarcely in a depression. Elytra parallel-sided, about once and one- half as long as wide, interstices narrow, convex, scarcely granu- late. Pygidium not carinate. Anterior femora with a small but rather distinct tooth, claw joint very small. Length 2^, rostrum ^ (vix); width 4 mm. ffab.—Hydnej, Galston, N.S.W. An elongate parallel-sided species, somewhat resembling insta- bilis, but without a distinct median prothoraeic line, and the antennae not inserted at extreme base of rostrum though closer to it than usual. I have two specimens, both females. L.EMOSACCUS GiBBOsus, Pasc; Mast. Cat. Sp. No. 5326.. This species was described from a male specimen; the female was described as L. magdaloides by the same author. I think it probal)le that the sexes of other species have received separate names. Of the above I have a pair taken in cop. The rostrum and colours of the legs are often subject to sexual variation; in 310 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, some species the eyes are much closer to each other in the male than in the female, and the length of the anterior femora occasion- ally varies. L.EMOSACCUS QUERULUS, Pasc; Mast. Cat. Sp. No. 5334. Mr. Pascoe has described only the female of this species; the male differs in having the rostrum thick, compressed, opaque, narrowing to apex, coarsely punctate and grooved for its entire length, or sometimes even carinate. I have numerous specimens from various parts of New South Wales and Swan River; the size ranges from 3 to 6 mm.; the elytral fasciae are variable both in size and completeness; L. narinus, Pasc, is possibly a black variety. LiEMOSACcus AusTRALis, Boisd.; Mast. Cat. Sp. No. 5318. I do not know how this species ci'ept into the Catalogue, as Boisduval described it from New Guinea; and neither Pascoe nor Bohemann (the only two who have described Australian Lo'mo- sacci) mentions it as coming from Australia, though Pascoe compares several species with it. L.EMOSACcus CRYPTONYX, Pasc; Mast. Cat. Sp. No. 5321. In this species the clothing varies from pale yellow to dark orange; the size also is slightly variable. I have specimens from Bridgetown to Swan River. LiEMOSACCUS DAPSiLis, Pasc; Mast. Cat. Sp. No. 5322. Mr. Pascoe doubtfully records this species from South Australia. I have sjDecimens from Queanbeyan and Forest Reefs, N.S.W. The (J differs from the 9 "i being smaller, with a shorter and thicker rostrum, and the antennae insei-ted much nearer the base than in the 9. L. ELECTiLis, Pasc; Mast. Cat. Sp. No. 5323. Hab — Whitton, N.S.W. BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 311 L. LONGLMANUS, Pasc; l.C. No. 5328. Hah. — Queanbeyan, N.S.W. L. NARiNus, Pasc; I.e. No. 5330. Ho,b. — Forest Reefs, Queanbeyan, N.S.W. L. NOTATUS, Pasc; I.e. No. 5331. Hab.—T^yeed River, N.S.W. L. OCULARIS, Pase.; I.e. No. 5332. Hah. — Forest Reefs, N.S.W.; Darling Ranges, W.A. L. SUBSIGNATUS, Bohem.j I.e. No. 5336. Hab. — Tasmania (Simson's No. 2566). L. SYNOPTicus, Pase.; I.e. No. 5337. //«6.— Forest Reefs, N.S.W. In the following tabulation of species known to me I have excluded as far as possible all characters subject to sexual variation, wliere I do not know both sexes. Rostrum more or less noticeably curved. Prothorax witl) a distinct circular or elliptic impres- sion on each side at base. Eyes almost touching. Clothed above rergfe?(:, n.sp. Foiun rather elongate and subcylindrical. Elytra and prothorax with distinct pubescence forming patterns. Claw joint moderately distinct ohscurus, n.sp. Claw joint almost concealed. Anterior tibise red rryjitonyx, Pasc. Anterior tibiffi piceous-black fe>t, Pasc. liv Airraui! m. lea. 313 COSSONIDES. Mastersinella, n.g. Head small. Eyes small, prominent, coarsely granulate. Rostrwm cylindrical, parallel, ehjngate. Antennce thick; funicle 8-jointed: club 3-jointed. Protliorax distinct!}^ widest behind, distinctly longer than wide. Scntellum small, distinct. Elytra slightly wider than prothorax, subcylindrical, apex acuminate. Anterioi' coxct subappro.ximate; tibial hook sharp, very distinct; tarsi pseudo-tetramerous. Body fusiform, strongly sculptured, glabrous. The eight-jointed funicle renders this genus at once distinct from any recorded by Mr. AVollaston; though, had specimens been before him, he might have considered it necessary to form a special group (as 'in Xotiomimetidm) to receive it. So far as I am capable of judging, its neax*est Australian ally (although possessing a five-jointed funicle) appears to be Microcossonus (of which a species is herein recorded from New South Wales). Consequently I propose to treat it as an aberrant form belonging to the Pentarthrides. Mastersinella 8-articulata, n.sp. Dull red; rostrum and base of prothorax feebl}" tinged with piceous. Legs with feeble greyish pubescence. Head impunctate, a few coarse punctures between eyes, rostrum with coarse scattered punctures densest towards apex; prothorax with regular shallow punctures; elytra striate-punctate, the punctures large, shallow, approximate, tinged with piceous, interstices smooth. Under side of head feebly transversely strigose, sterna and alternate portions of abdomen with large shallow punctures. Rostrum once and one-half as long as head, feebly equally dilated towards apex; '1st joint of funicle wider than long, narrow at base, apex truncate, rounded outwardly, inwardly excavated. Prothorax subconvex, not once an 1 one-half as long as wide, sides rounded, apex narrowed and feebly constricted, base feebly bisinuate. Elytra slightly wider than prothorax, parallel-sided to 21 314 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, apical third. Meta- twice as long as mesosternum, the two com- bined as long as abdomen. Third tarsal joint strongly bilobed, entirely concealing true 4th joint except from below. Length to eyes If, rostrum ^; width ^ (vix) mm. //a6.— N. Queensland (Mr. G. Masters), Barron Falls (Mr. A, Koebele). " In decaying timber." Hexarthroides, n g. Head rather small. Eyes small, prominent, coarsely granulate. Rostrum subcylindrical, parallel. Antenne moderately slender, funicle 6-jointed; club 3-jointed. Protliontx widest across middle, longer than wide. Scutelhim almost invisible. Eli/Ira subcylin- drical, parallel, apex acuminate. Anterior co.ae subapproximate: tibial hook distinct; tarsi pseudo-tetramerous, 3i'd joint moderately bilobed. Body elongate, narrow, strongly sculptured, feebly pubescent. Although possessing a six-jointed funicle, I think this genus should go in with the Cossu aides as limited by Mr. Wollaston; he himself places Uexarthruvi (also witli a six-jointed funicle) with them, and the present genus certainly cannot be placed with the Onycholipides. I possess no Australian genus with which it can be satisfactorily compared, and from Hi^xnrihrtim it appears to differ widely. Hexarthroides punctulatum, n.sp. Narrow, subconvex. Piceous-black ; eyes brown, antennte dull red, base of femora, apex of tibiie and the tarsi tinged with red. Punctures with microscopic sparse pubescence, longest beneath. Head feebly transversely strigose at base, it, the rostrum and prothorax with coarse dense punctures, elytra striate-punctate, the punctures coarse, approximate ; under surface with strong- regular punctures; head almost impunctate, and microscopically granulate; intermediate abdominal segments feebly and sparsely, apical more densely and strongly punctate; femora shallowly punctate and strigose. Rostrum parallel-sided, except for a feeble dilatation to receive the antennae. Prothorax very feebly constricted near apex, and BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 315 with the head and rostrum elongate pear-shaped. Elytra much wider than prothorax at base, but not much wider than across its middle, parallel-sided to near apex, interstices very narrow. Abdomen a little longer than meso- and metasternum combined. Length to eyes 2^, rostrum J; width | mm. //o6. — Galston, N.S.W. MiCROCOSSONUS PAXDANI, n.sp. Subconvex. Dull red, antennne and under side of head paler. Legs with feeble scattered pubescence. Head both above and below feebly transversely strigose; rostrum with shallow punctures; prothorax with shallow, almost regular punctures. Elytra striate-punctate, the punctures large, shallow, approximate; under surface with scattered large shallow punctures, and minutely irregularly transversely or obliquely strigose; femora feebly .strigose. Scape feebly curved, slightly longei" than the rest of antennje; 1st joint of funicle longer than 2nd-3rd combined. Prothorax feebly constricted near ape.x, which is decidedly narrower than l)ase, Ijase very fee]:»ly trisinuate. Elytra feebly and equally diminishing to apical third. Length to eyes 1^, rostrum h (vix); width f mm. //ab. — Tweed and Richmond Rivers, X.8.AV. Between decaying portions of the trunks and in old nuts of Paiulanu.H up. The species is moderately common and I have taken both larviXi and pupye, specimens of which are now in the collection of the Department of Agriculture of New South Wales. Stereoborus laporte.e, n.sp. Cylindrical, shining, glabrous. Black or piceous-black, or piceous- brown. Head, rostrum and prothorax densely punctate; elytra punctatestriate, the punctui'es large, subquadrate, interstices convex, very sparsely punctate; under surface sparsely, sides of sterna more densely punctate. Head broad; eyes indistinct; rostrum very broad, not much longer than wide, feebly decreasing to apex, a feeble impression 316 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, between antennoe; aiitennpe short, scape curved, as long as funicle. Protliorax sliglitly narrowed in front, as long as head and rostrum combined, without trace of median line. 8cutellum small, trans- verse. Elytra parallel to near apex, suture slightly convex. Sutures of intermediate abdominal segments very deep. Legs short, anterior tibiae fossorial. Length 5, rostrum i; width 1-| mm. Hah. —Clarence River, N.S.W. Numerous specimens taken from partlj^^ decayed trunks of the large stinging tree ( Lapartea gic/oit). The great number of closely allied genera described by Mr. Wollaston renders satisfactory determination of any but those with atrongly marked features somewhat difficult, and as this and the following species are at least very close to Stereoborns (a species of which has already been recorded from Australia) T ha^-e considered it advisable to place them in that jrenus. >Stereoborus interstitialls, n sp Elongate-elliptic, subconvex, shining, glabrous. Black, antennae and tarsi piceous. Head (except base) and rostrum densely punctate, prothorax less densely; elytra striate-punctate, punctures moderately large, approximate, interstices flat, feebly but distinctly punctate; sterna with moderately large regular punctures, smaller on abdomen. Head wide, eyes moderately distinct, a small .fo^'ea between them; rostrum short, broad, feebl}^ dilating to apex, slightly curved; antennne inserted nearer base than apex of rostrum; scape curved, as long as funicle and club combined; club short, obovate. Prothorax constricted near apex, widest behind middle, with feeble trace of median line. Scutellum small, transverse. Elytra decreasing almost from base to apex, striae deep at base, much shallower towards apex, suture flat. Intermediate segments of abdomen small, suture deep, apical segment feebly depressed in the middle. Legs long, anterior tibiie subfossoi'ial. Length 4|, rostrum ^; width li mm. //V(7). —Tweed Rivor, X.S.W. Obtained under rotten l)ark. BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 317 Sterboderus Macleayi, n.sp. Cylindrical, highly polished, glabrous. Black, antennje piceous- red. Head and rostrum almost impunctate, mouth parts with long reddish hair, prothorax with sparse distinct punctures, sparsest towards base; elytra with regular rows of small distinct punctures, interstices flat, not punctate. Head large, thick; eyes lateral, indistinct, a very feeble impres- sion between them; rostrum very short, wider than long, antennte inserted about middle of rostrum, scape very short, widening to apex, feebly curved. Prothorax about once and one-third as long as wide, feebly constricted near apex, which is slightly emarginate at its middle, and almost as wide as base. Scutellum distinct, subquadrate, within a depression. Elytra parallel to near apex, with an indistinct sutural stria. Intermediate segments of abdomen short, their sutures deep and wide. Legs very short, tibije strongly fossorial. Length 4|, rostrum ^; width H, rostrum | mm. Hab. — Cairns, N.Q. (Macleay Museum). Except for the shape of the prothorax this species agrees with Mr. WoUaston's diagnosis of the genus Stereoderus; the base of the rostrum has three small tubercles immediately behind the long reddish hair with which the mouth is fringed. COSSONUS INTEGRICOLLIS, n.sp. Broad, depressed, feebly shining. Head and prothorax black, elytra and scutellum dull brownish-red, the former tinged with piceous towards apex; under surface, legs and antennae piceous- brown. Rostrum with dense small punctures, prothorax with large regular punctures except at apex where they ai"e .smaller, each elytron with about twelve rows of large, subquadrate punctures; interstices scarcely visibly punctate, about as wide as punctures; under surface densely punctate, punctures of sterna (especiall}'^ of pro- and mesosternum) stronger. 318 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, Eyes lateral, distinct; rostrum narrow at base, suddenly- widening to insertion of antennae, parallel thence to apex; antennae inserted about middle of rostrum, scape straight, as long as funicle, club short, obovate. Prothorax subconical, median line invisible on apical half, carinate towards base, base bisinuate. Scutellum small, distinct, circular, within a depression. Elytra wider than prothorax, parallel to apical third, interstices flat, scarcely raised (except posteriorly). Abdomen with a feeble depression at middle of 1st and 2nd segments; apical as long as two intermediate combined. Legs long, femora (especially anterior) thickened. Length 4^, rostrum 1 (vix); width 1| mm. Hah.— Forest Reefs, N.S.W. Crawling over fences and logs at night time. COSSONUS IMPRESSIFRONS, n.Sp. Elongate, depressed, feebly shining, glabrous. Piceous-l^lack, under surface (except prosternum), legs and antenna^ reddish- brown. Head and i^ostrum densely punctate, the prothorax less densely but more strongly; elytra striate-jDunctate, punctures large, subquadrate, interstices scarcely visibly punctate, pro- and mesosternum with dense coarse punctures, on the mesosternum and two basal segments of abdomen the}'^ are smaller and some- what irregular, intermediate segments sparsely punctate, apical densely and strongly. Head with a moderately large distinct fo\'ea between eyes; rostrum moderately narrow at base, widening to insertion of antennae, parallel thence to apex, flat, a groove continuous from ocular fovea almost to middle, where it distinctly terminates, fi'om thence at the sides a feeble impression; scape straight, thickening to apex, as long as funicle, club obovate, as long as four preceding joints of funicle. Prothorax with feebly bulged sides, an impunctate elevation extending almost from apex to base, with a depression on each side of it. Scutellum distinct, obtriangular, a feeble impression in its middle. Elytra wider than prothorax, feebly decreasing to near apex, alternate inter- stices feeblj'^ raised, all flat and rather narrow. A depression BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 31^ extending fi-om liase of 1st to apex of 2nd abdominal segment. Legs moderately long, femora (especiall}' anterior) thickened. Length 6^, rostrum |; width 1| mm. Hab. — New South Wales (probably from Sydney). Cossoxus PR.EUSTUs, Redt.; Mast. Cat. Sp. No. 5G20. Hab. — N.S.W.; widely distributed. Pentamimus rhyncholiformis, WolL; I.e. No. 5615. Hab. — Donn^'brook, W.A. In flowering stems of Xanthor- rhoea. P. CAXALicuLATUS, WolL; l.c. No. 5614. Huh. — Tasmania (Macleay Museum). IsoTROGL'S BiLiNEATUS, Pasc; l.c. No. 5621 //«6.— Cairns, N.Q. (Macleay Museum). 3:^0 DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW ARANEID^ OF NEW SOUTH WALES. No. 6. By W. J. Rainbow. (Plates XVIII. -XX.) Family EPEIRID^. Genus N e p ii i L a, Leach. Nephila ornata, sp.nov. (Plate xviii. figs. 1, Irt, Ih.) Q. Cephalothorax 5 mm. long, 4 mm. broad; abdomen 7 mm, long, 4 mm. broad. Cephalothorax dark mahogany brown, thickly clothed with silvery white hair; caput elevated, rounded on sides and upper part, deeply compressed at junction of cephalic and thoracic segments; two coniform tubercles at posterior extremity of cephalic segment. Clypeus broad, moderately convex; a deep transverse groove at centre, indented laterally; indentations bare, transverse groove sparingly clothed with hoary pubescence. Eyes glossy black; the four central eyes are seated on a moderately convex eminence and form an almost quadrangular figure; of these the two comprising the front row are somewhat closer together than the hinder pair; the lateral eyes are much the smallest of the group, and are placed obliquely on small tubercles, but are not contiguous. Legs long, slender, yellow-brown, a few fine yellow hairs; tarsi dark brown. Relative lengths 1, 2, 4, 3; of these the second and fourth pairs are almost equal, and the third much the shortest. Palpi rather short, somewhat darker than the legs, rather thickly clothed with short dark hairs. BY \V. J. RAINBOW. 321 FaJces dark brown, conical, smooth, inner margin fringed with dark liairs; fangs much darker; the margins of the furrow of each faLx armed with a row of three strong teeth. .]fa.villai dark at base; apex shiny, pale yellowish. Labium loug-^r than the base is broad; base and ajiex similar in colour to maxillae. Ste^'num shield-shaped, straw colour, with small dark patches laterallj^ Abclom'371 oblong, sinuous in outline, moderately convex, pro- jecting over base of cephalothorax; superior surface dull yellowish, dark at anterior and posterior extremities, clothed sparingly with short silvery hairs; ornamented with a few dark spots, and from near the centre to anterior extremity with a network pattern of dark lines; sides and inferior surface dark bi'own, ornamented with a network of pale yellowish and uneven lines. Epigyne a transverse oval, dark brown eminence, posterior lip more strongly elevated and convex than the anterior. Hah. — Sydne}'. (Contribution from the Australian Museum. ) Nephila picta, sp.nov. (Plate XIX. fig. 1.) 9. Cephalothorax 6 mm. long, 5 mm. broad; abdomen 11 mm. long, 7 mm. broad. C ephalothorax shiny black, thickly clothed with silvery hairs; caput arched, clothed with silvery hairs, a few black shiny patches devoid of hairs; junction of cephalic and thoracic segments clearly defined; two shiny black coniform tubercles at base of cephalic eminence. Clypeus broad, slightly arched, clothed with silvery hairs; normal grooves distinct, black, shiny, and devoid of hairs; deeply indented at centre. Marginal hand narrow, fringed with hoary hairs. 322 SOME NEW ARANEID.E OF N.S.W., Eyes black; the four central eyes are seated on a moderately convex eminence, and form an almost quadrangular figure; the lateral pair are much the smallest, and are placed obliquely on small tubercles, but are not contiguous. Legs long, slender, black, with broad yellow annulations; trochanters and femurs of first 2 pairs and femurs only of third and fourth pairs furnished at lower extremities with long black hairy plumes; tibial joints, vietatarsi and tarsi black. Palpi long, black, clothed with long black hairs or bristles. Fahes black, arched in front, slightly divergent, a few short black hairs on inner margins; a row of three teeth on each margin of the furrow of each falx wherein the fang lies when at rest; fangs black. MaxillcH club-shaped, arched, outer margins black, inner margins shiny, yellowish. Lahixcm conical, rather longer than broad, black at base, shiny and yellowish at apex. Sternum cordate, longer than broad, surface uneven, black, with four small yellow lateral patches, a broad transverse curved yellow band at anterior part, and a small yellow patch at posterior extremity. Abdomen ovate, projecting over base of cephalothorax, superior surface sparingly pubescent, olive-green, spotted with yellow and ornamented with a network pattern of tracery, and two rather large yellow spots at centre; sides similar in colour to superior surface; inferior surface dark, ornamented with a broad wavy transverse yellow band situated just below epigyne; besides this there are three other transverse yellow lines seated lower down, the first of which is curved in a posterior direction, and the two others forward. Epigyne dark, strongly arched, concave within. /^a6.— Condobolin, N.S.W. Type specimen in the collection of the Australian Museum, to the Trustees of which Institution I am indebted for the privilege of describing it. BY \V. .T. RAINBOW. 323 Genus E p E I H a, Walck. Epeira ficta, sp.nov. (Plate XVIII. figs. 2, 2rt.) 5. Cephalothorax 3 mm. long, 2 mm. broad; abdomen 5 mm. long, 5 mm. broad. Cephalothorax pale yellow. Caput elevated, rounded on sides and upper part; a few short fine pale yellow hairs in front and at sides. Clypeihs broad, strongly convex; normal grooves indistinct. Marginal hand narrow. Eyes black; the four intermediate ones seated on a somewhat quadrangular protuberance, forming a square or nearly so; of these the pair comprising the first row are separated from each other by a distance equal to their individual diameter, those of the second by about one-half, and each row is separated from the other by about the diameter of one eye; lateral pairs much the smallest of the group, placed obliquely on small protuberances, and almost contiguous. Legs moderately long and strong, pale yellow, armed with strong black spines, and sparingly clothed with short fine yellow hairs; relative lengths 1, 2, 4, 3. Palpi short, pale yellow, clothed with fine yellow hairs, con- siderably longer than those of the legs. Falcet pale yellow, strong; the margins of each falx armed with a row of three teeth; fangs yellowish-brown. Maxillce pale yellow, arched, inner margins thickly fringed with yellow hairs. Labium concolorous, broad at base, strongly arched, one-half the length of maxilkt^. Steritnni cordate, yellowish-green, tiiincate in front, bare and uneven. Abdomen broad, ovate, overhanging base of cephalothorax strongly convex, green colour; with two large yellow spots, edged with dark brown towards anterior extremity; contiguous to each of these there is a much smaller yellow spot edged with dark 324 SOME NKW ARANEID^ OF N.S.W., brown; towards posterior extremit}'^ there is a network of fine dark and uneven lines; sides oi a somewhat darker green than superior surface; underside olive green. Epi(jy)ie an elevated eminence; the two openings, though sensibly separated, are connected at anterior part with a pale yellowish curved bar; immediately above the curved Ijar mentioned there is another bar larger, stronger, and much more arched than the first mentioned. Flab. — New England District. Epeira similaris, sp.nov. (Plate XVIII. fig. 3.) 2 Cephalothorax 3 mm. long, 2 mm. broad; alxlomen 5 mm. long, 5 mm. broad. Cephalothorax pale yellow. Caput elevated, rounded on sides and upper part, a few short fine pale yellow hairs in front and at sides. Ciypeus broad, strongly convex; normal grooves indistinct. Marginal band narrow. Eyes, legs, palpi, falces, inaxilUe, labium and sterniiia similar to E. ficta. Abdomen broad, ovate, overhanging base of cephalothorax, moderately convex, green, with a broad transverse irregular patch of dull white towards anterior extremity, and which is broadest laterally; there are two large dark brown une\ enly formed lateral patches so situated as to be surrounded by portions of the white patch referred to; in addition to these there are two small median depressions or dents, the depths of which are of a dark bi"own colour; from about the centre to the posterior extremity there is a network of fine uneven lines; sides green; under side dull green. Epi'/yne an elevated eminence; the two openings more widely separated than in E. ficta, and not connected at anterior part, as in that species, with a curved bar; above the openings, and slightly overhanging them, there is a large strong arched bar as in the former species. Hab. — New England District. BY W. J. RAINBOW. 325 Epeira Wagner I, sp.llo^•. (Plate XIX. figs. 2, 2«, 26, 2c, 2d.) 9. Cephalothorax 5 mm. long, 4 mm. wide; abdomen 6 mm. long, 5 mm. wide. Cephalothorax yellow-brown. Capnt ele\ated, rounded on sides and upper part. Clypeus broad, convex, normal grooves indistinct; a deep transverse cleft at centre. Marg'nuil hand narrow, black. Eyes black; the four central eyes forming a square or nearly so; front pair separated from each other by about one eye's diameter, second pair by a distance equal to about three- fourths of their individual diameter; lateral pairs seated obliquely on tubercles, much the smallest of the group. f.egs long, strong, clothed with short black hairs and spines; coxae pale straw colour; trnch'inters with lower half pale straw colour, the I'emainder reddish-brown: /■■iiuir.<, tibia', and tarsi reddish- brown. Relative lengths 1, 2, 4, 3. Palpi long, similar in colour and armature to legs. FalcS'S reddish-brown, shiny, inner margin fringed with short hairs; the outer margin of the furrow of each falx armed with three teeth, and the inner two; fangs strong, dark brown. Maxillce yellow -brown, convex exteriorly, a thick fringe of short black hairs on inner margins, a few long black ones on the outer margins. Labium broad, half the height of maxilla^, rounded off at apex. ■^'teniinn shield-shaped, dark brown, lighter at the middle; surface uneven. Abdoni".!!. oblong, convex, slightly projecting over base of cephalothorax; upper surface mottled 3'ellow and brown; at antei-ior extremity two large dark and brown patches laterally; four rather deep indentations at the centre; a large leaf-like design, darkest at its outer edges, I'uns th? entire length of the upper surface; sides mottled dark brown anr] yellow, with green markings; inferior surface yellowish, with dark brown patches. 326 SOME NEW ARANEID^ OF N.S.W., The males of this species are pigmies in comparison to the females, but are exactly like them in colour and formation. The sexes pair during January and February, and live together in the same nest during that period. A more detailed account of their nidification,