186 



Mr. Crotch (in his " Revision of the Coccinellidce" 1874) points 

 out that Ehizobius and its allies are distinguished from other 

 members of the family by liaving the anterior coxal cavities open 

 behind. This appears to be a very important observation, but 

 unfortunately generally involves the sacrifice of a specimen for 

 its application, so I have not been able to make full use of it^ 

 but, so far as I have been able to ascertain, the species I have re- 

 ferred to Rhizohius present the character in question. 



For live species I have been compelled, with great reluctance, 

 to propose five new generic names ; they all possess strongly 

 marked characters that are quite incompatible with those of any 

 genus I can ascertain to have been previously named. 



The remaining three species I have attributed to EiqKdea (with 

 extreme doubt) and Novius. 



Of the remaining five genera already attributed to Australia, 

 Hypoceras, Platyomus, and Pharus are known to me only by 

 description ; the first has the epistoma emarginate and the 

 antennae only eight-jointed ; the second has the mesosternum 

 carinate ; and the third has the base of the antenna? concealed, 

 together with epipleurse devoid of well-defined fovea?. I possess 

 types of the other two, Cryj^tolcemus (a Northern Australian 

 form only, so far as I know, with the prosternum produced over 

 the mouth organs in repose), and Bucolus (common in South 

 Australia, having well defined epipleural fovese, together with a 

 moderately produced prosternum). 



The following table indicates some of the distinctive characters 

 of the Australian genera of pubescent CoccinelHdcp : — 



A. Femora not falling into excavations of the under surface. 

 B. Base of antennse not hidden behind the dilated epistoma. 

 C. Epipleurte devoid of well-defined fovea?. 



D. Antennae formed of more than eight joints. 

 E. Mesosternum not longitudinally carinate. 



F. Prosternum not produced to cover the mouth 

 organs. 

 G. Length of antennae exceeding width of 

 space between the eyes. 

 H. Eyes very coarsely granulated. 



jRh izobnis, 

 HH. Eyes more or less finelv granulated. 



" FupaJea (?). 



GG. Length of antennae not exceeding width 



of space between the eyes. 



I. Suture between first and second 



ventral segments enfeebled or 



obliterated in the middle. 



Scyiyinus. 



