296 



more strongly dilated and as suddenly terminated near the 

 apex ; the abdomen has the three apical segments black or 

 blackish, and the sides of the others similarly coloured. On 

 this form the head is rather more concave than on languida 

 (but the degree of concavity appears to be as variable as the 

 markings), and the subapical marking is at the same place as 

 on that species, but is rather smaller and not the same shape. 



8. Two females, from Mangemup, have the head with 

 an isolated spot, the prothoracic vittae shorter and wider 

 than usual (almost pear-shaped), and the sutural vitta wide 

 and parallel, except that at the base it is slightly dilated 

 (but leaving a dark semicircular or triangular portion about 

 the scutellum), and that near the apex it is rather suddenly 

 terminated, the margins are nowhere paler; the sterna are 

 flavous, and the abdomen with a more reddish tone and 

 nowhere black. 



The density and size of the prothoracic punctures, the 

 depth of the prothoracic impressions, the degree of polish, 

 the comparative widths of the pro thorax and elytra, and the 

 colour of the antennae and metasternum are also subject to 

 variation ; many specimens also have a conspicuous bluish 

 or purplish gloss on the dark parts. It is the most widely- 

 distributed species in Australia, specimens before me being 

 from Queensland (Cairns, Dalby, and Brisbane), New South 

 Wales (Sydney, Galston, and Mount Koscuisko), Victoria 

 (Ballarat and Dividing Range), Tasmania (Hobart, Mount 

 Wellington, Launceston, and Swansea), South Australia 

 (Lucindale, Mount Lofty, and Kangaroo Island), and' 

 Western Australia (Mangemup). 



Copidita kuficollis, Macl. (formerly Ananca). 

 C. dentipes, Blackb. 

 Of this species there are now eight males and three 

 females before me. The male has distinctly bifid claws ; ( 51 >' 

 on the female each claw has a basal swelling, but it is not 

 very acute, and terminates some distance from the apex, so 

 that the claw could not be regarded as bifid. The apical 

 joint of the maxillary palpi is larger on the male than on 

 the female, but is otherwise much the same, on both it is 

 considerably longer than the penultimate joint; but the 

 sexes may be readily distinguished by the tips of the 

 abdomen. The colour of the elytra varies from blackish-blue 1 

 to deep violet; on some specimens there are vague remnants 

 of elytral costae, but on others these are not traceable. 



(51) The claws are small and close together, so that it is neces- 

 sary to examine them closely in a good light ; but when so viewed 

 they are .quite plainly bifid. 



