144 



acutis, posticis bene distinctis, lateribus leviter sat eequaliter 

 rotuiidatis ; scutello baud punctulato ; elytris vix striatis, 

 striis subtiliter punctulatis, interstitiis punctulatis, puncturis 

 ill interstitiis qiiam in striis vix subtilioribus. Long., 2^ — 

 31.; lat., If— Ifl. 



This species has a certain superficial resemblance to a Gyrinid. 

 I have seen a good many specimens, and they do not show any 

 tendency to variation except in the extent of the ?eneous colouring 

 on the head and prothorax. The elytra are of a deep black-green 

 colour, without any other tint whatever except at the base of the 

 epipleun^, of which the inner portion of the dilated piece ('adjacent 

 to the metasternum) is invariably bright-testaceous. The head 

 (especially towards the sides and on the clypeus) is more strongly 

 punctured than the disc of the prothorax or the elytra. The 

 prothorax is punctured about as strongly (on the disc) as the 

 interstices of the elytra, which are not much more finely punctured 

 than the fine scratch-like strise ; the punctures in the interstices 

 differ a little in character from those of other parts of the surface, 

 being like fine somewhat longitudinal scratches. The prosternum 

 is carinate along its whole length, the carina prominent and 

 acute in front, gradually dilated hindward, at its truncate hind- 

 extremity slightly wider than the length of the basal joint of the 

 antennas, bisulcate, the space between the sulcae (or strite) convex. 

 The under surface is very nitid, scarcely distinctly punctulate. 



Dr. Chapuis has very briefly described two species (P. ceneipennis 

 and suhcenescens) from Queensland and New South Wales which 

 seem to be near the present insect. They, however, both appear 

 to be smaller than the smallest specimen I have seen of P. ceiiea ; 

 the former is said to be " ovata " and the latter " hreviter ovata" 

 and in neither case does the description of colour quite agree with 

 the present insect, which at any rate (even if the discrepancies 

 in size and shape can be got over) is a well-marked local form in 

 point of colour. 



South Australia. 



P. 2^olygIypta, Germ. Dr. Chapuis is, I think, in error, in 

 regarding this as identical with P. intacta, Newm. The descrip- 

 tion of the latter species is an exceptionally poor one, relating 

 literally only to size, colour, and markings. P. 'polygJypta^ on 

 the other hand, is well and sufficiently described. Newman 

 states that his insect came from Port Philip, and Germar that 

 his was taken near Adelaide. Now a species agreeing well with 

 Germar's description is very plentiful around Adelaide, and is 

 undoubtedly P. jmJygJypta, and I ha^e before me from Melbourne 

 a species perfectly distinct from polyglypta, and agreeing with 

 Newman's description of intacta quite as well as Germar's 

 polyglypta does. The colour and markings of these two do not 



