290 



The following table shows the characters which seem la 

 me most conveniently to be used for distinguishing inter se 

 the species of this genus. 



A. Prothorax strongly transverse (about 

 twice as wide as long). 

 B. Ocular canthi wide (as wide as the 



eye, at least in Darwinl). • 



C. Elytral interstices granulate. 

 Joints 9 and 10 of antennse trans- 

 verse ... ... ... ... vagabnnda, Champ. 



CC. Elytral interstices non-granulate. 

 Joints 9 and 10 of antennae not 

 distinctly transverse ... ... Darwini, Blackh. 



BI,. Ocular canthi much narrower ... { ^isf^ersa, Ckan^p. ^^^ 



A A. Prothorax less transverse (about as 

 5 to 3). 

 B. Elytral strife quite strongly impress- 

 ed ... ... ... ... ... darlingensis, Blackh. 



BB. Elytral stride scarcely impressed 

 (almost mere rows of faint punc- 

 tures) ... ... ... ... ... longicornis, Blackh. 



//. darlinyensis, Blackb. Specimens of this insect have 

 been sent to me by Mr. Carter, of Sydney. He writes that 

 they were sent to him by Judge Docker of Walg3tt, who re- 

 ported the insect as occurring in great plenty in his neigh- 

 bourhood. This is to me an interesting note, as I had pre- 

 viously seen only two examples of the species. 



IIEL^IDES. 



Ptekohel^us. 

 I have several interesting new species of Fterohelceus re- 

 cently acquired in my collection appertaining to the group 

 which Macleay in his monograph of the genus calls the 2nd 

 subsection of the 2nd section, characterized thus: — ''Form 

 more elongate ; elytra seriate-punctate, their interstices granu- 

 lose." It seems desirable to make the opportunity of describ- 

 ing them an occasion for a revision of the group and for 

 placing in tabular form an indication of the distinctive char- 

 acters of its species. Macleay 's monograph supplies merely 

 descriptions of seven species without any tabular arrange- 

 ment, while an eighth species (P. sqiialidus) decidedly be- 

 longing to this subsection is attributed to the preceding one 

 with a note that it is perhaps wrongly placed. Since Mac- 

 leay's monograph was published I have described a single 

 species ( inaif/nix) of this subsection. Three species of Ptero- 

 lielcEiis have been described by Lea, but without information 

 as to which of Macleay's aggregates they appertain to ; as,. 

 however, the descriptions contain no mention of elytral gran- 

 ules it is presumable that they are not members of the sub- 



