272 



joint is large and often (especially in the males of Danerces 

 and Copidita) curiously formed. 



It is probable that many species are overlooked by col- 

 lectors, as they are usually to be found in company with, and 

 greatly resemble species of Mala codermidae that occur in great 

 abundance. Although many of the species are extremely 

 variable in their colours, there are some which strongly 

 resemble each other, and yet may be distinguished by pro- 

 found differences in sculpture (in this, again, there is a 

 parallel with Malacodermidae ) . 



By the courtesy of the Curator of the Australian Museum 

 I have seen Macleay's types of the family and a few other 

 species. Mr. H. J. Carter also sent for examination his col- 

 lection of the family (including types), and Mr. J. A. Kershaw 

 sent specimens belonging to the National Museum. 



I am acquainted with all the species of the family recorded 

 from Australia except the following : — 



1. Oedemera bivittata, Boi. There are several species of 

 Oxacis and Copidita before me that agree with the very brief 

 description of this species. The late Rev. T. Blackburn guessed 

 that it might have been founded upon the species subsequently 

 named Copidita, bijxirtita by Champion (unknown to him, as 

 it is to myself). But it seems best (as suggested by him) to 

 disregard the name. 



2. Oedemera brevicornis, Boi. The original description of 

 this species, "Nigra, thorace foveolato; elytris subruguloso- 

 pilosis," combined with the implication from its specific name, 

 will fit only Ischnomera sublineata of the Oedemeridae before 

 me. Without the implication of its name it would also fit 

 the black variety of Techmessa ruficollis. But it would be 

 absurd to identify any species, as brevicornis, without addi- 

 tional particulars to those of the original description. 



3. A sclera mansueta, Newm. When describing Dohrnia 

 miranda Newman commented upon "Asclera mansueta, a 

 widely-distributed New Holland species, which is familiar to 

 all collectors." The original locality given was Australia. I 

 have not, to my knowledge, seen mansueta, and it was not 

 represented in the Blackburn collection. The only species 

 under examination with four black prothoracic spots in the 

 positions noted — u 2 minoribus anticis distantibus, 2 majoribus 

 positicis suhajiiyroximatis" — is Copidita litoralis, of which I 

 have seen a fair number of specimens from Tasmania and 

 King Island, and that species differs from the description in 

 having the elytra not black but metallic-green, and with more 

 than two of the antennal joints longitudinally divided in 

 colour. 



