on various Species of Hymenopterous Insects. 141 
be an interesting scene. It is on this account that I apply to the 
species the name of Pompilus ? audax. 
P.? ater, pubescens, prothorace magno quadrato, antennis albis, 
tiblis tarsisque fusco-albidis. 
Long. corp. lin. 53. 
Habitat in Australia meridionali, Port Lincoln. 
Pl, X. fig. 16 & 17, cells; 18, larva; 19, pupa, dorsal surface ; 20, pupa, 
ventral surface ; 21, unfolded wing; 22, chelicera of spider. 
XXV. Descriptions of the Chrysomelide of Australia, allied 
to the Genus Cryptocephalus. By W. W. Saunpers, 
Esq., 1.1.S:,(é&e. 
[Read 3rd January, 1842, &c.] 
Tue large family Chrysomelide, the species of which are spread 
over almost every part of the world, has been much neglected by 
Entomologists, in comparison with other families of the order 
Coleoptera ; and this is remarkable, as many of the individuals 
comprising it are extremely beautiful in colour, and the whole 
being phytophagous, or feeders on vegetable matter, it is important 
that they be well understood, for the purpose of ascertaining the 
habits and economy of those species, which, from their immense 
numbers, occasionally do such serious injury to the agriculturist 
both in this country and abroad. In the following papers it will 
be my endeavour to fill up a portion of the information required ; 
and seeing that scarcely any of the numerous species from Aus- 
tralasia have been described, I purpose characterising such as are 
allied to the well-known genus Cryptocephalus, so abundant in 
species in the temperate parts of the old and new world. I say 
allied, for although there are certain species from Australasia 
closely approximating to Cryptocephalus, yet there are none that I 
can discover strictly belonging to it. Most of the species depart 
widely from the typical Cryptocephali, and are remarkable for the 
way in which the scutellum is elevated posteriorly, rising at times 
considerably beyond the plane of the elytra, and nearly at right 
angles to it. Carefully reviewing the various forms which have 
come under my observation from Australasia, I find they resolve 
themselves into several sub-genera, the characters of which are 
taken chiefly from the antenne, and general shape of the body. 
The sub-genera form two sections: Ist. Those which have the 
lateral margins of the prothorax smooth and entire; 2nd. Those 
