150 ON THE AUSTRALIAN CLIVINIDES, 



C. aiistralasia', by mei-e size, though it is made a point of the 

 first importance in the original descriptions* 



Occasional dwarfed specimens of probably most species of 

 Clivina occur, whicli are so much smaller than the average size of 

 their species that if only two specimens, one small and the other 

 of normal size, were placed in anyone's hands for description they 

 would more likely be regarded as difFei'ent species than as repre- 

 sentatives of the same species. It is only when we have before 

 us a large series of specimens from one locality that we realise the 

 amount of variation in size, and therefore in appearance, which 

 may occur in a species of Clivina. For instance, a specimen of 

 C. biplagiata onl}' 5 '5 mm. in length is in my possession — 7-7"5mm. 

 being the normal length of the species; and small specimens of 

 some species, e.g., C. adelaidce, appear to the eye too narrow and 

 light to be associated w^ithout hesitation with large specimens of 

 the same species. 



It appears to me that too much importance must not be 

 attached to mere colour for distinguishing species; immature 

 specimens are always more lightly coloured than those that are 

 mature; and speaking as a practical collector I would call atten- 

 tion to the fact that several immature specimens will sometimes 

 represent all those of a species taken at one time and j^lace; in 

 this way immature s^Decimens may be considered .as typical in 

 colour of a species, and so confusion may arise. A good example 

 of colour-differences in d single species is afforded by C. 

 S'llata, three specimens of which in my collection taken at the 

 same time and place differ in colour as follows. One, showing 

 the mature colour of the species, has the head and prothorax 

 black, the elytra reddish testaceous with a black dorsal spot; the 

 second has the head and prothorax testaceous-red, the elytra 

 testaceous with the place of the dorsal spot a little obscured; the 

 third has the upper surface wholly testaceous, the elytra being 

 paler than the head and prothorax. 



* For a note by M. Piochard de la Brulerie criticising M. Putzejs' 

 work as an author of species, vide Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1875, (3), v. \\ 128. 



