187 



base to middle, and then more strongly to apex ; medio-basal 

 sinus shallow, about two-thirds the width of each of the lateral 

 ones; with small, scattered punctures, becoming rather coarse 

 on sides. Scutellum with scattered punctures. Elytra not 

 much wider than prothorax, posthumeral incurvature mod- 

 erate, suture bim.ucronate at apex ; subsutural stria ccntinuous 

 from apex to beyond the tip of scutellum ; with fairly nume- 

 rous punctures of moderate size, or small, becoming trans- 

 versely confluent in places. Pygidium densely, concentrically 

 strigose. Abdomen with a wide and rather shallow median 

 depression. Mesosternal process rather short, dilated from 

 base to apex, the apex almost twice as wide as the length 

 to suture. Front tibial rather obtusely tridentate; middle 

 pair with a moderate transverse ridge and a smaller one near 

 base ; hind pair with two similar but more conspicuous ridges. 

 Length, 21-22 mm. 



Hab. — South Australia (National Museum, Melbourne, 

 from C. French), Ouldea (R. T. Maurice). Type, 1. 1507, in 

 South Australian Museum. 



In general appearance rather close to xanthopyga, but 

 pygidium entirely black, punctures much smaller, prothorax 

 of male with outlines as in female of that species, club inter- 

 mediate in size between that of its male and female, and 

 suture bimucronate at apex. 



Tapinoschema digglesi, Janson. 



This species varies in length from 23 to 33 mm. The 

 type was evidently in poor condition, as the prothorax was 

 described as almost opaque, whereas it is normally quite as 

 polished as the elytra. It was also described as having the 

 "sides of the metathorax broadly reddish-brown." But 

 seven specimens before me have the metasternum entirely 

 dark, only one having the episterna somewhat diluted with 

 red. The elytra vary from a bright purplish-blue to an 

 almost brassy-black. The male is widely but shallowly 

 depressed along the middle of the abdomen. 



Tapinoschema impar, Macl. 



This species varies in size from 22 to 28 mm. The sutural 

 vitta also varies considerably in width, on some specimens 

 being very narrow and parallel with the suture, on others 

 wider but narrowing from near the base to the apex. 



The prothoracic margins are sometimes narrowly black 

 throughout, sometimes only the base is black. Near each 

 .side, slightly in front of the middle, there is sometimes a. 

 small infuscate spot, or cluster of minute spots. 



