Description of the Anthicides of Australia, by 

 Rev. R. L. King, B.A. 



[Read 7th January, 1867.] 



The small insects which compose this very natural family are 

 distinguished from other Heteromera by the separation of their 

 posterior legs, and by the extension of the anterior edge of 

 the first segment of the abdomen in a (generally) triangular form. 

 This appears the most certain distinction, though even this is 

 shared to some extent by some of the PediJides of La-Cordaire. 

 In this family, however, the intercoxal plate when it exists is 

 small and naiTow. Although, therefore, it is separated by some 

 authors, it is united to the Anthicidge by others. I have met 

 with but one member of the abnormal group, and therefore 

 have not felt it necessary to separate it from the more numerous 

 family to which it is certainly very closely allied. 



The Australian species of the Anthicidse are more numerous 

 than was at first supposed, M. Vereaux having reported that 

 but 9 were found in Oceanie. Instead of 9, no fewer than 48, 

 belonging to 5 different genera, are already known to me as Austra- 

 lian : of all but five I have had specimens under examination. I 

 have been permitted to describe the species in the Museum 

 collection, and in that of Mr. MacLeay. So that together with 

 my own collected at Paramatta, and those received from Gawler 

 in South Australia from my friend Mrs. Kreusler, my list is at 

 least a good instalment, although eventually the number of 

 species may be at least doubled. Mr. Masters collected several 

 species during his late visit to "Western and South Australia, 

 while Queensland is represented by several elegant species 

 received by Mr. MacLeay from Port Denison. From Victoria, I 

 have not as yet had any specimens. 



Of the Australian species some have a very extensive range, 

 indeed the Anthicus fioralis is common to Australia and Europe, 

 and several are, to judge by the descriptions, almost identical 

 with species from the Cape of Good Hope. One species 

 Anthicus hifasciatus extends from Sydney to King George's 



