918 CATALOGUE OF 



Genus MESSATIS. 



Mas. Corpus gracile. Proboscis distincta. Palpi as- 

 oendentes, lati, arcuati, brevissimi; articulus 3us conicus, minimus. 

 Antennae graciles, subsetosae, basi augulatae; articulus lusrobustus. 

 Thoracis tegulae abdomen attingentes. Abdomen alas posticas 

 longe superans ; fasciculus apicalis longiusculus, ascendens. Pedes 

 glabri, graciles. Alae longae, angustae ; anticae acutae, margine ex- 

 teriore peiobliquo. 



Male. Body slender. Proboscis distinct. Palpi ascending, 

 broad, curved, very short, not rising as high as the head ; third joint 

 conical, very minute, not one-sixth of the length of the second. 

 Antennae slender, minutely setose ; first joint stout, forming an 

 angle with the flagellum. Tegulae of the thorax very long, 

 extending far beyond the base of the abdomen. Abdomen ex- 

 tending far beyond the hind wings ; apical tuft rather long, 

 obliquely ascending. Legs smooth, slender; spurs very long. 

 Wings long, narrow. Fore wings acute ; exterior border very 

 oblique. 



It has an outward resemblance to Agathodes and to the following 

 genera in the same family. 



1. Messatis Sabirusalis. 



Mas. Lutea, roseo varia ; alee subtus linea submarginali lutea 

 bene delerminata ; antica linea tenui obliqua lutea submar- 

 ginali, vitta subtus costali lata abbreviata saturate purpuras- 

 cente-rufa. 



Male. Luteous, varied here and there with rosy red, which is 

 most prevalent on the under side; on the upper side it appears 

 chiefly in front of the thorax, at the tip of the abdomen, along the 

 exterior border of the wings, and along the costa and about the 

 outer half of the fore wings ; the latter have a slender oblique 

 luteous submarginal line. Wings beneath with a more distinct 

 submarginal line, and with a broad abbreviated deep purplish red 

 stripe along the costa of the fore wings. Length of the body 

 6 lines ; of the wings 12 lines. 



a, b. Sydney. From Mr. Lambert's collection. 

 c. Australia. From Mr. Milne's collection. 



