Australian and Tasmanian Cryidocephalides. 375 



In Masters' catalogue condcnsatus of Sufifrian is given as 

 a synonym. Chapuis describes condensatus as a distinct 

 species, but in this I think he was wrong, although it 

 differs in a number of particulars from the form described 

 by Saunders. The form truly representative of the species, 

 however, is that described by Sufifrian and Chapuis in 

 which the metasternum and abdomen (except at the sides 

 and the intercoxal process) is black or blackish ; in this 

 form there is frequently a blackish transverse patch on the 

 prothorax, in some very distinct, in others just traceable. 

 The antennae are either entirely black (with or without a 

 metallic gloss) or with the five basal joints more or less 

 red, both in the typical form and the variety. 



The elytra are usually deep blue or violet, but sometimes 

 greenish, and there are many intermediate shades. 



In three specimens from northern N. S. Wales and 

 Queensland having the dark under-surface of condensatus 

 the head (except for the eyes) is entirely pallid. 



In the catalogue there appear two species bearing the 

 name cyanipennis (Nos. 6468 and 6469). Chapuis, how- 

 ever, simply re-described Saunders' species with Saunders' 

 name attached, so that there is really no preoccupied 

 name. 



Hah. Queensland : Brisbane, Bundaberg; N. S. 

 Wales : Tweed River, Sydney, Lane Cove, National 

 Park; Victoria: Melbourne. 



There is a specimen from S. Australia in the Macleay 

 Museum which I think is probably a variety of this species; 

 it is, however, very large (6 mm.), with the elytra metallic 

 green becoming coppery at the base and the prothorax 

 with a large transverse m©dian black blotch. It is, how- 

 ever, so close to many of the forms of condensatus that 

 (having only one specimen to judge from) I cannot regard 

 it as distinct. 



Idiocephala pulchella, Saund. 



(Plates XXV, XXVI, figs. 162, 189.) 



This species is very closely allied to cyanipennis, and the 

 under-surface varies in the same way ; the elytra vary from 

 the form described by Saunders (" rich shining green, with 

 a broad rufous brown lateral marginal band produced 

 inwards just below the shoulders ") to entirely purple ; in 

 two specimens before me the elytra are metallic green with 



