Atistralian Buprestklce. 13 



2. Plagiope cupRirEKA^ (PI. I. fig-. 23). 



Bujorest'is cuprifera, Kirby, Tr. Linn. Soc. xii. 457 ; 



L. & G. i. B'U2). 119, pi. XXX. fig. 163. 



Anthaxia ? cuprifetxt, (Hope, Bupr. p. 10) . 



Hab. Australia. 



Gen. MELOBASIS, Laporte and Gory. 



(BuPRESTis, par.s, and Anthaxia, pa/vs^ Hope.) 



1. Melobasis pyeitosa, (PI. I. fig". 14), 



Biiprestis pyritosa, Hope, Tr. Ent. Soc. iv. 214. 



" Igneo-cuprea, thorace flammanti punctato, elytris 

 subviolaceis, maculis fasciisque duabus aureis notatis, 

 pedibusque viridibus." (Hope). 



Head golden green. Thorax coppery, the sides with 

 golden reflections. Scutellum golden. Elytra violet 

 with green reflections ; an elongate spot below the scu- 

 tellum, a spot on each shoulder, and two narrow bands 

 on each elytron, one situated a little above the middle, 

 the other midway between it and the apex, fiery copper ; 

 neither of these bands touches the suture, and the lateral 

 margins between the shoulders and the first band are of 

 the same colour. Underside golden-green, abdomen 

 cyaneous, with its base green. Legs and antennae cya- 

 neous, the basal joint of the latter green. 



Head flat in front, deeply punctured. Thorax nearly 

 twice as broad at the base as long ; anterior margin 

 nearly straight, its angles produced, three-fifths the 

 length of the base ; sides slightly rounded ; base almost 

 straight ; disk punctured, with a very faint smooth 

 dorsal line ; puncturation of the sides larger and denser. 

 Elytra twice as long as wide, rather irregularly punctate- 

 striate, sides subparallel till past the middle, then con- 

 verging in nearly straight lines to the apex, which is 

 rounded and denticulate, the denticulation continuing 

 up the sides to about their centres; posterior suture 

 elevated. Underside and legs punctured, the apical seg- 

 ment of the abdomen bidentate. 



Length 5 lines; breadth 2 lines. 



Hab. West Australia. 



