223 



considerably enlarged. Another specimen (fig. 74) has the 

 hook-shaped spot on each shoulder somewhat pear-shaped but 

 enclosing a small dark spot, and the outer ones of the post- 

 median spots considerably reduced in size. Both these have 

 the black pubescence with a purplish gloss, and the pygidium 

 less acute than on the type (this is probably a sexual differ- 

 ence). A smaller (2-f mm., including the pygidium) specimen 

 (fig. 75) has the hook-shaped mark on the shoulder more 

 solid than on the type, but still a hook, the postscutellar 

 spots combined to form a rather small subquadrate one, the 

 postmedian spots combined to form an interrupted fascia, and 

 the subapical spots very considerably reduced in size. A speci- 

 men (fig. 76) from Wide Bay, in the Macleay Museum, has the 

 hook-shaped mark on the shoulder even better defined than 

 on the type, the postmedian spots combined to form an 

 irregular interrupted fascia, and the subapical spots as an 

 interrupted bisinuate fascia. A specimen (from Tamworth) 

 has all the markings considerably reduced in size, and the 

 hook-shaped mark on the shoulder small and very obscure ; 

 on the pattern (fig. 77) given it appears as a very conspicuous 

 mark, but its outlines, in fact, are traceable with difficulty. 

 This specimen has a distinct trend to some forms of graphip- 

 tera, and two specimens (from Jenolan) denote a still closer 

 approach to that species. On the other hand, a specimen of 

 graphiptera has vaguely-defined golden markings approaching 

 the pattern of the type of hamatilis. A specimen (from 

 Oodnadatta) in appearance is very close to fig. 75, except 

 that the postscutellar spot is much narrower, and that the 

 postmedian spot is more nearly broken up into two. 



The prothoracic markings, as with most of the variable 

 species, are also subject to considerable variation. Macleay 

 thought the species was possibly a Tomoxia, but the 

 scutellum dose not very abruptly cut into the elytra, and 

 the pygidium is somewhat acutely pointed in one sex, although 

 blunt in the other. 



MORDELLA, Sp. 



PI. xiv., fig. 78. 

 A small (3 mm.) specimen from Cairns (E. Allen) is 

 structurally so close to hamatilis that it is inadvisable to name 

 it without seeing more specimens. The black pubescence in 

 certain lights has a purplish gloss : on the pronotum the base 

 and apex are narrowly margined with white pubescence, and 

 there are two narrow and almost complete longitudinal vittae 

 (as on several specimens of hamatilis ) ; on each elytron (fig. 

 78) the white spots are : a transverse semidouble posthumeral 

 one, and a transverse postmedian one almost conjoined with 

 its fellow on the other elytron. 



