16 



COLEOPTERA. 



By rev. T. T3LACKBURN, B.A., 



Hon. Curator for Entomology, S. Aust. Mus. 



The Coleoptera collected by Mr. Helms in the interior of Aus- 

 tralia comprise a considerable number of species previously un- 

 described. There are very few brightly-colored species among 

 them, and most of the new ones are closely allied to well-known 

 forms. It is probably hardly safe to generalise positively on the 

 strength of this material, for although Mr. Helms' abilities as a 

 collector of Coleoptera are beyond suspicion, the season in which 

 the expedition happened to be made was so exceptionally dry, and 

 therefore unfavorable for the work of collecting, that it seems 

 hardly likely any large proportion was obtained of the Coleoptera 

 that occur in the district traversed. The family most plentifully 

 represented in specimens is the CurGulionida'.,hji3,vth& largestpart 

 of the specimens appertaining to the sub-families Leptopsinm and 

 Amycterincd. Next to the Gurculionidoi in respect of numbers 

 come the Lamellicornes, and of these more than half belong to 

 the obscure and extensive genus Ileteronyx. No other family 

 can be said to be more than sparingly represented. The pre- 

 valent type in the Coleoptera of this collection is distinctly south 

 and south-western. The most interesting insect collected is a 

 Scaritid, for which I find it necessary to propose a new generic 

 name, and which I propose to call, in honor of Sir Thomas Elder, 

 Trichocarenum Elderi. 



CICINDELID.ZE. 



TETKACIIA. 



T. Helmsi, sp. nov. Subtus pioeo-brunnea, apicem versus test- 

 acea ; supra viridis plus minusve purpureo-micans, man- 

 dibulis (apice excepto) labro palpis antennis pedibus et 

 elytrorum apice testaceis ; elytris antice fortiter minus crebre 

 punctulatis postice Isevigatis. Long., 6|- — 8 1. ; lat., 24 — 

 31 h 

 Very like T. australis, Chaud., but smaller, less nitid, with the 

 testaceous apex of the elytra much smaller, the underside differ- 

 ently colored, the row of large punctures on the elytra near the 

 suture scarcely marked, and the elytral puncturation consider- 

 ably more sparse. 



W. Australia ; Murchison district. 

 T. pulchra, Brown. Lake Lefroy. 



