376 AUSTRALIAN CORDULIINyE, 



This genus is intermediate between the two main divisions of 

 the Cordulina (s.str.), of which the typical genera may be taken 

 lo be Somatochlora and Syiicordulia. To the former, it is related 

 1)V its robust build (large head and thorax), long slender legs, and 

 open venation; also by the practically complete recession of the 

 hind wing-triangle to the arculus, and by the long anal loop, 

 showing a longitudinal bisector. With the latter, it agrees in 

 its slender noncorduliform abdomen, and in its uncrossed triangles 

 and forewing-" subtriangle." Of Old World genera, it probably 

 comes closest to Oxyyastra, which it resembles closely in the form 

 of its anal loop, triangles and forewing-" subtriangle"; it differs, 

 howevei", from this genus in not possessing the second cubital 

 cross-vein in the hindwing, and in the almost complete recession of 

 tlie hind wing-triangle. 



In colouration, it is quite unlike any known Corduline, being 

 bright red and black. This colour and the regular pattei'n of the 

 abdomen, together with the thoracic colour-scheme and the shape 

 of the head, th<jrax, legs and abdomen, irresistibly suggest a far 

 closer relationship between this genus and Corduhphya than a 

 comparison of the wing-venations would indicate. 



5. Hesperocordulia berthoddi, n.sp. (Plate x., figs.l, 3, and 9). 



(J. Total length, 54; abdomen, 41; hindwing, 30-5 mm. 



W^ i n g s : a small patch of orange at nodus, also at base of 

 wings (this colouring disappearing when the insect becomes fully 

 matured). Pterostigma 2 mm., orange. Memhranule narrow, 

 whitish, fore 2, hind 4 mm. Nodcd Indicator I 7 5 i 

 Head: eyes dark reddish-brown ; vertex blackish ; [i 5 7 | 

 front deeply cleft medially, yellowish-brown, shiny; clypeus shiny- 

 brownish; lahruni reddish-brown; labium orange. Thorax: 

 prothorax small, brownish. Meso- and metathorax rich orange- 

 brown, with very long grey hairs; marked with bright metallic 

 greenish as folio w.s — basal portion of dorsum on each side of 

 dorsal ridge carrying a large irregular patch, subrectangular, 

 with its upper part cut out rectangularly; on each side a large 

 spot near mesocoxa, also a broad sublateral band; notum orange- 

 brown; leys long, black. Abdomen slender, 1-2 somewhat 



