Australian and Tasmanian Malacodermidae. 115 



Telephorus NOBILITATUS, Er. {Cantharis), Wiegm. Arch., 

 1842, i, p. 146. 



tricolor, Cast., Hist. Nat., i, p. 275. 



vars. ruficollis, Macl., Trans. Ent. Soc, N. S. Wales, ii, 



p. 264. 

 war. proprius, Blackb., T. R. S., S.A., 1886, p. 260. 

 var. andcrsoni, Blackb., I. c, p. 261. 

 var, vibex, Blackb., /. c, p. 261 ; P. L. S., N.S.W,, 



1891, p. 530. 



{Figs. 2, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178.) 



This is an extremely variable species in size, colour and 

 markings, so it is no wonder that several of its varieties 

 have been described as distinct species. 



Tricolor is very briefly described, but there is no doubt 

 in my mind but that Gastelnau's specimens belonged either 

 to the typical form of nobilitatus, or to one of its numerous 

 varieties. 



Biificollis is the common form in New South Wales and 

 Queensland ; in fact, except from Mount Kosciusko,* I 

 have seen no specimens from outside Tasmania having the 

 femora entirely dark. 



I have varieties agreeing well with the descriptions of 

 proprius and of vibex but not with the prothoracic markings 

 attributed to andcrsoni f ; but as Mr, Blackburn says 

 these are three closely-allied species, andersoni being placed 

 between propriiis and vibcx, it appears to me extremely 

 probable that it also is only a variety. 



If the type of vibex was, as supposed by Mr. Blackburn,^ 

 a female, the pallid triangle at the base of the head is 

 a most unusual feature, as in all the females I have 

 examined the base is invariably black § ; several males, 

 however, before me have such a triangle. 



* Tdsmanian species in all branches of natural history are usually- 

 darker (and frequently larger) than their mainland fellows, but 

 the specimens from Mount Kosciusko and other mountains of the 

 Australian Alps resemble tliose from Tasmania. 



I Since this was written I have seen hve specimens from Australia, 

 one of which agrees exactly with Mr. Blackburn's description of 

 andersoni ; the others all resemble it in size, etc., but have the 

 prothoracic markings reduced to a longitudinal spot on both sides. 



X In a footnote he stated that he was not quite sure of the sexes. 



^ That is to say, the exposed portion, part of the coloured portion 

 usually being red. 



1 2 



