BY H. J. CARTER. 51 



species, it is likely enough that Pascoe's suggestion is the true 

 one. 



Baryscelis politiis Boisd., seems to have been left unnoticed by 

 writers, so that not even a conjecture, so far, has been made as 

 to its identity; nor have I seen any insect so identified. From 

 the short note by Boisduval, "II est un tiers plus petit que le 

 precedent, et le corselet est moins retreci posterieurement," it 

 would seem to be identical with M. iiitermedius Pasc, a smaller 

 (and female) variety of M. laticollis Pasc. It seems possible to 

 me that T. australis Boisd., is identical with Promethis quadri- 

 collis Pasc; and that 2\ nigerrimus Boisd., = J/, servulus Pasc, 

 which, again, is certainly (from compared types) identical with 

 Meriephilus convexiusculus Hope. 



Having examined a very large number of Promethis, both from 

 our museums and from numerous collections, the following 

 synonymy is almost certain : — 



P. lethalis Pasc, = P. [Iphthimus) nigra Bless._ 



P. Pascoei MacL, = P. quadricollis Pasc 



P. lethalis Pasc, at furthest, can only be considered as a 

 variety of P. nigra. 1'he Queensland specimens show a great 

 deal of variation, inter se; a long series taken by Mr. Lea, at 

 Cairns, have the hinder part of the prothorax more sinuate, with 

 the elytral punctures more hidden, than is the case with the 

 typical P. nigra of the Southern States. Moreover, specimens 

 that have been for some time in spirits, show a much clearer and 

 coarser puncturation that is apt to mislead. A similar variation 

 is to be noticed in P. quadricollis Pasc, but having examined 

 the type of P. Pascoei Macl., and compared it with specimens 

 sent by Mr. Blair as P. quadricollis Pasc, I have no doubt of 

 their identity. Most probably, Pascoe's locality, Swan River, 

 for his species, is a mistake. I have seen only P. angidata 

 Erichs., from West Australia; while hundreds of specimens of 

 the other species have been examined from the Eastern States. 

 The known species of Australian Promethis may be tabulated as 

 follows, three new species being added and described below, P, 

 Harmandl Oil., from Sikkim, being omitted, as unknown to me. 



