I 

 I 



BY A. M. LEA. 475 



Long series of specimens now convince me that ^1. glabriceps and A. pid- 

 chrior should be regarded as varieties of this variable and widely distributed 

 species; the other synonymy has been previously recorded. Two specimens from 

 the Victorian Alps, and one from Townsville, have the upper surface (except 

 for the two elytral fasciae) black; two from Gayndah are paler than usual, with 

 the elytra pale excej)t for a median fascia and the apex, which are moderately 

 infuscated. 



AxTHICUS LURIDUS King. 



This species, gne of the allies of A. brevieollis, is common in the Cairns 

 district, and occurs also at Port Denison, Stewart River, Townsville and Cunna- 

 muUa. Two females were compared with the type and are entirely pale (the 

 eyes, of course, excepted), seventeen other females are similarly pale; but three 

 males have the abdomen (only) deeply infuscated, especially at the sides, its tip 

 is notched and the hind tibiae are curved (rather strongly so as seen from some 

 directions), the elytra are also less shining than on the female, but are not 

 opaque as on the males of A. crassits, from the pale forms of which it also differs 

 in the less crowded prothoracic punctures. The disproportion between the sexes 

 is so great that it seems probable the males vai-y in colour, and this appears to 

 be the case, as four males, agreeing perfectly otherwise with the three previously 

 mentioned, each have a moderately infuscated spot on each elytron on the middle 

 of the side. It is almost certain that males with more strongly defined markings 

 (two or three elytral spots) have been described under different names, but as 

 there ai-e no specimens before me marked as having been taken in cop., the 

 names suspected to be varietal are not mentioned. Some specimens from the 

 Northern Territory and North-western Australia, appear to be varieties. 



AxTHicus CEASSus King. 



Syn. — A. tasmanicus Champ. 



This is a widely distributed, abundant, and very variable species, with the 

 short prothorax and general appearance of some specimens of A. brevicollis and 

 of A. crassipes, but with the hind tibiae of the male not notched, although some- 

 what curved and thicker than on its female. It may, however, be distinguished 

 from those species and from all the allied ones by the elytra of the male, these 

 being distinctly sub-opaque, instead of shining as on other species, and on its 

 own females; its elytral punctures are also less sharply defined than on its own 

 females; the appearance is as if the derm was slightly obscured by gum or 

 grease, but is alike on all the males before me, some of which are taken cjuite 

 recently. The type of A. crassiis was from South Australia, and is a rare form 

 (Form 1) of the male in that State, but the common one in Tasmania; King's 

 second specimen was probably like Form 3, with the prothorax entirely pale; 

 only one specimen was known to Champion, the type of A. tasmanicus. In 

 general, the males are darker than the females, but numerous dark females are 

 darker than some pale males, but, in addition to the elytra and hind tibiae, the 

 sexes may be distinguished by the apical segment of the abdomen, that of the 

 male having a conspicuous curved impression and with coarse punctures in parts, 

 that of the female being even throughout and with small punctures. The under 

 surface and legs vary considerably in colour, the abdomen usually being black, 

 but often (especially, but not solely, in the female) pale, the metasternum is 

 nearly always black. Disregarding the under surface, antennae and leg's, some 

 forms of the male occurring in South Australia are as follows : — 



