203 



clothing in small clusters, whereas on froggatti it was described 

 as not fasciculate. Many specimens of the metallic species, 

 however, owing to partial abrasion appear to have the elytra! 

 clothing not fasciculate. 



Whilst not affirming that froggatti should be treated as a 

 variety of spinicollis, it appears to me that its specific differ- 

 ences from that species (especially as regards the males) need 

 to be demonstrated. 



Edusa perplexa, Blackb. 

 var. laeta, Blackb. 

 var. bella, Blackb. 



It appears to me that these three names should be treated 

 as varietal; hella was considered to differ from laeta by slight 

 characters of the prothorax and abdomen. On the prothorax 

 of a specimen labelled by Mr. Blackburn as hella a vague carina 

 may be seen when viewed from an oblique direction ; but its 

 absence is not of importance. As regards the abdomen, it is 

 to be remembered that specimens that have been carded for 

 years, on being floated off do not regain the slight upward 

 direction of the pubescence of fresh specimens, nor, unless the 

 soaking is prolonged for some time, does all the gum disappear 

 from the minute inequalities of the derm, consequently fresh 

 specimens usually have the under-surface more shining than 

 prepared old ones. 



In Blackburn's table they were separated by the upper- 

 surface of hella being "entirely green," and of the others ''not 

 entirely green." But one specimen labelled by him as hella 

 has the prothorax of a purplish-blue. Perplexa C??) and 

 suaveola were distinguished by "tooth on anterior femora 

 exceptionally small," as against "normally large" on laeta. 

 As a matter of fact, the actual size of the tooth appears to be 

 almost exactly the same on all the specimens I have examined 

 of perplexa, laeta, hella, and suaveola, although the apparent 

 size varies from almost every point of view. The commonest 

 form of the species is the one named laeta, but as it was named 

 on the following page to that of perplexa it must be treated as 

 varietal, and perplexa (a rather rare form) as typical. The 

 suture and sides are generaly blue (or violet), as are the 

 shoulders occasionally. On the elytra the clothing sometimes 

 has a vaguely striped appearance, and in Blackburn's table 

 this might be regarded as associating such specimens with 

 lineata and aenea. One male has the head, except in front, 

 prothorax, and scutellum brassy, and elytra green ; another 

 has the head, prothorax, and scutellum green, and elytra 



(77) There is a oo-type in the Museum, 



