52 Rev. F. W. Hope's Descriptions 



XV. Descriptions of several neiu Species of Helseidse from 

 Australia. Bxj the Rev. Fred. William Hope, F.R.S. 

 &c. 



[Read 6ih July, 1846.] 



The Marquis tie Breme, in the year 1842, published the first part 

 of his " Monograph des Cossyphides," in which he describes all 

 the species o{ Helceus occurring in the collections of London and 

 Paris. Thirty-eight only are mentioned, and at the period of its 

 publication it was considered an important acquisition, as few 

 individuals possessed even a single specimen in their Cabinets. 

 Several of the species were described from my collection, and as 

 I possess nearly all which are published I have little doubt that 

 the others which are now described for this Society will be found 

 to be new. I am inclined to consider Helceiis as a group of much 

 more importance than Cossyjihiis, and one which may be considered 

 as analogous to Cossijphus, but totally distinct : little is known 

 respecting its habits. In looking to the entomological fauna of 

 Australia I do not see any reason why Cossyphus should not 

 eventually appear there ; most probably it exists ; as in contrasting 

 the groups of Asia and New Holland I find a preponderance of 

 Asiatic types, with a mixture of forms altogether Australian. On 

 this point however I need not dilate at present : it only remains 

 for me to add, that, wishing to see described all the species of 

 Helceus occurring in our metropolitan Cabinets or elsewhere, T 

 shall feel obliged by the loan of any new species which Members 

 of this Society may transmit to me for such a purpose. 



Family HEL^ID^, Hope. 



Sp. 1. Helceus princeps, Hope. (PI. VI. fig. 1.) 



Fuscus, disco in medio nigricante, marginibus pallidioribus seu 

 rubro-fuscis, pedibus^ue concoloribus. Thorax antrorsum 

 rotundatus (angulis anterioribus complicatis) ; foramen antice 

 latius quam longius, postice tuberculo elevato nigricanti, 

 foramina vUrinque satis conspicuo. Elytra late ovalia, postice 

 rotundata, medio disci atriori, suturaque elevata, sexque 

 punctatis lineis elevatis in singulo apparentibus, marginibus 

 late piceo-fulvis, punctisque atris elevatis sparsim aspersis. 

 Corpus infra fusco-brunneum. Pedes concolores. 



Long. lin. 15^, lat. lin. 9|. 



In Mus. D. Hope. 



The above magnificent insect, considerably larger than any 



