408 



species is fairly common in the northern coastal districts of 

 New South Wales and the southern ones of Queensland. 

 Although noted as being larger than suhnietallica, its average 

 size is less than the average size of that species. 



Stethomela flavicornis, Jac. (formerly Augomela). 

 S. cupripes, Lea. 

 This species varies somewhat in size, and the general 

 colour of individuals varies from metallic-blue to violet, with 

 a slight golden gloss. Jacoby referred the species to Augo- 

 mela, but its general outlines, with the comparatively long 

 .antennae and the front of the inter-coxal process of prester- 

 num strongly elevated above the adjacent parts, appear to 

 me> to be conclusive' that it should be referred to the closely- 

 allied genus Stethomela,' to which cupripes (a synonym of 

 flavicornis) was referred. 



Stethomela cornuta, Baly. 

 Some specimens of this species are of a brassy-green and 

 rather smaller than the typical form; the upper edge of the 

 mandibles of the male is also less conspicuously grooved and 

 more sloping. 



Stethomela olivacea, Jac. 



Numerous specimens from Cairns agree with the descrip- 

 tion of this species, except that they are slightly larger 

 (8-9 mm.) and have three instead of two of the basal joints 

 • of antennae pale ; on most of them portion of the base of the 

 prothorax is feebly stained with dull-green. 



Stethomela purpureipennis, n. sp. 



Reddish-castaneous, elytra purple. 



H ead with small scattered punctures, with a distinct but 

 rather feebly-impressed median line; clypeus with rather 

 dense but small punctures, suture well defined, an oblique 

 impressed line from each end of suture to hind margin of eye. 

 Antennae rather short, eighth to tenth joints transverse, 

 eleventh slightly wider than tenth but not transverse. Pro- 

 thorax almost thrice as wide as long, basal three-fourths almost 

 parallel-sided ; with minute punctures and some of larger size 

 (but not very large) irregularly scattered, and denser towards 

 sides than elsewhere. Elytra with outlines subcontinuous 

 with those of prothorax; with regular rows of not very large 

 punctures, becoming smaller posteriorly, interstices each with 

 a row of minute punctures. Length, 5-6-?; mm. 



f[ah. — Queensland: Coen River (H. Hacker); North- 

 western Australia: King's Sound (W. W. Froggatt). Type, 

 I. 2676. 



