BY KEV. T. BLACKBURN. 697 



5. Elytrorum interstitiis coriaceis opacis vix manifeste punc- 

 tulatis, postice vix vel manifeste convexis. 



Var. elytrorum sutura antice late nigro-marginata, metasterno 

 infuscato. Long. 1|-14, lat. 4-1 lines. 



This species is very easily recognisable, the male by the very 

 widely dilated basal joint of its anterior tarsi (which is very much 

 more widely dilated than in any allied species known to me), the 

 female by the interstices of its elytra Ijeing opaquely coriaceous 

 but without distinct puncturation. I have no hesitation in 

 regarding these two forms as the sexes of one species, although I 

 have not seen the insec t alive. I have received it (from Geraldton, 

 W. Australia) from Messrs. Meyrick and Lea, the latter of 

 -whom sent examples of both sexes gummed on one card, indicating 

 thereby, I presume, that they were taken in company. 



P. NIGRITULA, Clk. 



I have before me two specimens taken at Geraldton (the original 

 locality) which agree with the description of this species in all 

 respects except in having the external margin of their elytra (in one 

 very narrowly, in the other widely) testaceous. It is certainly, I 

 think, a variety of a species of which I have other examples from 

 Geraldton, and which is ordinarily entirely testaceous in colour. 

 Among the species of this aggregate (beginning in the foregoing 

 tabulation with apicata, Clk.) it is recognisable by the following 

 characters in combination, viz., seriate punctures of elytra com- 

 paratively fine, tarsal characters of the male feeble, elytral inter- 

 stices of female nitid and distinctly punctured, form depressed 

 and widel)^ oval (but by no means cii'cular), head somewhat wide 

 and flat but not coarsely or deeply punctured. Its antennse are 

 very short (notably shorter than those of P. Niohe) with their 7th 

 joint so slightly dilated in comparison of the 8th that the apical 

 four joints seemed to form a distinct club and are scarcely at all 

 infuscate towards their apex. Its size is long, l^-lf lines. 



jST B. — The specimens of this insect which I regard as males 

 ha\'e their tarsal characters so extremely feeble that I am not 

 46 



