241 
hujus basi quam elytrorum basis vix angustior1; elytris ad 
latera late explanatis ; sternis et abdominis segmento basali 
in parte mediana sparsim distincte punctulatis, 
Var. maculis in utroque elytro conjunctis, sicut apparet vitta 
lata discoidalis. Long., = 1.; lat., <1. 
Very like G. 4-maculatus, Blackb., but inter alia having the 
head red, the prothorax more strongly punctulate and the lateral 
margins of the elytra much more strongly explanate. The 
epipleure of the elytra at their widest part are not much less 
than half as wide as the whole metasternum. 
N. Queensland ; taken by Mr. Koebele near Cairns. 
PLATYOMUS. 
When I characterised Scymnodes I had not seen Platyomus, 
but concluded that it was distinct because one of the generic 
characters assigned to the latter is ‘‘mesosternum carinate.” 
Having since obtained examples of Platyomus I have felt obliged 
to regard the two genera as identical and to believe that the 
mesosternal carina is merely a specific character. I can find no 
other character whatever to distinguish Scymnodes difficilsi, 
Blackb., generically from Platyomus than the absence of that 
carina. As to the number of joints in the antenne it is possible 
that my observation is at fault (although the antenne of 
S. difficilis still appear to me only ten-jointed). But as Mulsant 
and Chapuis were unable to agree as to the joints in the antennze 
of Platyomus (Mulsant counting them as ten) I do not consider 
this character reliable. I think therefore that Scymnodes should 
be treated as a synonym of Platyomus and the carination of the 
- mesosternum (which after all is not at all strongly marked in 
Platyomus lwidigaster) cease to be regarded as a_ generic 
character. 
The structure of the claws in Platyomus (including Scymnodes) 
calls for remark. These are stated to be “appendiculate” in all 
the generic diagnoses. The basal piece of each claw is compressed 
and ends in a point directed downward. But in the males of all 
the species of which I have seen this sex the apical piece of the 
four anterior claws is very close to the basal piece and is of the 
same length as the downward directed point of the latter, so that 
these claws appear to be bifid rather than appendiculate. The 
males are also distinguishable by the fifth ventral segment being 
emarginate or at least sinuate behind. 
A remarkable character of P/atyomus consists in the great 
size and unusual form of the piece that should be called, I believe, 
the metasternal lamella. From the inner hindmargin of the 
middle coxa the hind suture of the piece runs obliquely and almost 
straight to the suture that separates the metasternum from its 
