85 



A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE MEMBRACID.E 

 DESCRIBED FROM AUSTRALIA AND TASMANIA. 



By F. W. Goding, M.D., Ph.D. 



(Cominionicated hy W. W. Froggatt, F.L.S.) 



This paper has been prepared merely to show to the members 

 of the Society what is known of this interesting family of insects, 

 as represented in Australia and Tasmania, and to call attention 

 to the fact that the writer has planned the preparation of a 

 monograph when sufficient material has been examined. 



The present paper is based wholly upon the published accounts 

 of these variously formed species, and plainly shows what little 

 attention has been paid to them. 



Owing to the deficiency of the published descriptions, some 

 half-dozen forms could not be included in the accompanying- 

 synopsis; otherwise it will be found to be accurate. However, 

 the opinion is warranted that Centrotus siiffusa, Walker, will 

 prove to be a synonym of Sextius virescens, Fairmaire, and 

 Oxyrhachis contorta, Walker, of Daunus v'ltta of the same author, 

 while the other forms described under Oxyrhachis and Centrotus 

 will be found to belong to some of the modern genera mentioned, 

 or form types of new genera. 



That the monograph may be a credit to the literature of Aus- 

 tralian Entomology, I earnestly desire the co-operation of this 

 Society. 



Provisigna-L Check-list op the Described Memhracidce of 

 Australia axd Tasmania. 



Genus Acanthucus, Stal. 



1. A. trispiniferus, Fairm. — Bab. : New Holland; Tasmania. 



2. A. gracilisjnnus, Stal. — Hab. : North Australia. 



3. A. conspercatus, Stal. — Hab. : West Australia. 



4. A. bispinus, Stal. — Hab. : Australia. 



