146 



PHYLLOTRETA. 



P. australis, sp. nov. Subovata ; nigra ; anteniiis (liarum articulo 

 5^ paullo elongato) tibiisque basi rufis vel testaceis, elytris 

 vitta discoidali (basi introrsum flexa, apice intus leviter 

 arcuata et extus leviter dilatata) flavo instructis ; supra 

 confertim punctulata. Long., 1 1. ; lat., ^1. 



Extremely like the European P. ii7idulata, Kuts., the yellow 

 stripe on the elytra being quite as in that species ; bat the 

 puncturation throughout is very much closer and liner. From 

 P. hivittata, Waterh. (the previously described Australian species 

 ■of the genus), this species differs in the colouring (Mr. Water- 

 house says that the antennae and legs of his insect are invariably 

 totally black), and also apparently in the puncturation ; Mr. 

 Waterhouse compares P. hivittata to P. nemoriim, Linn., and 

 says that the p7^othorax is more closely punctured, thus implying 

 that the puncturation of the elytra is similar to that of 

 P. nemorum, but in the present insect the elytra are very much 

 more closely and finely punctured. 



South Australia ; also Victoria ; on Cruciferoi. 



BUPRESTID^. 



MELOBASIS. 



21. costata, Thoms. (Typ. Bupr. App. I., p. 16). This name is 

 preoccupied by Sir W. Macleay. Judging from the descriptions, 

 it is possible that both names refer to the same insect, which 

 (pending the decision of this point) should stand thus — M. costata^ 

 Macl. (Trans. Ent. Soc, N.S.W., II., p. 24) ; ? costata, Thoms. 

 (loc. cit.). 



M. costifera^ Thoms. (loc. cit., p. 16). There can hardly be a 

 doubt that this is identical with J/, costata, Saund., since re- 

 named " Saundersi" Masters. 



3L jjrasina, Thoms. (loc. cit., p. 17.). The description of this 

 insect hardly distinguishes it from some vars. of J/, verna, Hope, 

 though it is very likely to be distinct. 



M. jjurjnoreosignata, Thoms. (loc. cit., p. 18). For this name 

 — previously used for a Melohasis by Laporte and Gory — I pro- 

 pose Thomsoni as a substitute. 



J/, viridiobscura, Thoms. This species must be very close to 

 J/, ohscura, Saund., which I renamed (ohscura being a preoccupied 

 name) sordida (Tr. Roy. Soc, S.A., 1887, p. 238). There are 

 some discrepancies (e.g., ]M. Thomson does not refer to the trans- 

 verse wrinkling of the prothorax, and his ^^ elytra obsolete striata" 

 hardly fits J/, sordida), which render it probable that the types, 

 if placed side by side, would be found to differ, but it is perhaps 



