PLATYPUS. 91 
members of the genus; of its 15 species, 9 are new, and comprise such conspicuous 
forms as Platypus godmani, P. salvini, and P. dolabratus. 
The total number of species thus amounts to 46. Of 10, which do not occur in our 
collection, typical examples, with two exceptions, have been available for study from 
other sources. 
It is necessary to draw up separate diagnostic tables for the males and females ; 
therefore before attempting to identify an example its sex must be clearly recognized. 
The principal external sexual characters are as follows :— 
Males. Elytra variously formed, with the interstices towards the apex frequently carinate, 
spinous, tuberculate, or produced into terminal processes ; the base of the third interstice rarely 
tuberculate or transversely carinate, always less so than in the female of the same species; the 
abdomen less convex, with the segments sometimes armed with spines or tubercles. 
Females. Elytra subtruncate at the apex (the lateral angles produced in P. flavicornis, ¢ 
alone), and gently declivous posteriorly, with a subvertical triangular or rounded terminal flattened 
surface, separated above from the horizontal portion by an oblique sulcus of variable depth ; with 
shallower strive or sulci and without well-marked carinz, spines, or tubercles, their posterior third 
at most rugose or granulate; the third interstice with a raised granular or transversely carinate 
patch at its base; the abdomen ampler, more convex, unarmed. 
Males. 
(Females. Chapuis, Mon. Plat.) 
1. Elytra sulcate or subsulcate, the sulci indistinctly or irregularly 
punctured, if in somewhat regular rows, with the punctures 
confluent in parts . ....... woe ew ew 
Elytra striate, the striz with a single series of regular punc- 
tures. 6. ew eee ee ee ee ee we RM 
Elytra with rows of fine punctures, the sutural row at most 
impressed . . 2... Le ee - . « . Bde 
2. Interstices of the elytra alternately elevated or tubereulate, at 
least towards the apex . 2. 2. 1. . we eee ee 
Interstices similar throughout . . . . 2 ee ee 202 
3. Prothorax with a cribriform patch of 5-10 punctures round the 
anterior extremity of the sulcus. . . . . . +» +s 4& 
Prothorax with no patch of punctures. . . . . . «. « . 6. 
4. First elytral interstice with a strong serrate crest on the 
declivity. . . . woe ee ee we ew ww ee Latreillet, Chap. 
First interstice not crested on the declivity . . . . . - 5. 
5. Apex of the elytra produced into two oblique truncate lobes » godmani, sp. n. 
Apex uniformly declivous, the lateral angles produced down- 
wards .... . ee . - . . Salvini, sp. n. 
6. Apical margin of the elytra subtransverse, with the lateral angles 
at most very shortly produced and plicate; or with the 
NN 2 
