42 
line and the lateral margins, and two more on either side still 
nearer to the lateral margins ; the elytra (except at the extreme 
base) are absolutely devoid of sculpture ; the rows of what, on a 
casual glance, seem like punctures being on the underside, and 
only showing through. The elytra do not nearly meet at the 
sutural apex, but each elytron is separately narrowed behind 
into a subspiniform point. 
NEOCURIS. 
This genus seems to be very near Anilara, and both are near 
Anthaxia. They are both distinguished from the Australian 
genera allied to them by the total absence of longitudinal striz 
on the elytra. M. Thomson says that Anilara appears to have 
only four segments in the hind body, but I think this must be a 
mistake ; at any rate, I have not seen any species in which I 
cannot trace a fine suture between the first and second segments, 
making the number five; and I think I certainly know 
A. Adelaide, Hope. WN. Mastersi, Macl., is described as having 
the elytra punctulate-striate, but I should say there is a doubt 
whether this is a true Veocwris. Probably all the Australian 
species attributed to Anthaxia are either Neocuris or Anilara. 
Anilara seems to be best distinguished from WVeocuris by its short 
stout tarsi; its prothorax also is more strongly rounded laterally 
(as M. Thomson points out), but this character does not seem 
equally reliable in all the species. M. Thomson says that the 
apical ventral segment in Anilara is excavated; I do not find 
this to be quite an exact description of the structure, but its free 
margin has a distinct raised border running completely round it, 
which seems to be invariable, and undoubtedly gives it a certain 
appearance of being excavated; this border being absent in 
Neocuris. 
Neocuris as at present constituted may be characterised by its 
small scutellum and moderately slender and elongate tarsi in 
combination with absolutely non-striate elytra and apical ventral 
segment devoid of spines, and of a continuous raised border. I 
think the species presenting these characters will need further 
subdivision eventually, as some of them have the elytra much 
shorter than the hind body (a character not mentioned by M. 
Thomson), but it will perhaps be well for the present not to treat 
this character as generic. The following are new species :— 
N. dilataticollis, sp. nov. Convexiuscula ; sparsim pubescens ; 
supra eenea, capite viridi, elytris antice latera versus viridi- 
micantibus,. utrinque postice vitta submarginali lete 
purpurea, corpore subtus femoribusque viridibus, antennis 
tibiis tarsisque obscuris ; capite plano, crebre fortiter sub- 
rugulose punctulato; prothorace fortiter transverso, ut caput 
