462 Mr. F, P. Pascoe on some new Coleoptera 
because of its proximity to Torres Strait, which divides the 
Neso-Indian from the Australian province—so far, at least, as 
the Coleoptera are concerned—that we welcome anything which 
may add to our scanty knowledge of the productions of its two 
shores. 
Contrary to what might have been expected, there was almost 
a complete absence of Neso-Indian forms: a Lomaptera and a 
Chariotheca, which has now for the first time to be added to the 
Australian list, were, I believe, the only ones. On the other 
hand, there was a total, or nearly total, absence of the commonest 
Australian genera, e. g., Castiarina, Temognatha, Lamprima, Ano- 
plognathus and the Lamellicornia generally, Belus, Phoracantha 
(one specimen), Saragus, Amycterus, &c.,—thus showing a ten- 
dency towards the Neso-Indian province, where those genera are 
unknown, or, as in the case of Phoracantha, only represented by 
a single species. 
So far as our knowledge at present extends, everything points 
to the conclusion that the peculiar forms of the Australian fauna 
have their maximum in the temperate portion of the continent, 
and that there is evidence of their dying out or becoming less 
abundant as they approach the north. What is the proportion 
of the Neso-Indian forms which may be expected to occur in 
tropical Australia remains to be seen. 
The species which I have selected for description are among > 
the most interesting novelties of the collection. 
Fam. Cicindelida. 
Distipsidera Grutit. 
D. nigro-chalybea; labro nigro, medio albo; elytris transversim 
rugulosis, purpureis, maculis quinque albis ornatis. 
Dark chalybeate blue, shining ; head concave in front, longi- 
tudinally striated near the eyes; lip black, with a broad longi- 
tudinal white stripe in the centre; antenne brown; palpi black, 
second and third joints of the labial yellowish white; prothorax 
finely punctured, constricted anteriorly and posteriorly, bulging 
at the sides, canaliculate m the middle; elytra transversely 
plicato-punctate, the apex entire, two smooth yellowish-white 
spots at the base, behind these a sublunate patch, and a little 
behind the middle two more, one of which is marginal; body 
beneath dark chalybeate blue; legs black, with a few white 
setose hairs, the four anterior pair with the base of the femora 
and the two posterior trochanters yellow. Length 7-8 lines. 
I have dedicated this elegant species to my friend Ferdinand 
Grut, Esq., whose devotion to the Geodephagous families of the 
Coleoptera is well known to entomologists. 
