BY R. J. TILLYARD. 231 



dorsal spots, separated by the dorsal ridge. Appendages of male 

 similar to those of type-form, but hairier; inferior tubercle of 10 

 much hairier. Abdomen of female spotted with yellow as fol- 

 lows : 1, an oval or subtriangular dorsal spot; 2, a pair of widely 

 separated central spots; 3-6, a pair of subtriangular or semioval 

 basal spots, a pair of oval or diamond-shaped central dorsal spots, 

 crossed by the black line of the carina; 8 with a pair of irregular 

 elongate oval central spots almost touching dorsally; genitalia 

 and appendages as in type-form; wings only slightly suffused, or 

 hyaline (in type-form, they are deeply suffused with orange-brown 

 in 9). 



Hob. — Mount Tambourine, Queensland. December to January. 

 Fairly common. I took a fine series of males, but not many 

 females. The exuviae were also secured. 



3. Metathemis guttata melanosoma, n.subsp. 



Very distinct, both from the type-form, M. guttata Selys, and 

 from M. guttata aur'olineata Tillyard, which, however, it occa- 

 sionally approaches in that one or two specimens possess a trace 

 of the golden dorsal thoracic lines. 



The following are the chief differences from the type-form : — 

 Frontal yellow spots rather smaller, more widely separated. 

 Colouration of abdomen : £, almost completely black; 1 with a 

 large dorsal yellow spot; 2 with two very small flat basal spots 

 and a pair of central spots; 8 with two central spots (occasionally 

 absent). The female has, in addition, 3, a pair of fine short basal 

 transverse lines, a pair of central points; 4, minute vestiges of 

 same; 5-7, sometimes with a suspicion of the central points; but 

 8, without spot. 



Hob. — Mount Tambourine, Queensland, December to January. 

 Rather rare. I captured six males and two females only. 



Types: <j£, Coll. Tillyard. 



It is interesting to note that, of the four species of Metathemis 

 known, one only (M. virgula Selys) seems to be practically con- 

 stant in size and colouring throughout its range. The other 

 three show a gradual change from large, much spotted forms in 



