BY ARTHUR M. LEA. 2<S5 



The colour of this species will at once distinguish it from any 

 of its described congeners; in shape it comes closest to the preced- 

 ing. 



M O R D E L L I D .E. 



Many of the species of this family are difficult to satisfactorily 

 describe, as almost the only characters that can be given are the 

 size, colour and pattern of the markings. So far as I have 

 noticed, the colour of the derm (with very few exceptions) a^Dpears 

 to be reliable; the legs (especiall}^ the four anterior) and the 

 antennaa are subject to sexual variation of colour; the pattern is 

 not always to be relied upon, especially in old or greasy specimens 

 (without reckoning abrasion); the colour of the pubescence is very 

 apt to be affected by age or immersion in spirits (especially the 

 white markings of the abdomen). I have fresh specimens of M. 

 multiguttata and J/, leucosticta, in which the maculae are decidedly 

 white, and older specimens in which they are as decidedly yellow; 

 and similarly with other species. Many species are sexually 

 constant as to size, but others are very variable. We have many 

 species that are almost entirely black; they are moderately easily 

 distinguished in the cabinet, but their specific distinctions are 

 very hard to point out; in consequence I have delayed describing 

 a number of uniques. 



Many of my species were obtained from the. flowers of tall 

 Eucalypts, felled for the purpose of obtaining flowering, and after- 

 wards dead-leaf beetles; and I believe there are many more species 

 which can onl}^ be obtained in this manner; a few sj^ecimens were 

 taken at night-time while crawling over old logs and stumps. 

 Mr. Masters, on a recent trip to Blackheath, captured many 

 hundreds of specimens by beating bushes into a sheet before 

 sunrise; they were then very torpid, and were easily captured. 



MORDELLA DUMBRELLI, n.sp. 



$. Black; tarsi piceous-black, base of antennae, palpi and 

 posterior spurs piceous-red. Head with pubescence which in some 

 lights appears whitish, in others — especially at the base — having 

 a piceous look; from some directions apparently with a white 



