280 
different way of determining its presence or absence, which 
would involve some variation from Lacoraaire's classification 
of these MelolontJiides. I still hold the same opinion on the 
matter that I did then. In the memoir mentioned, however, 
I omitted to refer to Laoordaire's subdivision (into smaller 
aggregates of genera) of this and the following subtribe — a 
reference which seems to be called for by the fact that my 
proposed different expression of the distinction between the 
subtribes involves a certain degree of re-arrangement of their 
"groups" (or sub-sub-tribes). These I ignored, provision- 
ally, and furnished a tabulation of the genera without any 
intermediate subdivisions. l^acordaire subdivides the Seri- 
cides into five groups, two of which being non-Australian need 
not be discussed here ; and a third (Mcechidiides) has the in- 
sertion of its maxillary palpi much below the plane of the 
clypeus, which I regard as associating them with the Seri- 
coidea rather than with the other Australian genera that 
Lacordaire places among the Sf'i'icides. The Srrlcoide>< Lacor- 
daire subdivides into six "groups," two of whcli are not known 
to be found in Australia. Of the remaining four groups two 
( J'dcli i/frir1iidex and Arlopides — at any rate the Australian 
member of the latter) have their maxillary palpi inserted 
close to the under surface of the clypeus (as in Phyllotocus 
etc.), and, therefore, in ray judgment, should stand near 
Phyllotocus, etc., rather than among such genera as Golpo- 
chila, Heteronyx, etc. I, therefore, hold that these 'groups," 
assuming that the non- Australian Aclopid genus is rightly 
associated with Phifrinf/natJia) , should be transferred to the 
Sericides, so that there will be four 'groups" of Australian 
Sericides and two of Australian Sericoides. And here I may 
refer to a valuable memoir on PachytricJia (Ent. M.M. xi., 
pp. 2, etc.), in which Dr. Sharp discusses the difficulty of plac- 
ing that genus in the Melolonthkl series with all the advan- 
tage of his profound learning in anatomy, but does not state 
his own judgment as to what place it should occupy ; although 
I do not find in his remarks anything inconsistent with the 
view I have taken of the affinities of the genus. The "groups" 
of the Sericides known as occurring in Australia may, then, 
in my opinion, be thus stated : — 
A Claws bidentate beneath (size very 
large) ... ... Pachytrichidev*^ 
AA. Claws not bidentate beneath (size 
moderate or .small). 
B. Mandibless Knrpa.ssinj); the clyipeus 
and embracing; the labrnm ... .. Aclopidefi 
BB. Mandibles nomial. 
O. Hind coxfe very wide Phyllotocides 
CC. Hind coxie narrow Ciphncenhalides. 
