183 



not have been removed from Diaphonia; to propose the special 

 genus Chondropyga for its reception, as was done by Kraatz, 

 appears absurd. 



On specimens in perfect condition the sides of the pro- 

 thorax are usually rather densely pubescent, but the clothing 

 is easily abraded, as many specimens have the prothorax 

 quite glabrous. On an occasional specimen there are two 

 reddish medio-basal spots on the prothorax. The scutellum 

 varies from entirely black to almost entirely pale. The abdo- 

 men is usually entirely black, but one specimen has it diluted 

 with red in spots. The black median marking of the pygidium 

 is sometimes continuous from base to apex, but frequently 

 stops short at the middle. 



Diaphonia olliffiana, Janson. 

 PL xi., fig. 108; pi. xiii., figs. 187, 193. 

 The typical form of this species is evidently the one 

 figured by Froggatt.( 40 > At the present time there are no 

 specimens of such a form before me, but from the National 

 Museum, Melbourne, there is a variety in which all the elytral 

 markings are more or less conjoined (fig. 108). 



Diaphonia parryi, Janson. 



seminigra, Kraatz. 



PL xii., figs. 120 to 123. 



The type of this species was figured as having a large 

 dark blotch behind the scutellum, and a small spot on each 

 shoulder. But the species was described as having variable 

 markings. 



A specimen, in the South Australian Museum, agrees 

 well with the original figure. Another has a slight cloud be- 

 hind the scutellum, a very vague spot on each shoulder, and 

 some pale markings on prothorax. Another specimen (fig. 121), 

 a female, has the paler portions of the elytra of a dingy- 

 brown, and covering about half the surface, the black extends 

 from each shoulder to the suture at the apex, forming a large 

 triangle ; the preapical callosities are also black. A male 

 (fig. 122) has the elytra entirely black, except for a rather 

 small curved space on each side of the apex. Several males 

 have the elytra entirely pale, or with the suture only excepted. 



On the males the mesosternal process is coarsely punc- 

 tured, slightly concave and sometimes with long hair as on 

 the other parts of the under-surface. On the females the 

 process is usually quite flat; shining, and with very sparse 

 punctures. 



(40) Australian Insects, pi. xvii., fig. 10. 



