156 • GouDiE, Coleoptera of Nortli-Western Victoria. f^'^Dec^^*^" 



dark punctures. There is also a distinct black spot on the outer 

 margin of wing-case just behind the middle, and three rows of 

 punctures, as in Cybister tripunctatus, these being very distinct 

 in the lighter coloured specimens. 



GYRINID^, 



1119. Macrogyriis oblongus, Boisd. (Nov.-April). 



This is a curious and interesting insect. A specimen before 

 me is over | of an inch long, of a dark brownish tint, with a 

 beautiful metallic gloss or sheen. The fore-legs are much 

 longer than the others, resembling a pair of oars protruding 

 from the sides of a boat. The eyes are divided horizontally, 

 thus giving the insect two pairs of those useful organs. It goes 

 about in " shoals," swimming on the surface of the water in an 

 eccentric zig-zag course, and when alarmed or chasing one 

 another its motions are so rapid that the eye can scarcely follow 

 them. It can dive and swim under water with equal celerity, 

 but does not remain long under the surface. It is quick on the 

 wing and elegant in shape, and from these circumstances might 

 be compared with the Buprestidae amongst land-beetles. 



HYDROPHYLLID^, 



1137. Hydrophiliis albipes, Cast. (Oct. -Dec.) 



There are five species of this genus recorded in Masters' 

 " Catalogue," but so far only two have been met with in this 

 district. H. albipes is about an inch in length, elongate oval, 

 convex, shining black, with striated elytra. The palpi are 

 much longer than the antennae, and these, with the legs and 

 feet, are paler in colour than the other parts. 



1139. H. latipalpits, Cast. (Nov.-Dec.) 



The giant of the group, typical examples measuring if inches 

 in length. It is similar in form and colour to H. albipes, except 

 that the legs are shining black. The penultimate joint of the 

 palpi is strongly dilated or flattened, hence its specific name. 

 It is an indifferent swimmer. Both the species of Hydrophilus 

 are common in stagnant water, as well as in the waters of the 

 Murray. They are said to subsist on food of a vegetable 

 nature — at least, in the adult or perfect stage of their existence. 



1 141. Sternoloplms nitidulus, Macl. (Aug.-Sept.) 



A convex, oval, shining black species, half an inch in length, 

 each elytron having four rows of rather faint punctures. It 

 has a strongly defined ridge or keel on under surface. 



1 142. Hydrobiiis assimilis, Hope (Oct.-April). 



Somewhat similar in form and colour to the preceding, but 

 smaller — ?j of an inch long — with the elytra more densely 

 striate. It appears to be a semi-aquatic species, being often 



