259 



as on the type of convexiusculus (pi. xxxii., fig. 30), but on 

 a specimen he identified as minor (pi. xxxii., fig. 33), and 

 which I regard as belonging to the variety rectangulus, there 

 is a conspicuous notch near the base. A specimen labelled 

 as carinatus, the type female of persimilis, two cotypes of 

 rectangulus, and two of distributus could fairly be said to 

 have the sides "strongly excised," as noted in the table, but 

 a cotype of tricostatus (pi. xxxii., fig. 36) has but a slight 

 incurvature there. The clothing of the pygidium is a prac- 

 tically useless character for a table, as the hairs are certain 

 to become more or less abraded with age; the punctures of 

 the pygidium are strikingly different on some of the cotypes, 

 but Here again, from them, I cannot follow Blackburn's com- 

 ments. The discal depressions of the pro thorax, as on most 

 of the Dynastides, are particularly liable to variation. 



Meridianus was regarded by Arrow as a synonym of sub- 

 costatus, but his opinion is not borne out by the type female, 

 which placed side by side with the type of convexiusculus is 

 seen to be absolutely conspecific with it, differing in a very 

 slight degree in the basal angles and in the punctures ; but in 

 size, outline, and general sculpture the two are in perfect 

 unison. Possibly the type male belongs to subcostatus, and 

 the type female to convexiusculus, but this is doubtful from 

 the description. A cotype female from Bindogundra has the 

 prothoracic margins exactly as on the type of convexiusculus, 

 but differs somewhat in the elytral punctures. 



Tricostatus was apparently considered as distinct by 

 Arrow, although all he says of it is that it is apparently con- 

 fined to Western Australia. < 8 ) A cotype male in the Museum 

 (pi. xxxii., figs. 32, 36) agrees absolutely (except for a slight 

 degree in the notching of the base), with a specimen pi. xxx., 

 fig. 8, and pi. xxxii., fig. 33) identified by Blackburn as 

 minor). Two other cotype males (from Geraldton) have the 

 prothoracic excavation exactly as on a cotype of rectangulus, 

 and the basal notch as in fig. 35 (pi. xxxii.), with the third 

 carina on each elytron less conspicuous than on the other 

 cotype. It appears, therefore, that this name should also 

 rank with the synonyms of convexiusculus. 



A copy of these notes was submitted to Mr. Arrow for 

 his opinion, which was given as follows: — "I strongly suspect 

 that some of the specimens upon which you are relying as 

 cotypes of Blackburn's species are not the same species as his 

 types. S. tricostatus is a well-marked species, as you will 

 see if you will examine the genitalia, which are of supreme 



(8) Blackburn, however, said that from it "a single male 

 example . . . from North Queensland seems indistinguish- 

 able . . ." 

 j2 



