1876.] 155 



DESCRIPTIONS OP NINE NEW SPECIES OF BUFRESTID.^. 

 BY EDWARB SAUNDERS, F.L.S. 



The types of these species are in the collection of the British 

 Museum. 



Melobasis cupreovittata. 



Fusca ; capite cupi'eo, piloso, fortUer ruguloso-punctato ; tltorace 

 punctato, laterihus rotundatis ; elytris punctatis, lateribus postice denti- 

 culat/s, utrinqiie vittis duahiis cupreis, una hasali, altera apicali ornatis. 

 Suhtus cuprea, laterihus pilosis. 



Head coppery. Thorax cyaneous-brown. Elytra brown ; each with two longi- 

 tudinal vittse, and a spot on the lateral margin coppery-golden, of these vittse the 

 upjjer one begins at the base near the shoulder and gradually approaches the suture, 

 reaching to just beyond the middle of the elytra ; the posterior one begins just 

 beyond the middle, but nearer the lateral margin, and does not reach the apex : the 

 marginal spot is placed above tlie middle ; beneath coppery-brown, centre brilliantly 

 coppery. 



Head rugosely punctured and covered with greyish hairs. Thorax, at the base, 

 half as broad again as long ; anterior margin emarginate, sides rounded, base very 

 shallowly bisinuate ; surface puiictured, the punctures closer together and deeper 

 on the sides, which are covered with grey hairs. Elytra twice as long as wide, punc- 

 tured, each with four slightly raised lines, including the suture ; sides denticulate 

 near the apex, which is largely rounded. Beneath, punctured, sides and legs covered 

 with long, adpressed, silvery-grey hairs. 



Length, 6—7 lines. Breadth, 2 — 2\ linos. 



Ilab. : Gawler, Australia. 



Melobasis costata. 

 Cupreo-fusca ; capite tlioraceque jnmctatis ; elytris punctatis, utrinque 

 cosfis quatuor nitidis ornatis, maryinihus postice denticuJatis, apice 

 utrinque spinoso. Suhtus punctata, laterihus alhopilosis. 



Entire insect coppery-brown. 



Head flat, deeply punctured ; pubescent above the mouth. Thorax, at the base, 

 tliree-quarters as broad again as long ; anterior margin smooth, vciy slightly raised, 

 and somewhat emarginate ; sides scarcely rounded behind the anterior angles ; pos- 

 terior angles acute ; base with a shallow median lobe ; surface punctured, especially 

 at the sides. Elytra twice as long as wide, finely and very closely punctured, each 

 with four raised smooth lines, those on the sides less distinct than those nearer the 

 suture ; sides sUghtly sinuate below the shoulder, finely denticulate posteriorly, 

 apex of each terminating in a sharp spine. Beneath punctured, sides and legs 

 hairy. 



Length, 7 — 8 lines. Breadth, 2 — 2^ lines. 



Ilab. : Swan River. 



