BY REV. T. BLACKBURN. 503 



nullo modo rugulosa ut interstitia punctulata et puncturis 

 majoribus (his quam serierum puncturaj paullo minus sub- 

 tilibus) confuse nee acervatim impressa. Long. 3-4-|, lat. 

 2|-3i lines. 

 I am doubtful whether I may not include several closely allied 

 species under this name, but I do not think the point could be 

 decided without breeding some extensive series. There is a con- 

 siderable difference in size and in the distinctness of the traces of 

 ^lytral striae among the specimens before me, the latter, however, 

 being very possibly due to the action of spirits. I have an 

 example from Dr. Chapuis ticketed ' inconstaiis,' but cannot find 

 that he has published any description of it. It is a small ^ 

 specimen (long. 3 lines) with non-striate elytra. 



This species has been differentiated from pallida under the 

 heading of that species. From the other allied species preceding 

 its non-rugulose prothorax, combined with a surface only slightly 

 nitid and interstitial elytral puncturation notably finer than the 

 seriate, readily distinguishes it; and from the following species (of 

 those not having a defined metallic pattern) its elytral series both 

 fine and very regular furnish a satisfactory distinction. 

 South and Western Australia and IST.S. Wales. 



P. DECOLORATA, Chp. 



Under this name again it is quite possible that I am including a 

 batch of very closely allied species. It is fairly easy to recognise 

 among its congeners of this subgroup by the lateral part of its 

 elytra being sculptured after the manner of the preceding 

 aggregate {P. aurea, hectica, — and especially hiconstans, — ifec), 

 while its elytral series are notably less symmetrical (some of them 

 more or less sinuovis or jagged, the 10th in its front part evidently 

 out of order, — yet very much more symmetrical, it must be 

 remembered, than in variicoUis and its allies) and not particularly 

 fine or closely placed. Although the seriate punctures are notably 

 larger and sparser than in preceding allies {e.g., incomttans) they 

 vary in size sufficiently to suggest the possibility already mentioned 

 that I am mixing more than one species under the name. The 



