276 
Melolonthidee 
Rutelides 
Dynast ides 
Cetoniides 
that all the six stigmata are almost in a continuous line, 
while in the others all the hinder three stigmata are consider- 
ably removed from the connective membrane, and therefore 
quite out of line with the anterior three. The following table 
shows the characters by which these ''tribes" are differenti- 
ated : — 
A. The abdominal stigmata (or '[snira- 
cles") placed almost in a continuous 
line 
AA. The hinder three abdominal stigmata 
quite out of line with the others. 
B. The claws of the tarsi unequal 
BB. The claws equal. 
C. The front coxa? transverse, and but 
little prominent 
CC. The front coxse evidently less 
transverse and more prominent 
Most of the information contained in the preceding re- 
marks is, of course, familiar to students of the Lam elli comes , 
but before passing on to work in which I hope to diagnose 
some new genera and describe new species it seems well to 
furnish such a brief recapitulation as the above contains of 
preliminary facts, in order to start with a clear understand- 
ing of the order and plan I propose to follow. 
MELOLONTHIDES. 
This first tribe of the second subfamily of Lamellicornes 
is of all the tribes of the family by far the most numerously 
represented in Australia. Lacordaire divides it into nine sub- 
tribes, and another has since been added by Dr. Sharp. Of 
these ten subtribes only four are incontestably represented m 
Australia, while to a fifth subtribe { Macrojjhyllides ) have been 
referred two Australian species (both very rare in collections), 
whose position in that subtribe appears to me open to some 
doubt. The following table shows the distinctive characters 
of these five subtribes : — 
A. Labrum fixed to the front of the cly- 
peus, and on the same plane with it Systellopides 
AA. Labrum not as in the Systellopides. 
B, Front coxse prominent, and not or 
but little transverse. 
C. Palpi inserted very little below 
the plane of the clypeus ... ... Sericides 
CC. Palpi inserted considerably be- 
low the plane of the clypeus ... Sericoides 
BB. Front coxae but little prominent, 
and strongly transverse. 
C. Ventral segments soldered to- 
gether Melolonthides (true) 
CC. Ventral segments free ... ... Macrophyllides 
The above brief recapitulation of facts regarding the 
tribe Melolonthides is (excepting the tabulation) a mere sum- 
