312 REVISION OF THE CICINDELID^E OF AUSTRALIA, 



Then follow — \i.Reomantichoridce, xii.Paleomantichoridce, and 

 viii. Platychilidce, which are together equivalent to the Manti- 

 chorides of Lacordaire, but are not represented in our fauna. 



Lacordaire's classification is very artificial, the variations of 

 the labial and maxillary palpi being quite inadequate for the 

 purpose of differentiating tribes amongst the Geodephaga. All 

 our Cicindelidae belong to the C 'icind 'elides platystemalice of Horn; 

 and our only tribes, the Megacephalini and Cicindelini are the 

 same in the systems of Lacordaire and Horn. 



Note on the prothorax. — Dr. Horn divides the Cicindelidai 

 platystemalice into two chief divisions according as the prosternal 

 sulcus is continuous with the apical pronotal sulcus or not. This 

 division is a most excellent one, but Dr. Horn's way of expressing 

 the difference between the Megacephalini and the Cicindelini, 

 though terse and readily understood, and therefore eminently 

 suitable for tabulation purposes, does not convey my idea of 

 what really constitutes the divergent character between the pro- 

 thorax of a Megacephala and that of a Cicindela. The difference 

 in the continuit} r of the anterior sulci of the upper and lower 

 sides of the prothorax is, in my conception of the matter, a 

 secondary thing, resulting from the dissimilarity in the union of 

 the pronotum and prosternum in front to inclose the pro- 

 episterna. If the underside of the prothorax of a Cicindelid be 

 examined it will be noticed that the pronotum and the prosternum 

 meet in front on each side and inclose the pro-episterna In a 

 species of the tribe Cicindelini the prosternum extends as far 

 forward as the pronotum, so that the prothorax is truncate in 

 front; and the pronotum and prosternum are so closely connected 

 as to appear fused together, with hardly a trace of a suture. 

 But in a species of Megacephala the pronotum projects forward 

 beyond the prosternum; and, although these two pieces meet 

 and inclose the pro-episterna in front, yet their point of contact 

 is very small and their union in no way amounts to a fusion of 

 the parts. No exception to the characteristic formation of these 

 parts occurs in any Australian species of the tribes Megacephalini 

 and Cicindelini. 



